That looks like that clears with room to spare. I have the same SBC Downey style saddle mount and my rams horns just barley clear the stock steering box, but they do allow you to run a standard exhaust collector.
Yeah it looks like the PO just drilled out the bottom two holes and used it as a spacer plate. The 3 speed was just floating free in the adaptor and the bellhousing with nothing to index it but the pilot bushing in the crank.
Just in case anyone runs into this in the future I thought I would post the measurements I took. The outside diameter of the 3 speed bearing retainer looks like it is about 5.039" and the retainer extends about 0.360" out from the far of the transmission. The opening in the adaptor plate I have...
Thanks, I think I'm starting to get a handle on my options. I'm not sure which adapter i have but I think it might be an early Downey plate adapter that was supposed to be used with the spacer ring between the original bearing retainer and the bellhousing. Do you know of anyone that has run one...
I'm curious why everyone always seems so negative about the 3 speed? I will probably never wheel the truck, the 3 speed has the same 1:1 top gear as the rest and I would assume the 350 will have more than enough torque to pull the higher first gear. Plus everything is already set up for the 3...
I'm looking for the adaptor kit to join a Toyota 3 speed (J30) to a SBC 350. If anyone has an old one lying around let me know. I would even consider incomplete kits.
Thanks
I just pulled the Chevy 350 that the PO put in the truck and found a big surprise. Apparently when he mated the old J30 3 Speed to the Chevy bellhousing he used an old Downey adaptor plate but used the original front bearing retainer so the trans is not aligned to the bellhousing by anything but...
I would look carefully at the changes that happened around 1986. I think the pre 86 carb motors with the two piece rear main seal will bolt right up but the post 86 motors with the one piece seal might have used a different flywheel.
Of course, I'm Matt and I live in Manhattan but until I get it back on the road the 40 lives at my folks place which is in Westchester NY right near the Connecticut border.
I already checked out the GCLC website and plan to get signed up ASAP!
I have been over on the main forum for a little while now but wanted to introduce myself over here to you guys. I got my first 40 last September and was hoping to make it out the the October meet up but technical difficulties kept that from happening.
I'm still in the process of getting this...
Anyone?
I only got to drive my 40 about 6 miles before I spun a bering in the tired old 350 that the PO had in there. If anyone has a running engine please let me know I really want to get it back on the road ASAP.
Thanks