Re: American transmission interchange

[adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Sandwich Maker)]

" From: Roger Blake <rogblake@xxxxxxxxx>
" 
" I have an acquaintance with a '66 Rambler American with 232 and
" column-shift manual transmission. He wants to change it over to
" automatic for his wife, and has located a junkyard transmission that
" is in an older American with the L-head six. (He was not sure of the
" year, but it sounds like it is probably a '61 through '63 "breadbox"
" model. The junkyard transmission would be overhauled before installation.)
" Will the automatic transmisssion from the L-head bolt up to the 232? If
" so, what other issues would there be with the kickdown linkage, etc.?

might very well.  the 196 and early 199/232/258 bellhousing patterns
are the same, though i don't know if crank patterns are.

" Presumably the steering column would have to be replaced also with one
" from an automatic-equipped car. I know the mid-1960s American has a lot
" of parts in common with the Classic/Ambassador series -- would a column
" from the big Ramblers fit in the American? (I assume that the transmission
" from one of these would be no good for the swap due to the torque-tube
" drive.)

'64-6 american columns are the same; '67-9 could be swapped in with a
little wiring - they have 4-way flashers built in, and a different
connector.  you'd need a '67-9 steering box too; the shaft is
two-piece instead of single like earlier.

" Presumably adapting a Chrylser Torqueflite from a later model AMC
" such as a Hornet would be a major project.

definitely.  there are rumors of small-bellhousing tfs used in
mid-'70s postal jeeps, but the only ones i'm sure of were used only
after the sixes were redesigned to the big v8 bellhousing pattern - so
you'd have to swap the engine too.
________________________________________________________________________
Andrew Hay                                  the genius nature
internet rambler                            is to see what all have seen

adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                       and think what none thought