Re: American transmission interchange

[Ken Ames <ameskg@xxxxxxxxx>]

"Passing gear". Now there's a term I haven't heard in a while. Actually, it's
just the trans shifting back to second from high. 

Ken Ames

Quoting farna@xxxxxxx:

> The trans should bolt up. If the wife is going to just be tooling around it
> should be fine. It will likely be the air cooled T-35 (M-35), but if it's 61
> or earlier may be the heavier M-9 or M-10 (cast iron center section). Either
> will bolt up, but for light cruising the M-35 would be better. The M-35 was
> stock behind the 232 in some Americans and Gremlins.
> 
> There is no kick down linkage per se. The early BW trans uses a throttle
> valve cable like a late model GM 700R4. You'll have to rig linkage for that.
> You will need something to hold the cable in place and an arm on the linkage
> rod with several holes. The arm need to have a hole about 3/4" from the rod,
> but I'd drill 3-4 small holes (about 1/16") so there is some adjustment. The
> cable *MUST* slide in and out easily! If you run the trans without the cable
> it will slip inside and burn up. As throttle is applied the cable moves, in
> turn moving a valve inside the trans. The valve controls internal pressure,
> letting it rise as more power is applied. If the cable doesn't move the trans
> will slip and burn up as power is applied. If the valve were locked in the
> full closed position the trans wouldn't last long either -- shifts would be
> very abrupt, equivalent to slamming in gear and popping the clutch in a stick
> shift. When the valve is fully depressed it activates "passing gear" if !
>  vehicle speed is under a certain amount (I forget the speed, but I think
> under 45-50). 
> 
> Steering columns are different in the American -- shorter than the big cars.
> I'd get a short floor shift from a Pinto, Mustang II, Gremlin, etc. and
> adjust the linkage. I have used the stock three speed column shifter. You can
> hook the shift rod to either of the three speed arms on the column and shift
> "by feel". Wouldn't be hard to adapt the quadrant from a GM column and make a
> needle, or use a stick on one from hot rod shops (yep, there's at least one
> compnay making them, I forget who though). I'd lock the two shift arms
> together. I used two fender washers, one on top and one on the bottom, with a
> 1/4" bolt between them. The bolt ran between the two arms, which were clamped
> between the large washers. You don't have to do this, but it's easy to
> accidentally pull the shift lever forward or back (depending on which arm you
> use) while shifting, engaging the unused shift arm. Then you have to "fish"
> for the neutral position to engage the right one. This usually happens when
> goi!
>  ng to park, neutral, or reverse, so it's not a big deal (might be if
> manually shifting the car though), just irritating. I ran my car about a year
> with the three speed column, finally changing over to a tilt wheel from a
> GM.
> 
> 
> On February 22, 2005 Roger Blake wrote:
> 
> > 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.?
> > 
> > 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.)
> > 
> > Presumably adapting a Chrylser Torqueflite from a later model AMC
> > such as a Hornet would be a major project.
> > 
> > --
> >    Roger Blake
> > 
> >    rogblake@xxxxxxxxx
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > .
> 
> 
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