Re: 78 304/AUTO INTO A 232/AUTO 67 AMERICAN

[farna@xxxxxxx]

On May 21, 2005 Richard Truesdell wrote:

My question is this, how difficult will it be to install the the 304/TorqueFlyte combo in the 67 station wagon? I know that the crossmember will need to be changed but I'm concerned about the size of the TorqueFlyte transmission and what, if anything will need to be changed to connect it to the existing driveshaft and shift linkages? Since the BW will need a rebuild, I'd prefer to install the later model TorqueFlyte that's currently with the 304 in the 78 hatchback. Make sense or should I get the BW rebuilt?

The TF is a 998, so it should fit with no problems. The 727 will fit, but it's very tight. I have seen several late Americans with 360/727 combos. The driveshaft will have to be modified, but that's cheap enough (should be under $250 even in CA). Basically length and front yoke will need to be matched. Your Concord shaft might even fit -- you'll want the Concord rear axle (model 20) anyway. The model 15 in the American will work just fine with a mostly stock 304/998 combo, but gearing is going to be a little steeper. Hmmm... I'd leave it in because of that since the Concord is likely geared rather high. 

The shift linkage can be made to work as is, but the quadrant may not align exactly. There are no detents in the shift column, they are all in the trans. You will have to bend some rods, maybe shorten the main shift rod, and take some time with the kick-down linkage -- it isn't a simple drop it in procedure. If the linkage is intimidating get a Lokar street rod kit. I have a friend who used one in a Jeep. It was a bit short for the Jeep but will be right for a car. 

 
> Since the 67 has factory A/C, I'm assuming that its compressor can be installed on the bracket that I'll have with the 304. Am I correct?

Use the 78 compressor. You will likely have to have custom hoses made anyway. If the 78 compressor uses o-ring connections it won't be a problem with custom hoses. The compressors will interchange if they are the same type though. Not sure if a York was still used in 78 or the smaller GM axial or radial compressor was used. If it were me and I were planning on keeping and driving the car for a while I'd go ahead and get a Sanden replacement compressor. Less power drawn from the engine (at least half of what a York takes) and smaller to boot. The componentscan be mixed and matched easily. You will need to change the drier as well -- it's old and will have some oil from the R-12 in it that isn't compatible with R-134a. Other than that you can mix and match compressor/condensor/evaporator/drier as you like. The components need to be sized to the vehicle though. I'm using a Sanden compressor from an 87 Jeep (the donor for the original 4.0L I installed 5-6 years ago), parallel fl!
 ow condensor from a Chrysler LHS, universal type drier, and the evaporator and expansion valve are the original 63 units. It all works fine together, along with custom hoses. Cools the wagon quite well! The more efficient parallel flow condensor helped a lot. I just had to make brackets to hold it in the car, size is about right. It will fit the Concord as well -- all AMC car radiators are about the same dimensions, just different number and size of cores and tanks. 

=============================================================
Posted by wixList Archiver -- http://www.amxfiles.com/wixlist