3-Speed Toploader swap to 4-Speed Toploader

[EL1NOR]

Hey guys,
My 67 Fastback came with a 3-speed manual transmission. I recently purchased a WIDE ratio 4-speed toploader with 28-spline on it. Perfect for my little 289 ($414 shipped).

My questions is this: What will I need to do the swap??? Will my 3-spd bellhousing work with the 4-sp?? Will I need to change my speedometer cable? I already purchased a new backup-light switch for the 4-spd and I need to purchase the Hurst Competition Plus shifter and shift linkage kit along with the boot (another $309 grrrr!). I'm hoping that I can just swap my bellhousing, speedometer cable, transmission yoke, clutch, flywheel, etc...

Anyone with any knowledge or experience please give me some help if ya can!

Thanks,
-Tim

 

[candy-a-Mach1]

Great find !

I did this swap on a '70 with a 302 many years ago. Although it was quite a while back, I think the only thing that I had to change was the speedometer gear for some reason. Even that might not be true. I'm sure that I used the same bellhousing, flywheel, clutch, pressure plate, slip yoke and drive shaft. The 4-speed I used had a little shorter (1/4") splined shaft, and I had to get a longer pilot bushing. Better measure. But other than that, it was a smooth swap.

Good luck !

 

[rbohm]

if you have a small block top loader, then this is a bolt in swap. you may have to use a longer speedo cable, and a different gear, some top loaders used a reverse rotation gear on them it just depends on which side the gear goes in the tranny.

 

[D.Hearne]

Mainly it's the Galaxie Toploaders that used the reverse rotation speedo gear, I think some Torinos did also. If the tailshafts between the 3 and 4 speed are similar, then it'll work. You may also have to enlarge the shifter hole in the floor, I did this back in the early 80's on a 67, but at the time I wasn't aware that there were different Hurst shifters for different applications.

 

[EL1NOR]

Thanks for the replies guys!

As far as the potential changing of the speedometer gear... how hard is it to do? Mainly... what is involved in doing it?

-Tim

 

[D.Hearne]

The drive gear is on the tailshaft, just remove the tailhousing and you'll see it. The tail is held on by 5 bolts, the drive gear is retained by a snap ring and kept from rotating on the shaft with a small ball bearing. The driven gear is on the speedo cable and is retained by a snap ring clip