[fearsomefairmont]

Hi Folks,
I have had the serious itch lately to bang gears in my '72 442. It currently has a TH-400 with heavy duty clutches, a Stage II shift kit (rather aggresive), upgraded center support, some other bits, and a stock converter. Trans works great and I have never had a problem, I just want a 4-spd.

I have a Ford small in/out wide ratio Toploader 4-spd I had been rebuilding for another project. Based on everything I have garnered it is an indestructable transmission, plus I have it so it is free! I would like to install it in my car. Plus, I have heard enough horror stories about Muncies to not want one, my uncle blew up 3 in the 442 he used to own.

I have located the an adapter bellhousing to fit the Toploader to a chevy motor, then a BOP/chevy adapter plate. I would run a GM clutch fork and Wilwood hydrualic master/slave cylinder. Clutch would be a 10.5 GM pressure plate and flywheel and ford 10.5 disc, not sure on manufacturer. Shifter of choice is a modified Hurst Comp +. I would get a custom driveshaft made as well as fabricate a crossmember.

I have no problem with the fabrication, however, as I understand my motor was an auto motor and they are not drilled for a pilot bearing. I have no real idea to start as to get a correctly machined "divot" in the crank or a correct pilot bearing. Locating a manual 442 crank would be very expensive. Any suggestions would be welcome as this is the only thing causing any hesitancy towards the swap.

Throw some ideas my way!

Thanks,
Andy

PS Any good donor vehicles for a clutch pedal?

[Crosley]

I cannot add much help here ;



If your crank shaft needs machine work to install a pilot bearing/bushing, I would think the crank shaft would have to come out of the engine to be fitted into a lathe for the machine work.

Originally Posted by fearsomefairmont

Hi Folks,
I have had the serious itch lately to bang gears in my '72 442. It currently has a TH-400 with heavy duty clutches, a Stage II shift kit (rather aggresive), upgraded center support, some other bits, and a stock converter. Trans works great and I have never had a problem, I just want a 4-spd.

I have a Ford small in/out wide ratio Toploader 4-spd I had been rebuilding for another project. Based on everything I have garnered it is an indestructable transmission, plus I have it so it is free! I would like to install it in my car. Plus, I have heard enough horror stories about Muncies to not want one, my uncle blew up 3 in the 442 he used to own.

I have located the an adapter bellhousing to fit the Toploader to a chevy motor, then a BOP/chevy adapter plate. I would run a GM clutch fork and Wilwood hydrualic master/slave cylinder. Clutch would be a 10.5 GM pressure plate and flywheel and ford 10.5 disc, not sure on manufacturer. Shifter of choice is a modified Hurst Comp +. I would get a custom driveshaft made as well as fabricate a crossmember.

I have no problem with the fabrication, however, as I understand my motor was an auto motor and they are not drilled for a pilot bearing. I have no real idea to start as to get a correctly machined "divot" in the crank or a correct pilot bearing. Locating a manual 442 crank would be very expensive. Any suggestions would be welcome as this is the only thing causing any hesitancy towards the swap.

Throw some ideas my way!

Thanks,
Andy

PS Any good donor vehicles for a clutch pedal?

[fearsomefairmont]

Is there no other help for this enterprising hotrodder? Am I the only one to cross brand loyalties and create a illegitimate stepchild?

Anyways, any other input would appreciated. I found a mondello pilot bearing adapte but it is for a muncie. Will check Ford input shaft diameters and see if something can be machined up.

BTW Crosley, I did understand that the crank would need to be out of the motor to be machined, which adds a major PITA element to the test-fitting process.

cheers,
Andy

[347mustang]

a small die grinder...i have never even touched a pontiac so this is new to me that your crank does not have a hole there...all ford and chevys i know of have this hole..

[adtkart]

I don't remember ever seeing a crankshaft without a hole in the end of the crank. I have seen cranks that were made for standard transmissions, where the pilot for the convertor wouldn't fit, but not the other way. The convertor for the TH400 should have a pilot that fits in a hole there also, although maybe not as deep as a pilot bearing and input shaft.

I would think that it would be difficult to machine a hole there, if it doesn't have one. It would have to be precise drilling.