i would think the problem of a car trans being to short on the imput shaft would be solved by using a small block top loader.these are about a 1/2 in longer.

The trans I have in my pickup is a longer trans then the stock pickup trans. I have a extra trans out of a 57 car and it has the same numbers and measures the same as the one in my pickup.  The guy I bought the truck from also told me he was told it had a 57 car trans.  I guess I'm going to have to pull it and rebuild what I have. I really appreciate all the help and comments.

Back in the 70's when I built my first street rod, I got a heavy duty top loader (427) to put against a small block. I had the same problem you did. I did what was mentioned above - I had made up a new pilot bushing that was longer so the input shaft would be inserted correctly. Lasted many years and many miles. I recommend that you do this.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Charlie, the first gear on the cluster gear is a straight cut gear just like the one on the input shaft. They're constantly meshing, I would imagine they're all alike. The 3 transmissions I have are interchangeable.

  Dennis in Lititz PA

Years ago, a friend of mine (no, not me) had the same problem.  He put the car trans in the pickup bell and in no time he had clutch chatter.  Removing the trans, he found the pilot bearing hole to be egg shaped.  He noted that the input shaft only penetrated the bearing about 1/8".  I recommended he have a new pilot bearing machined that would be about 3/4" thicker to hold the input shaft better.  He ignored my suggestion and bought a new bearing, only installed it about half way in the crank and then proceeded to drive it trouble free for the next 50,000 miles.  Back in those days, you just did what you needed to do to keep moving down the road.

Dennis, that is a great idea about the input shaft swap to solve this problem.  Does the standard pickup 3-speed trans input shaft swap directly?  Is the gear that spins the cluster the same?

Charlie Burns Laton, Ca (South of Fresno)



BurnsRacing981@gmail.com

I have a car transmission in mine, although it's overdrive. To use it I had to disassemble the transmission to pull the car input shaft out and swap in the truck input shaft. As a matter of fact I have the transmission out right now to go over it again. I took some pictures and could post them tonight. A shop manual will be a great help.

  Dennis in Lititz PA

If your bell has the mounting ears, it's very unlikely that you have a car transmission. What makes you think it's a car transmission?


Lawrenceville, GA

My bell housing has the mounting ears on it. But has the 57 car trans..

A car transmission will not work with the truck bell. Does your bellhousing not have the mounting ears? If it is in fact a car bellhousing and trans, yes someone has changed something.


Lawrenceville, GA

Hi guys I need some help here. I have a 57 car 3 speed in my 56 f-100 with y-block. I did not install it in there. I have a tooth knocked off a gear. I was doing some looking around thinking about a T-5 convertion. When I was looking I found out there where two bell housings car and pickup. I decided to keep the car 3 speed and I have another 57 car trans here I thought about putting in. What I found out was the pickup bell housing is deeper than the car. Will the 57 car 3 speed trans pilot shaft go into the piloy bearing using the pickup bell housing? Did someone change something to put the car 3 speed in my pickup? I have not taken it out of my truck yet. If I took the trans out I could probably figure it out. What I was wanting to do is in one day switch out trans and not have the pickup setting in my way taken apart and having to find parts.