Auto W200?

[mattc]

Ya'll, how would I go about changing my 66 w200 from a 4spd to an auto?
I have the auto tranny already...so thats taken care of, I think?
Someone mentioned to me that I'll have to get a short shaft 727 and a custom drive shaft made...is that true? Thanks,mattc

[MoparNorm]

Yes, it's true.
I have some photos somewhere, but I'm going out, so when I get back I'll look for them and you'll see from them how to "cut" the cross member.

Believe it or not, this is how the factory modified early manual trucks, to accept the 727's, they cut the bell housing cross member out of the way, added a flat stock stiffener and then an angle behind that for the short tail shaft 727.
It wasn't until about 5 years later that they actually had an "automatic trans cross member"!

[mattc]

wow

Norm, so the factory really just made it fit by adding some bracing for the shorter shaft.... so the cross member for the push button auto will just need to be cut/braced to fit, find a short shaft, and get a custom pto shaft made, and I'm gravy:? Thanks, mattc

[MoparNorm]

Yep, they figured there was no sense making a permanent crossmember for a temporary fad like the auto trans....= )
Anyone tried to order a new car with a manual trans lately?

[OLD DODGE]

Anyone tried to order a new car with a manual trans lately?

Yeah. I'm still waiting for the factory to deliver it.

[Steve G]

I saw a manual shift car at the Dodge dealer, 2009 Challenger SRT, but I was lacking the $45,000.

[mattc]

parking brake

I got to thinking about putting my early push button 727... its barking brake is part of the long shaft...luckily its going in a 66....and it has the parking brake seperate!! Lucky me!
I love it when a plan comes together!

[rickt4498]

I love it when a plan comes together![/quote]


plan...what plan... we don't need no stinkin' plan ;> )

[mattc]

this is how to do it...

I spoke with Torque Flite Guru Pat Blais, and he hooked me up with all the right parts...if anyone needs parts, he's the man to talk too..plus hes located in Wa. State! mattc

[mattc]

SO, I got the short output shaft and short shaft tailhousing, and now I am wondering about the yoke??? If thats the correct terminology...the piece that connects the driveline to the output shaft. Is the piece that is on my 4spd (currently) going to fit on my new short shaft 727 output??? Spline count? Different from 4spd to auto?? Any thoughts? mattc

[Hobcobble]

Yes, it's true.
I have some photos somewhere, but I'm going out, so when I get back I'll look for them and you'll see from them how to "cut" the cross member.

Believe it or not, this is how the factory modified early manual trucks, to accept the 727's, they cut the bell housing cross member out of the way, added a flat stock stiffener and then an angle behind that for the short tail shaft 727.
It wasn't until about 5 years later that they actually had an "automatic trans cross member"!

Norm,
Are you sure that is a factory cut? Normally, the bell cross member is
cut back just before the first spanner bolt holes [4 per side]. The cross
member in your pic was cut AT the lower holes [you can see a partial
hole at the cut]. The normal add on spanner would have four holes per
end and it slid up inside the cut cross member. The spanner in your pic
uses one of the factory rivet holes. Additionally, the next rivet up on
the cross member frame was removed. As the spring perch is integral
to the ends of the bell housing cross member, I would think that the
assembly would be weakened at this point. The added tail shaft cross
member in the pic does not resemble anything close to the factory
bolt in tail shaft cross member. I'm not suggesting that the one in the
pic is any less sturdy.... it just isn't factory. I have done this conversion
and have another truck that was done at the factory in '62. I can
supply pics if anyone is interested.
John

[mattc]

what now?

SO I looked at the end of my early touqueflite, the one with the parking brake on the end of the tail shaft...and there is no way to hook up the yoke from the TC to the 727....any suggestions? mattc

[Hobcobble]

SO I looked at the end of my early touqueflite, the one with the parking brake on the end of the tail shaft...and there is no way to hook up the yoke from the TC to the 727....any suggestions? mattc

For early W100 & W200 trucks which used the parking brake drum, it was
situated on the transfer case. After this, the parking brakes were made
integral with the rear axle drums. Does the rear axle in your W200 use the
rear axle drums for parking brakes?..... [I'm assuming so]. Is the earlier
LoadFlite tranny a two cable? You should try talking with Jeff Clare up in
Vancouver, WA [aka "Jeffc"]. He's the Guru that all the other Guru's get
their information from when they're stumped :)
John

[MoparNorm]

Norm,
Are you sure that is a factory cut? Normally, the bell cross member is
cut back just before the first spanner bolt holes [4 per side]. The cross
member in your pic was cut AT the lower holes [you can see a partial
hole at the cut]. The normal add on spanner would have four holes per
end and it slid up inside the cut cross member. The spanner in your pic
uses one of the factory rivet holes. Additionally, the next rivet up on
the cross member frame was removed. As the spring perch is integral
to the ends of the bell housing cross member, I would think that the
assembly would be weakened at this point. The added tail shaft cross
member in the pic does not resemble anything close to the factory
bolt in tail shaft cross member. I'm not suggesting that the one in the
pic is any less sturdy.... it just isn't factory. I have done this conversion
and have another truck that was done at the factory in '62. I can
supply pics if anyone is interested.
John

Positive. It's on the VIN
The first factory cross member truck cuts were CRUDE, with ragged torch marks. This one was a nice clean cut and later (66 and on) had a the bolt in crossmember, you mention, from the factory that was as clean as the original manual trans cross member.
By then they figured that the automatic trans "fad" might be permenant....= )

[Hobcobble]

Positive. It's on the VIN
The first factory cross member truck cuts were CRUDE, with ragged torch marks. This one was a nice clean cut and later (66 and on) had a the bolt in crossmember, you mention, from the factory that was as clean as the original manual trans cross member.
By then they figured that the automatic trans "fad" might be permenant....= )

Crimeney!.... by removing those factory rivets from that stub
and rear spring perch.... you'd think they were trying to discourage
the "fad" by a few failures out in the field :) That's interesting
the way they did it in your pics....
John