700R4 swap questions...

[ChampTrucking]

I would like a option to the second gear start Studebaker air cooled transmission. Since I have a freshly rebuilt GM trans sitting here collecting dust,I have the following questions:
Who has done the 700R4 swap?
Where did you get the adapter?
Did it use a Chevy bolt pattern transmission or a BOP bolt pattern trans?
How did you address the tailshaft mounting if the Studebaker trans. uses ears to the body crossmember?
Is there any difference in stock Studebaker transmission mounting between a sedan and a wagon?
How much was the adapter?


Thanks for any info.....

[Dave Bates]

Michael Myers sells the adaptor kits.He runs an ad in Turning Wheels.

[mjeansonne]

Though I haven't completed the swap, I am pretty close to completing it. There are any number of folks that sell an adapter. Its relatively easy to use and pretty straightforward. It makes the transmission think its bolting up to a G.M. Block. For everything else, check out www.bowtieoverdrives.com They have several (most) items that are needed for the swap. I decided that I didn't want anyone to know that I had a 700R4 in the truck, so I opted for a shift lever and column from a Lark (or maybe it was a Hawk). Got a shift indicator with the overdrive, filed it down and put it in the chrome shift indicator frame. Also used a transmission shift cable which is available from Bowtie (I think). That will require some playing with. Also may as well opt for a new Edelbrock Carb with the electric choke.

Lots more to say, but I'm being called by "the one who must be obeyed" (wife). Let me know if I can be of any other help.



Laisez le bon temps roulez avec un Studebaker

[41 Frank]

I sell the adapter at an attractive price. It fits all chevy automatics including BOP units.I have one in my own car. You will need to fabricate a crossmember. Adapter cost with instructions and centering device is $265 to your door. You provide starter.

Frank van Doorn
1962 GT Hawk 4 speed
1963 Daytona Conv
1941 Champion R-2 Rod

[ChampTrucking]

Thanks for the replies. The trans I have is a fresh TH350,not a overdrive but the same bolt pattern. I am a CASO and a CAGMO,so that is what I want to use.So Frank,what is the centering devise?Does it center the adapter on the block? I assume (uh oh!) the adapter still uses the Studebaker starter? A lot of questions I know,but I am trying to get a feel for what is involved before jumping in! Thanks...Rich

[41 Frank]

Rich, the centering device is as you suspect a machined ring that is used to center the adapter with the block. The adapter uses a Ford starter with a Chevy flex plate (included). The starter application is explained in the instructions and can be purchased at any FLAPS for between 45 and 75 dollars. Happy to answer questions, no problem, ask away. Additional expenses in the conversion would be a driveshaft with different yoke, I used a Chevy shaft from a salvage yard and had it shortened, thats the CASO way. Of course gear selector linkage is another issue to deal with as is a crossmember. If you can do most of the fabrication yourself other than driveshaft and have the tranny allready, it could be done for between $500 and $700. I use a 200 4R so had additional expenses such as lockup release wiring etc. you won't have to deal with when using turbo 350.

quote:Originally posted by ChampTrucking

Thanks for the replies. The trans I have is a fresh TH350,not a overdrive but the same bolt pattern. I am a CASO and a CAGMO,so that is what I want to use.So Frank,what is the centering devise?Does it center the adapter on the block? I assume (uh oh!) the adapter still uses the Studebaker starter? A lot of questions I know,but I am trying to get a feel for what is involved before jumping in! Thanks...Rich

Frank van Doorn
1962 GT Hawk 4 speed
1963 Daytona Conv
1941 Champion R-2 Rod

[ChampTrucking]

A !!!FORD!!! starter with a Chevy flexplate? How the heck did someone come up with that!!??
LOL!! OK. Drive shaft is no problem.Crossmember is a non issue also.Kick down cable should not be too bad.How about the speedometer hook up? I think this will be the way to go for what I want to do. So how close is the Chevy flex plate to crankshaft bolt pattern to the Studebaker Flex plate/crank bolt pattern? Only reason I ask is I already have a new in the box 283 Chevy flex plate also collecting dust. If I did not need the one in your kit,would that reduce cost much? Thanks Frank!!

[DEEPNHOCK]

Remember, if you run the 700R4,you need to leave the lower tab on the AFB carb throttle shaft for the TV cable.
(unless you get that in the pan valve body adapter to eliminate the TV cable)
Same thing goes for the TH350 kickdown cable.
What that means is you need to run a carb spacer to lift up the carb so the lower tab clears the intake manifold heat crossover runner.
No big deal unless you are doing this in an Avanti, or C/K with a low hood line.
Might require a super thin air filter, or thin engine mounts to clear the hood with the air filter.
Just a few small details to think out ahead of time.
Hope the info helps.
Jeff[8D]


[quote]Originally posted by mjeansonne

<snip>
Also may as well opt for a new Edelbrock Carb with the electric choke.<snip>
[/quote

[ChampTrucking]

Thanks Jeff

[41 Frank]

If you use your own flexplate it won't reduce cost much but you would have the problem of redrilling the crankshaft bolt pattern of the plate which is allready done for you in our kit. Without going into specifics the flexplate/starter combo works fine. Pay particular attention to what Jeff said about trottle pressure control cable issues!!! Aftermarket speedo cables solve that issue but speedo gear selection for proper calibration is something else to deal with.

quote:Originally posted by ChampTrucking

A !!!FORD!!! starter with a Chevy flexplate? How the heck did someone come up with that!!??
LOL!! OK. Drive shaft is no problem.Crossmember is a non issue also.Kick down cable should not be too bad.How about the speedometer hook up? I think this will be the way to go for what I want to do. So how close is the Chevy flex plate to crankshaft bolt pattern to the Studebaker Flex plate/crank bolt pattern? Only reason I ask is I already have a new in the box 283 Chevy flex plate also collecting dust. If I did not need the one in your kit,would that reduce cost much? Thanks Frank!!

[PackardV8]

Again, a "search" here and over on RacingStudebaker will turn up more trans swap threads than you could read in a month. Suggest going through that effort first.

thnx, jack vines

PackardV8

[bige]

Just to add to the good advice below...the TH 350 cable works with the existing hole on the Edelbrock carb. A 700 or 200 require an adapter, available through various vendors, to correct the geometry needed to move the TV cable on the OD tranmissions properly.

ErnieR


[quote]quote:Originally posted by DEEPNHOCK

Remember, if you run the 700R4,you need to leave the lower tab on the AFB carb throttle shaft for the TV cable.
(unless you get that in the pan valve body adapter to eliminate the TV cable)
Same thing goes for the TH350 kickdown cable.
What that means is you need to run a carb spacer to lift up the carb so the lower tab clears the intake manifold heat crossover runner.
No big deal unless you are doing this in an Avanti, or C/K with a low hood line.
Might require a super thin air filter, or thin engine mounts to clear the hood with the air filter.
Just a few small details to think out ahead of time.
Hope the info helps.
Jeff[8D]

Originally posted by mjeansonne

<snip>
Also may as well opt for a new Edelbrock Carb with the electric choke.<snip>
[/quote

[tony_n_austin]

I have a 700R4 Adapter kit with Starter from Myers Studebaker and a fiberglass 700R4 replica transmission to go with it. The fiberglass model has metal threaded bolts all around so you can match it up to the bell housing and figure out any support modifications. Even has the pan bolt pattern on the bottom. I also have the TPI adapter that corrects the geometry of the down shift lever on Edlebrock carbs.

http://www.myersstudebaker.com/aluminum_adapter.htm

I changed my plans to a 5 speed conversion and no longer need them.
Anyone interested in giving me an offer and save me the trouble of putting them onto eBay?

[buddymander]

The 350T throttle cable is not nearly as sensitive to adjustment as the 700 or 200. The 350 will still shift without it, but the others won't. They will just hang in first. As far as a point to connect the cable to the carb--you can use any point that moves with the gas pedal as long as it follows the same radius as the original connection.

[JRoberts]

Okay, let me take this in a slightly different, but related, direction. I have a 200r4 that I want to put in my '65 Cruiser. I know we will have to fabricate a support cross member. This car has the 283 GM engine. Will I need to get a different starter? I assume most of the modifications needed to put such a transmission behind a Stude engine will not have to be done in my situation.

Joe Roberts
'61 R1 Champ
'65 Cruiser
Editor of "The Down Easterner"
Eastern North Carolina Chapter