4speed to T85 change over on Champ

[stehlik]

My champ 1/2 ton has a 4 speed granny box and I am going to change it over to a t85/od. My question is; The hole for centering the trans. Is it the same size? I have a correct one but would like to keep the one I have. I know that I will have to re-drill and tap the mounting holes but I will not have to pull the engine and re-do the the alignment on the bell housing. Are the center holes the same?


55pres- Cascade Chapter Oregon

http://users.mcsi.net/cascadestudebaker

[Transtar60]

The center hole for the T-98 is 4.87"
Center hole for T-85C/T89C is 4.68"
From 8E truck specifications book.
Edit: chart image added.



3E38
4E2
4E28
5E13
7E7
8E7
8E12
8E28

59 Lark
etc

[stehlik]

Thanks for the info. I was afraid of that. I guess the engine has to come out....Bob

55pres- Cascade Chapter Oregon

http://users.mcsi.net/cascadestudebaker

[silverhawk]

I don't know about the nose pieces. I got a question though. When I did the clutch in my car, I didn't pull the engine, I just supported the engine from undernieth, and pulled the cross member, then the bell houseing comes right off. There is a little jiggling to get it around a spot undly the tranny tunnel, but you don't have to take the engine out. Is the champs different? I thought the lark floor is the same and the champ, as that is what the champ came from. Just curious.....

Dylan Wills

'61 lark deluxe 4 door wagon

[53starliner]

Just a thought...I too have a 1/2 ton Champ. I changed the ring and pinion (and carrier assembly) from 4:09 to 3:31. All you need is a 44 case car diff for the parts. It was an easy Saturday job swapping the pumpkins.

Fred

[mbstude]

Dylan.. Sometimes it's easier to yank the whole engine. Especially if you have to dial in a new bell housing.

quote:Originally posted by 53starliner

Just a thought...I too have a 1/2 ton Champ. I changed the ring and pinion (and carrier assembly) from 4:09 to 3:31. All you need is a 44 case car diff for the parts. It was an easy Saturday job swapping the pumpkins.

Fred

We did the exact same to my '59 C Cab. Went from 4.27 to 3.54.

Matthew Burnette
Hazlehurst, GA

[stehlik]

If I change the bell housing I will need to dial indicate it. It is almost impossible to do it in the car. I have a 3.07 & 3.54 & 3.73 rear ends and I could swap them out but I would like to keep the 4.09 posi. The 4.09 with a T85/OD is a good combo....Bob

55pres- Cascade Chapter Oregon

http://users.mcsi.net/cascadestudebaker

[gordr]

Hmmm, 4.870 - 4.680 = 0.210

That's the difference in diameter. Half of that is 0.105", which is the the thickness of the spacer ring you'd need.

How close is the T85 bolt pattern to that of the T98? Are some holes exactly the same, or are any "off" by less than a full hole diameter? If you have to drill and tap holes that overlap existing holes, that can be a real PITA.

If the T98 front bearing retainer won't fit the T85, then perhaps you could have the T85 retainer built up with weld and machined down to the T98 diameter. Or have the center holes in the bellhousing counterbored, and a stepped bushing made to center the smaller retainer.

But if you have BOTH center-hole issues, and mounting hole issues, the easy way out would be to find the right bellhousing for the T85.

Gord Richmond, within Weasel range of the Alberta Badlands

[hotrodstude]

check with lakewood they may have an adapter ring. i've used them before no troubles at all.they came with the bellhousings i have bought from them.

2006,f-150,2x4,v-6,5-speed manual,8ft bed, will post stude info when i get it on the road.

[Alan]

When you check the adapter rings that come with McLeod and Lakewood housings it is a 4.850" for a Ford or Chev. and Stude at 4.680" so there will be some slop.

[stehlik]

I have all the right parts,T85 bell housing etc. I am trying to find someone that has done this swap to find out the easy way. This is my first time with this type of swap. After you have done it once you then know what you should have done the first time. What problems I will find? What parts I need. You know their is always something you missed or didn't think of. If the nose piece will interchange then that would be easy. All of the other advice is good.The adapter ring is a possibility. It might be the easy way....Bob
ps. does anyone have a picture of a t98 bell housing?

55pres- Cascade Chapter Oregon

http://users.mcsi.net/cascadestudebaker

[Transtar60]

See the chart that I added above.


3E38
4E2
4E28
5E13
7E7
8E7
8E12
8E28

59 Lark
etc

[Mark57]

quote:Originally posted by Transtar60

See the chart that I added above.

Charlie, what book is that chart you posted from?

<h5>Mark
'57 Transtar Deluxe
Vancouver Island Chapter
http://visdc.shawwebspace.ca/ </h5>

[stehlik]

The chart answered all my questions except; Will the front flange fit? It tells me all of the dimensions except the bolt hole dimensions for the flange.everything else looks like it might fit. Thanks for the chart....Bob

55pres- Cascade Chapter Oregon

http://users.mcsi.net/cascadestudebaker

[Transtar60]

quote:Originally posted by Mark57

quote:Originally posted by Transtar60

See the chart that I added above.

Charlie, what book is that chart you posted from?

<h5>Mark
'57 Transtar Deluxe
Vancouver Island Chapter
http://visdc.shawwebspace.ca/ </h5>

The chart is from the Studebaker Truck Specifications Book for 1963-64. I bought mine from SASCO in 2002 at the International Meet.
It was one of the last complete ones they had, they had more of the book but were nearly out of the binders.

Ted Jensen over at Studebaker Truck Page used to have a 1958 or 59 version on CD.


3E38
4E2
4E28
5E13
7E7
8E7
8E12
8E28

59 Lark
etc