Converting 65 Plymouth to 70 drivetrain.

[65Belvedere440]

Currently converting my 65 Plymouth Belvedere with a 318 and automatic transmission to a 1970 440 with a 727 transmission. Wondering if there is any shift linkage conversion kits or if it is just easier to do a floor shifter? Anybody else run into this?

 

[PRND21]

Look up A&A Transmission, I was once told that they have a way to adapt a cable shifter to a later transmission. Good luck.

 

[peabodyracin]

Your Belvedere still has the cable shift mechanism on the steering column. There are actually two cables operating your existing transmission. One for park and the other operating the valve body. That means there's a completely different mechanism involved where things attach to the transmission. It's possible someone has come up with an adapter solution but I've not heard of it to date. I'd guess converting to a floor shifter would be your best bet. Keep us posted on what you find please!

 

[65Belvedere440]

Yes it was Chrysler's way of doing a column shift from the old push button. On the column where the cables connect I didn't know if anyone had came up with any linkage solutions.

 

[RemCharger]

I put a floor shifter in mine. Works solid.

 

[65Belvedere440]

Look up A&A Transmission, I was once told that they have a way to adapt a cable shifter to a later transmission. Good luck.

I called them, they said they only deal in the transmission. But thank you for the information.

 

[toolmanmike]

Valve bodies are different between the early push button, 64 column switch over, and 65 and newer.

 

[65Belvedere440]

Valve bodies are different between the early push button, 64 column switch over, and 65 and newer.

I know they are different. I need to know if there is linkage available to swap over to a 1970.

 

[65hemi]

A 66 or 67 (maybe 68) steering column with column shifter will bolt in. This replaces the cables with a linkage. Even the steering column wire harness will work. You will need the associated bell crank and shift linkage to the transmission for the shifter but again its a bolt in. That’s how I converted my 65 Belvedere.

 

[Dave6T4]

1966 column might fit. '67 and up won't. They are larger o.d. columns because of collapsible feature. I think Imperial Motors in Michigan made a kit to do this conversion. The newer linkage-shifted valve bodies had a pretty stiff spring behind the decent ball in the rooster comb. Since you will still be shifting this adaptation with a flexible cable, you need to swap this heavy spring out for a softer one, like the one on your '65 valve body. You will also have to use a conversion transmission mount.

 

[65Belvedere440]

Any idea where to find the conversion transmission mounts?

 

[65Belvedere440]

I guess floor shifter its going to be. I would imagine the chances of me finding a 66 or 67 steering column is going to take far more money and time.

 

[Timmayy]

I just went with a Winters Sidewinder gated shifter when I converted my wagon. I love it.

 

[65Belvedere440]

1966 column might fit. '67 and up won't. They are larger o.d. columns because of collapsible feature. I think Imperial Motors in Michigan made a kit to do this conversion. The newer linkage-shifted valve bodies had a pretty stiff spring behind the decent ball in the rooster comb. Since you will still be shifting this adaptation with a flexible cable, you need to swap this heavy spring out for a softer one, like the one on your '65 valve body. You will also have to use a conversion transmission mount.

Do you happen to know how to get a hold of Imperial motors? Tried looking them up on the internet and every phone number I find is missing one number to make the complete phone number.

 

[toolmanmike]

Do you happen to know how to get a hold of Imperial motors? Tried looking them up on the internet and every phone number I find is missing one number to make the complete phone number.

https://www.imperialservices.net/ordering.htm

Phone number upper left corner.

 

[ckessel]

I looked at the conversion by Imperial Services awhile back for a possible project car. It was around $600.00 a couple of years ago for the pushbutton type. They may have the trans mount too. Doing the column swap or aftermarket floor shifter may be less dough and easier. My 65 had the console shifter which I sold several years ago. I have the later 727 for the car now, still in build stage. There was a company that made a paddle shift unit which I liked but they went out of business. Now I'm going to do a floor shifter but not Hurst/B&M/TCI as they are too cheap looking[ to me]. I'll either use one from Turbo Action, they have one specifically for Torqueflites or one from Precision Performance.

 

[65Belvedere440]

I am wondering if an aftermarket cable with a small bracket mounted to the transmission would work. It's already running a cable system from the column to the transmission. If I was just to take a cable and connect into the "existing column cable connection" then attach a bracket onto the transmission and connecting the other end of the cable to the transmission existing linkage.

 

[toolmanmike]

I've noticed some fellas installing a aftermarket automatic shifter into a stock console.

 

[ckessel]

I am wondering if an aftermarket cable with a small bracket mounted to the transmission would work. It's already running a cable system from the column to the transmission. If I was just to take a cable and connect into the "existing column cable connection" then attach a bracket onto the transmission and connecting the other end of the cable to the transmission existing linkage.

I did just that on an 86 CJ7 when I did an engine swap on it. Had a 4.2 6cyl with a 904, put a 5.2 maggy in it with the 904 re-cased. I sourced a Morse cable of needed length, got a shift arm for the trans, got two brackets to hold the cable[ one on the trans, one at the column] and all was good. Just needed to compare the throw of the shift arm on the column to same on the trans when at park and first, adjust ball joint holes on either as needed to make them work and all was groovy.

 

[Darter6]

Imperial Motors

Imperial Services is hit or miss. I waited 3 years (No Joke) to finally get the conversion kit.Out of spite I continued to call asking when will we get it. Never used it but quickly sold it to another member.It may be different now.
During that time we installed a 67 column that I got from Wild Cat Auto Wreckers in Oregon.
I called and asked for everything from the column to the transmission. Everything was a bolt in.That was in our 65 Belvedere.The owner wanted a column shift. Worked for us.