Trans swap question

[Echos Myron]

I purchased a '67 El Camino which was originally a 283/Powerglide car, but now has a non-running 305/Powerglide combo in it. My mechanic has obtained a nice 307 motor with a Turbo-Hydro. He insists that it would be better for me to go with that setup and forget about the Powerglide which is in bad shape. I would rather rebuild the Powerglide and hopefully find a usable '67 date-coded 283 someday, since I'm big on originality. What I want to know is, will there be a problem using a Turbo with the original two-speed column shift quadrant setup? My mechanic says there wouldn't be an issue besides shifting by the seat of my pants. I will not change over to a big-block shift pattern, so I'm hoping he is right. Thanks.

[silicon212]

The shift quadrant will not be accurate, but you will still have no problem using it. The bigger question is what type of transmission. The original "Turbo Hydramatic" is the TH400 and this will require shortening of the driveshaft as well as replacement of the yoke (the TH400 uses a larger yoke). If it's a TH350, it should more or less swap right in, same driveshaft, same yoke. Other transmissions will require other combinations of mounting locations and driveshaft length.

[Echos Myron]

Thanks a lot. It is a TH350, and he said there would be no problem bolting it right in, but I just wanted to double check. I probably should have just waited to buy a matching-number car, but I've already started gathering parts for this one.

[7D8SS]

Keep your powerglide just in case you want to put it back to original. ~ Jon