Hello guys,
I have a 65 Dart project that I just started working on out back. It has a 318 and a 904 automatic. The clearance around the transmission seems really tight. The cooler lines look like they'd have to be installed/removed only after removing the transmission crossmember and lowering the tail shaft.
First off, I noticed that it had a slant six center link. This caused the oil pan to rest on the center link. I changed to a V8 center link and while the engine did go down about 1/4", the trans clearance still seems tight. The trans mount was ready to explode so I put in a freebie I had that measured another 3/16"-1/4" shorter. These two things did give a tiny bit of additional room but I'm just surprised to see how tight it all is in this car. A buddy has a 64 Valiant with a 360 and 727 and I don't recall his car being so cramped in there. The floor pan looks stock.

They are tight, even with a Slant/904. When I converted my '66 to a 904 I had to clearance the floor for the KD linkage.

Getting a 727 in requires hammer work on the pinch welds I believe.

That is funny you mention the KD linkage. There is a square hole in the floor above the KD lever on the trans!
I'd rather patch a floor than to replace quarter panels. The outer body of this car is rock solid.

I've had several early A's with SB/904 & no cooler line (or other) issues. You have the V8 centerlink in there. Are these the 64-66 273 V8 mtr mts/OE cooler lines/you did have the OE trans mt/correct oil pan for correct fore/aft eng/trans location??. we're missing something.

Somewhere in this cars 52 year history, a slip yoke 904 was put in along with this 318. Maybe the slip yoke era had a different location for the ATF lines?
The car also has some BS B&M shifter and a deep trans pan. Yeah.. for a 318.

same location on the lines with a slip yoke trans & the slip yoke is a bennie.

Thank you guys!