Early (65) Torqueflite Questions

Good morning all, and thank you for letting me join the board!

I am rebuilding a 65 vintage Torqueflite for a friends 64 belvedere and have a few questions...

1 - the 65 and 66 rear pump slip yoke autos used an internal seal on the output shaft and a grease lubricated yoke with a vent hole. Can I leave the internal seal off the output shaft and run a conventional atf lubed slip yoke?

2 - are all cable shift valve bodies the same, or are push button ones different from cable column and console ones?

3 - has anyone done the conversion to larger late style reaction and input shafts, and if so is there a preferred date range of parts to use? I assume the pump, reaction shaft and input shaft all get changed?

Any other advice on building a performance 65 vintage torqueflite? The intention is to have a slip yoke button shifted trans.

Welcome aboard & welcome to the jungle. Yes that is a good swap to get a slip yoke trans in there & keep the pushbuttons. that 1 year only 727 is a coveted piece. the guys here will be able to answer your questions

1) Yes, just remove the internal seal and install a yoke without the vent hole.

2) Pushbutton VB's have only have 5 positions, console/column VB's have an extra position for Park. The console/column VB's can be used with the pushbutton shifter and cable but you must use the console/column cable adjustment procedure.

3) Correct, you can update from the 19-spline input by changing the three components mentioned and, of course, the drum. '71 and later have the wide drum bushing so that is preferred.

Perfect! Thanks for the answers.

John, do you know the details on the spline changes that happened circa 1976? Exactly which splines changed and what can and cant be intermixed?

As far as I know it is only the forward most spline on the output shaft, or is it both forward splines?

Thanks!

John since class is in session is it possible to swap out the B&T on an even earlier than 64 trans to the later splined output shaft assy?

My guess is that you would need a tailshaft and housing assembly from a 65 or 66 vintage transmission. Or perhaps just 65? The only year(s) of slip yoke rear pump 727s.

I got a 63 dart convertible coming my way & my plan is to mill the OE 904 down & use an ultrabell that I have to mate it to a 451 (halfway done) & beef it up significantly. Keeping the pushbuttons. I have the streetmaster BB/early A mtr mts (might not be available anymore) and a 187 pan & some B body HP ex manis. wild huh! EDIT Since I will be cutting down/shortening/balancing a shaft for the 8&3/4 I'd like to get the slip yoke in there.

The ball and trunion style can be converted by swapping the 65 tail shaft and tail housing. Output shaft splines have changed several times. 0nly the 1975 and earlier front planet is correct.
Doug

The original front planet carrier spline (90°) included angle changed in '76 (to 75°) and again in '94 (to 60°). In both cases the earlier carrier will fit on the newer shaft but the spline engagement will be reduced and this is a potential failure spot.

John and all, thank you for sharing your wisdom and knowledge. I have made myself notes for future reference.

Dave

does it have to be a 65 shaft/housing or can any later one up to '75 be used.

65 only. However it can be from a Poly 318. Wrong bell housing, correct tail housing and shaft. People through them away. I've picked up several. Four 65 Big Block's in my stash in case the race car grenades one. So far 800 passes on my old 10.20 car, 400 passes on the 9.0 car, around 200 in my sons 9.5 turbo car. Only failed one tail housing. It was a U-joint failure at the top end. Never hurt a input or output shaft.
Doug

Thanks Doug & I'm assuming that applies to 904's the same.

The 904 didn't get a slip yoke in '65 so there is no slip yoke conversion for a cable-shift 904.

Alright, thanks John.