Hey guys, I started this frame off rest on my '64 Electra convertible with the want/need for an overdrive transmission. I originally went with a Bendtsons adapter kit and a new 700R4 transmission. It bolted on nicely. I shortened the driveshaft and modified the crossmember to make it fit. It looked good....... until I lowered the body on. I immediately ran into clearance issues between the body and the transmission. I modified the floor and fixed that problem. Then I found that the bell housing was too far back to fit the A/C housing. I thought of modifying the A/C housing but then found a website with Russ's bell housings. This is where it got really expensive. I sold the new 700R4 I sold the Bendsten adapter kit Of course I got what I paid...... NOT! I ordered a new Bell housing from Russ I ordered a new tailshaft housing to be able to use a speedo cable I ordered a new 4L60E from Monster transmission I ordered an EZ transmission programmer I ordered a new TPS from EZ Then I waited.... and waited.... Finally everything arrived! Trans is prepped and ready to go in tomorrow.
Russ=Nailhead Guru, ebAY parts vendor for Nailheads. West Coast. Larry, nice job, hope all new stuff works well! Ted
Transmission fit in nicely. I had to modify the flywheel a bit on the torque bolt holes. I reshaped the crossmember to better fit the 4L60E from what I did to accommodate the 700R4. The clearance all the way around is just like factory. no interference anywhere with a lot more room for the cooler lines and dipstick tube. I either need to shorten my original driveshaft a couple of inches or lengthen the 700R4 driveshaft. I'm leaning to lengthening the 700R4 driveshaft as it has all new joints on it and then I will still have an original driveshaft in the warehouse. Clearance for the A/C housing is ample and will fit perfectly. I am a happy man. Can't wait to see how the overdrive works on the highway
The bell housing that made this all possible (and kept me from being forced back to the TH400) is produced by Russ at www.nailheadbuick.com
I think what you will find is that shortening a driveshaft is relatively cheap. Lengthening ,means having another driveshaft made, they can probably re-use your ends so it's not quite as much as totally new.
How much more length do you need? The 4L60E should be very close to the 700R4 length, basically the same trans but the 4L60E is electronic controlled. Or did the new bell housing make it shorter? Anyway, depending on how much longer you need the driveshaft to be, you may be able to get a different yoke that makes up for the missing length? Derek
I need to add 4.5 inches to the 700R4 driveshaft or remove 3 inches from the TH400 driveshaft. The tail shaft is apps 2" shorter on the 4L60E and the 700R4 adapter is approx 2 " thick.
