As I am going through my car to figure out the issues, I cam up with the following questions
- Is there only one type of bell housing for a given engine? my engine is a 289 and my bell housing ID is C5DA-6394-A which is consistent
- Is it possible to install a top loader that was on a bigger engine on a 289? my toploader is a RUG AV1 which means it is coming out of either a 302 or a 351 ... my first answer would be yet since it is the set-up on my car but I am wondering if this could be the source of some issues I have had (issues listed on a previous post - Thanks!

 

it should go with no problems

 

The big block transmission input shafts are shorter. That is the only difference I know of. That should not apply in your case.

 

Interesting - would someone know the lenght difference? - would this difference impact the fork clutch adjustment? as I mentionned before, one of my issues is very short clutching, with my fork adjustment being maxed out ...

 

Too my knowledge the input shaft are all the same length, but the big motors had a 1 3/8" vs 1 1/8" for the small motors and the big-input shaft were a 2.32/1 and the small motors was a 2.78/1 ratio. The bolt paterns were the same. The output shafts were different based on the wheel base of the car they were going in. ANY 3 or 4 speed top-loader should fit the bellhousing of any other top-loader.

 

I'm sure there are pleanty of folks that know more about this than I do. I'm just going off my only experience with this. 100 years ago I tryed to put a big block topleader behind a small block and assumed the shafts were the same. The new trans went in great! Easiest one I ever put it! Problem was it went in so easy because the shaft was not in the pilot bearing. It worked and moved the car but there was a vibration and the trans front bearing was making noise. Pulled the trans to compare and found the short shaft. Traded that input shaft with a shaft I had from an early model small block toploader, the one with the narrow bolt pattern on the front of the trans, and everything was golden.

 

I think Mikethebike is talking about one of those superwhumpadyne NASCAR toploaders. Those things have bigger everything.

 

well from seeing that the windsor is a consistent family meaning that most parts from one motor will fit another. and that the t5 in my fox on my 302 will fit a 351 and 289, the 4 speed should fit. dont kno for sure though.

 

Top loaders for big blocks were different, but an input shaft for a small block will fitjust fine. That's how mine is set up right now.

 

No. Stock top-loaders in 427/428/429 cars and most 390 cars were 1 3/8" input shafts. Call Dan Williams in NC and he'll tell you all about them AND how expensive it is to repair them, that's why I went with a T-5.