Grease

Hello and Welcome Oh boy these cars are 40 years old now . Theres no telling what all they have been thru in all those years .My first thought is did the car come with a Powerglide ? Not likely if it came with the 400 sb . Was the console added and possibly from a powerglide car. The powerglide shifter would have the detents in the wrong places . Did the car have a 700R4 with the last owner and have the 4speed/OD detent plate installed ? Again not correct for a t350. Its sure been a while since I have been under my 70 with console shift .As I recall the lever on the side of trans has a slot adjustment for the cable . Also if the car is complete / original it will have the back drive on the shifter connecting the column shift tube ect. to operate the key lock in park mechanism . I would get the car on level ground where I could jack it up and put it on stands where its secure to work under . Then check the cable attachment to the trans shift shaft . Probably you will need to loosen the cable end .Move the shift shaft to the park position .Memory says rotate it CCW to the park position (looking from the left side). You might also have to loosen the adjustment point on the back drive where it goes up to the steering column . Both points may need adjustment . With both adjustment points loose ,make sure the shift lever is in the Park position ,then make sure the trans shift shaft is in the park position , then be sure to rotate the back drive all the way up (towards the column )then secure both adjustment point nut/bolt The shifter shaft adjustment should be a nut and the back drive adjustment should be a bolt . I wish I had pictures . Again this is going by memory . I hope it helps .

Let me add my nickels worth here . Ive been there done that and wasnt happy . The reason I wasnt happy ,I did the 400 trans into my 70 300HP 350/350 and it never performed as well as it had with the 350 and a shift kit . The first gear ratios are quite different in the 350 and 400 . The 400 first gear is higer . If you are still running the stock ratio axle that most came with ( 2.73:1 ) I would recommend you might want to go into some 3.23:1 axle gears if not a lower ratio .

I would recommend at the minimum to use the DELCO 5 gear planetary units front and rear . Use the Beast Cage or higher quality if one is available now . I have not used hardend input shaft/housing but know there avalable .

I know there are hardend parts for the 700 . If your going to beat it at the track a lot of folks prefer the 200 with hardend parts .

I dont know what engine your planning . If its a s/b and you put in the TH400 you will want lower rear gears as the TH400 has a higher ratio 1st gear than the TH350 . I am not up on TH400 , there might be lower ratio gear sets for the trans . Just more to think about .I hated my first Monte after I swapped the TH350 and put in a TH400 . IT was a 300hp with 2:73 . It was just never right after the trans swap . I didnt realize what I had done till later after I sold the car . I still beat myself up over that .

Robert is correct about the cruising RPM in the 1700 range with the 2:73 gears Thats what I run with a s/b 400 . I might actully dip in the high 1600 range with converter locked up . I want to change rear gears because I feel its to low of an RPM , almost lugging at times . I only use the lock up on interstate driving .

Oh man that goes back a bit . In '61 didnt they still use the cast iron glide ? I am sure it had linkage but not sure about the vacuum . Hmm time for some study up . LOL

I havent done a 400 shift kit . Did one T350 and that one was a new spacer plate and balls placement as Ian mentioned . The kits I have used in 700R4s are springs and holes drilled larger in the spacer plates . The springs are changed in the valve body . If your doing a rebuild there are kits that change springs in the clutch paks as well . That said perhaps just putting a stock plate back will help you .

The plastic vent tube should be about 3 inches long . It should be open .

I agree with the black

Good job Guys . Nice pictures .

Ian I dont think with the automatic it can be turned backwards like it is shown with the 4speed . The pipe would be into the oil pan I believe.

I am quite happy with the PainlessWiring lock up switch kit . It has the brake light switch , vacuum break switch and a new pressure switch to install in the trans along with the single wire and plug to the trans. I have added to this a toggle switch so I can block (turn off ) the lock up system.

What carburetor are you running ? If not a Q-Jet from a factory application with a 700R4 , then do you have the linkage correction parts from BowTie Overdrive ? Throttle position linkage is critical .

Leave one wheel on the ground and rotate the other 2 turns while counting the driveshaft revolutions .

You need to go surfing at the Bowtie website . Look around for the correct linkage which needs to be on the carburetor throttle shaft . ITs critical that the cable actuation be correct . Just using the Bowtie cable will not solve the problems . Bowtie , last time I was looking had kits for the popular Carbs as well as there cable and cable bracket.

John I think you need to give more information . I would be guessing you might want to install the newer LS engine ? Please explain a little more and you might get soem answeres . I think there is at least one member with that setup.

I would really prefer to see the old yellow copy ( original ) I would lean towards falsified paperwork .

some applications of the 700 had mechanical speedo gears . Sorry I cant say if the 350 or 400 units will fit .

Ding Ding Ding ....we have a winner RichG . Non Turbo would be the PowerGlide.

You will probly find the mainshaft/tailshaft seal failure . This major internal oil leak will fail the planetary set . What ever you do be sure to FLUSH the lines and cooler(s). Dont want to install a new/built tranny and run old bits out of the cooler system into the new unit. Does it have reverse ?

yep with a S/B most likely a 2:73

Steve have you changed the rear axle / ratio ? If so the govenor may not be sending the shift signal. As Mike57 says sounds like the govenor . If you have a local tranny shop that will work with you thats a good choice . I find my local shops dont like to talk . Good Luck .

Bravo !

D55 is the RPO code for front compartment console . Bucket seats can be with or without console and floorshift. From the factory, part of the steering column will rotate from the backdrive linkage on the floor shift option . This is for the ignition key /steering wheel lock to prevent shifter movment. I would think it unusuall for the dash to have the shift indicator and a console shift.