Quote:
Originally Posted by LightNFast
Glen,
Perhaps you're over-thinking it as well as underestimating it  ... because there's no "bracket" involved. The tail-housing design (casting) is what sets the shifter location. Moving the shifter mechanism (and have it fit and operate correctly) with a custom bracket is not so easy, especially on these old external linkage units. Hence all the tail-housing variations Ford produced.
As a side note, if you're building an accurate replica of a 289, you'll need the Galaxie configuration - T10 or Toploader, either will work as the shifter location is the same.
Hope this helps. |
Hi Kurt.
My Toploader is a C8AR-7006 housing (so '68 vintage) with a D0ZR-7A040-A tailhousing.
Deciphering the tailshaft casting ID tells me that it's a 14" 28 spline tailhousing, probably originally specc'd for small block fitment in a Cyclone/Fairlane/Torino or Mustang/Cougar/Torino 390
Not sure a Galaxie config. is what I would have wanted as Galaxie tailhousings are 17" and 31 spline so that's too long (IMO) for a very short tailshaft.
My Toploader's most recent duty was in a 351 Falcon (Australian), in which application it would have needed the shifter mechanism further aft. It achieved that with a bracket that moves it back three or four inches.
My David Kee agent, who's doing the rebuild, tells me that brackets were commonly used to position the shifter in the correct place. It's just a very simple bracket.
Digressing - that beautiful 289FIA is keeping you entertained?
Cheers,
Glen