I need to know basically how to convert my 67 Chevelle from automatic to standard transmission.?

Question

It presently has a 454c.i. with a TH350 tranny.

Answer 1

You ll need a new tranny obviously, a new bell housing, the pedals, all the shifter linkage coming from the shifter going all the way out to the tranny, a new radiator (to run your trans lines into) possibly a different trans crossmember and depending on the setup you might have to have your drive shaft lengthened or shortened, possibly a new yolk too ..spline might be different on the new tail shaft. You can order the pedals, the linkage, the new radiator the bell housing and (if you need it) the new cross member from classicindustries.com yearone.com and there are several other online vender's for those cars on the web just google chevelle parts and you ll find them

Answer 2

You might be better off finding a TH400, have it rebuilt and install a mild shift kit.
The change-over from auto to manual is involved. You have to install the supports and bushings for the clutch pedal. The support is above the steering column and requires some welding. The firewall should have knock-outs for the clutch linkage. You will need the pivot ball that mounts on the frame for the clutch cross-over linkage and the one that screws into the block. The 454 may not be cast with a place to mount the engine pivot ball. You can get hydraulic clutch linkage for the manual trans but you still need to install the pedal support under the dash and change the brake pedal.The floorboard will need a hole cut in it for the shifter.
You won't have to worry about the radiator. You can leave the trans cooler open or, just to be safe in case it corrodes through, you can plug them off. However the cooler was well lubricated.

Parts: Bell housing, flywheel, pilot bushing or bearing, transmission, clutch assembly , release bearing, release fork, linkage, cross-over link and ball, cross-over pivot ball for the engine block, shifter, driveshaft yoke, U-joints, Pedal assembly and bushings, the shifter seal for the floorboard, etc. It may have more value if it was an SS with auto from the factory, the SS big block auto model came with the TH400.

I had a 66 SS Chevelle with the 4 Spd. Muncie and converted to a TH400 w/shift kit. Actually enjoyed driving it better than the Muncie 4 spd. I did it after I destroyed the 4 spd. I just tucked the pedal under the carpet and threw the linkage, bell housing and center console in the trunk when I sold it.

Search "Chevelle" on the I-net and you'll find a lot of Chevelle organizations with lots of technical knowledge. You can get parts catalogs from companies that actually make new parts for the 64-72 Chevelles.

Answer 3

Pat-

I have done this conversion in the past.

Its a little time consuming but it can be done. You might look into several aftermarket companies that build transmissions. The internal parts are better than the stock transmissions, and they already have the beefier syncros that the tranny is going to need.

TCI is one of those companies. I am currently doing such a conversion on a 1965 Mustang with a 425 Hp 302. But in the past I have done 2 Chevelles, (1972 and 1967), 1 El Camino, 1972), and a '68 Dodge Charger.

The major difference in the vehicles is that we removed the old clutch linkage system and installed a hydraulic clutch system. This favors the manual transmission and the kits are very simple to install. Some of the kits even come with the hydraulic lines pre-bent in the correct pattern.

The kist will come with a Clutch Master that will connect to the bulkhead and the rod will pass through to the pedal arm. There will be a slave cylinder that you will need to install. Then bleed the system just like bleeding your brakes. No adjustment necessary. The clutch is either in or out, and very controllable with your foot.

The trick is going to be the under-dash work. Chevrolet would omit the bracket for the clutch pedal, so you are going to need to get and aftermarket conversion kit for this. They are available, but they are a tricky install as you are going to have to obtain a manual transmission brake pedal to make room for the clutch pedal.

JC Whitney has some of the kist available, but I have obtained most of my information through TCI and my Hot Rod Magazines.

Personally, I would stick with the TH 350 or maybe upgrade to a TH 400. Those were very strong transmissions, and there are a ton of shift kits for them and custom Street Rod Parts.

They also have sequential shift kits for those transmissions.

Keep in mind that the advantage an automatic transmission has over a manual, is the fact that they don't have a clutch. In the street rod world, this is often the weakest link in the whole system. Plus getting the high end clutch packs and pressure plates is going to be an expensive prospect.

Some of those clutch systems can cost nearly what the transmission will.

The clutches that do exist in the automatic transmission are wet clutches and are less prone to premature wear.

If its fuel efficency and transfer of power you are worried about, then you have the right engine for that job. The 454 is a very good power plant, though I would definately change the cylinder heads over to the Eidelbrock Performer RPM Heads, and install their Fuel Injection System with the Electronic Ignition. This is the conversion we are currently doing on the Mustang.

We also changed over to a roller cam, roller lifters, and roller rockers. These are all things that will help the engine produce more power with less internal friction. That also equates to better fuel efficency.

You laugh?

If you make it easier for the engine to develop power by reducing the internal frictional forces on the crankshaft and camshaft, you increase your fuel's ability to deliver more of its energy. Hence more horsepower at a lower fuel consumption rate. This is why today's 8 cylinder engines are getting 25+ miles to the gallon out of their fuel, and developing so much more horsepower and torque.

You could very effectively turn your 8 to 10 mile per gallon 454, into a 20 to 25 mile per gallon 400 horse engine, just by making those simple changes.

Anyhow, I hope I have helped you out and given you some food for thought.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

well you need the peddles clutch linkage and a clutch , pressure plate and bell housing..i recommend a Nhra approved scatter shield as the aluminum Chevrolet unit will not contain a exploding clutch and that 454 can blow one to pieces..
other than that you need a transmission and a shifter..
it is a easy one day swap ..
you will need to weld a small bracket on the frame,
to support one end of the clutch linkage bellcrank

your old radiator is fine just plug the trans cooler holes with screw in plugs. the cross member is the same even the trans mount is the same.. the yoke may or may not need to be changed.. depending on the transmission you install
if you use a muncie OR super t10 Borg Warner..
the drive shaft and cross member will all stay the same

Paul is right DON"T forget to install a pilot bushing

the pin that holds in the brake peddle is replaced with the clutch peddle.....don't be tempted to use a hydraulic clutch..the right linkage works better and is cheaper

Answer 5

I'd agree with Sharpshooter except you don't need a new radiator...just pipe plug the trans cooler line holes in the one you have. You'll also need to cut a hole in the tunnel for the shifter to go through...measure carefully before cutting and start small...you can always cut it larger. You'll need a flywheel, starter, bellhousing, clutch assembly, clutch fork, throwout bearing, pilot bearing for the crank, all the clutch pedal linkage and bracket to frame plus the parts for the pedal, the transmission itself and trans crossmember...(may be the same, just mounted differently), driveshaft yoke and possibly shortened or lengthened shaft. Steering column is different for a car with manual trans (no shift lever) but you can still use it. You also have to rewire the neutral safety switch to a clutch operated one or bypass it....backup lights too. Done a few of these years ago...not too hard, just a matter of getting the right parts.

Answer 6

Yes,
that is nice, there are stores that sell the whole kit for the conversion, i think i saw it on chevy high performance mag.
if you have the money, i'd get the corvette trans and parts from the junkyard. but it's a big job any way you look at it.

year one must sell all the "factory" pedals and hardware if yoiu want it to look "stock" on the inside.

good luck!

Answer 7

67chevelle