the only aluminum t/f's to have a brake drum are motor home trans's... the
iron years drum assy will not work on the alum trans. the iron years will
not work on engines '62 or newer, starting in 60 with the 904 /6 and 62 for all
8's, aluminum trans's use a flexplate-- the iron years, '61 and down, have a
flanged crankshaft to which the converter or flywheel bolts directly to.
they make an early V8 adapter, but you must use a small block 727 pattern
bellhousing- we found this out the hard way using hotheads adapter for a friends
project 57... to keep the real scheme -- you should go with a
'65-only alum 727, its the first slip yoke app, and the last year for cable
shift. i convert the park brake [former drum] to the actual park detent,
and of course to ditch the tapered axles, i use the '65 up c-body rears in mild
apps, or A and B body rear housing with relocated perches where some tire is
needed, in any case, a secondary park brake can be instituted through the rear
brakes with the modern bendix rear setups. if you take that route, a disguised
park is a better idea, with the cable activating the rear drums, with proper
cable geometry.
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