transmission conversion manual to automatic

[couchcuts]

Hi I have a 1970 Ford f100 6 cylinder with a manual 3 speed column shift transmission.

What it would take to do a transmission conversion to an automatic using parts from the same / similar year.

I was wondering what the difficulty level of such a task is, what to read etc... thanks

I am new to this but I want to keep my truck for a long time.
It is my daily driver and I am 6'3" so although I love driving it with the column shift, an automatic transmission would not be so bad.

cheers

[71PA_Highboy]

Personal preference here, I would replace the pedals and pedal support assy, or at least have yours rebuilt. the pivot assy is a bit different for an auto and usually the pressure of the clutch actuation wears the pedal support bushings.

Which 6 - 240 or 300?

[Whateverman]

i've done this swap (and vice versa) at least a dozen times now -if you've got a 2wd its a pretty easy swap as long as you've got all the parts you need :
auto trans - (of course)

correct flexplate,starter and engine mid plate

automatic steering column ,correct firewall bracket and shift linkage

driveshaft -if you've got a 2pc you can get away with using the front half and reusing your existing rear half -

you can usually use the existing mount from the manual trans,you usually have to shift the crossmember back and sometimes drill some new holes in the frame to bolt it in place

i'd also recommend replacing the pedals & support assy - unless you can handle driving around with a 3rd pedal sitting there useless on the floor ....or are up to the challenge of removing the clutch pedal from your existing bracket -which is easiest done with the pedal assy out of the truck...but is still not all that easy

you'll also most likely have to sort out the column wiring,unless you're lucky enough to have gotten a column that's the same year as your truck ...which i've never managed to do personally

.... that's all i can remember right now ....

[couchcuts]

Hi, thanks for the great information. The truck is a 2WD and It is a 240 6 cylinder.

I guess the first step would to be start collecting the correct parts, right?

If I were to go in an ask a my local drivetrain mechanic to do something like this what should I expect, what should it cost, should I have the parts first?

I would like to keep the truck as original as a 1970 F100 automatic as possible but it does not have to be all the exact parts, whatever is clean easiest.

thanks again

[71rangerxlt-fred]

The only thing I can add is to remember that the power steering column is shorter than the manual steering. I would guess that your truck has manual steering, If not I have "dibs" on your 3 speed power steering column. Ha ha..
Morgan

[Whateverman]

The only thing I can add is to remember that the power steering column is shorter than the manual steering. I would guess that your truck has manual steering, If not I have "dibs" on your 3 speed power steering column. Ha ha..
Morgan

....minus wanting the 3spd column

good luck finding a trans/driveline shop that'll even think of attempting to do the swap for you,the one's i've dealt with wouldn't even think of touchng something like this no matter what the price...but things might be different down there

its really a pretty easy swap to do yourself though ,the hardest part -other than lining up the torque converter studs and the bellhousing bolts while shoving the new trans into place without jiggling the converter too hard and having to reseat it for the umpteenth time is finding all the goodies ahead of time

i try to pull the engine and then hook the engine to the trans out of the truck if possible & then use a tilter on the engine crane when reinstalling the engine/trans combo

[M1kem3]

I want to convert our 1967 F100 352 RWD from a three speed manual to an automatic. What is done differently on a V8? Where can I look for parts, and what is the complete list of the parts I need? Can I use the same column, but adapt it to an automatic column shifter? Also, what transmission do I use?

[ultraranger]

Column length with power steering depends on what type of PS gearbox you use. If you use the less desirable Bendix PS gearbox, the column length for manual steering remains the same.

If you use the taller, longer Saginaw PS gearbox, you'll need the shorter column designed to fit the Saginaw, the shorter PS firewall-to-column bracket that mounts on the engine side of the firewall and you'll need the larger column-to-firewall seal that goes on the inside of the firewall.

You'll also need the correct power steering pitman arm for the Saginaw PS gearbox.