Thread: tranny

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on a small block ford when they changed the bellhousing to 6 bolt from 5 did it also change the transmission bolt pattern and front bearing retainer size or can i put in a later year top loader?

thanks for your information on everything i have received off this site, it has been most helpful.

wenpen

All of the toploader trans made after the bolt pattern switch I have seen have both bolt patterns. Jeff

The last model of the toploader ( I think it was the last model) had only the wide top bolt pattern. I have been told that the closer bolt pattern can be drilled into the case because all they did was remove the two inner holes of the four hole top pattern.

You may have to turn down the front bearing retainer. The very early toploaders (1964) had a smaller diameter retainer - in 65 they went to the larger diameter. It is not that much larger and the larger one can be turned down very easily to the smaller diameter. I had to do it when I put a toploader behind my 312.