[66sprint6]

We received our "new" body shell/frame to rebuild our Tempest Custom. One thing that my son is adamant about is switching from the Auto Column shift to a 3 or four speed standard. I have a fairly complete 3 speed tranny from a '67 'Bird. It has the flywheel, clutch, trans, bellhousing, fork, and shifter. So I need the pedals and related stuff. I know that I need to weld a Z-bar bracket to the frame. I'll get into that later.

Is the conversion from an auto to a manual the same as a V8 car? If so, then can I use this conversion kit?

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/330758678419...53.m1438.l2649

Also, with no pedals or anything in the shell, how do I tell if it is a Pin or Bolt condition for the pedals? Would I need to switch out the sheetmetal carrier under the dash?

[Jeff Hamlin]

1966 Clutch/Brake mounting bracket will be the same L6 & V8.
If you're going to try and just add/replace the pedals be sure they are '66.
'67 are designed/bent differently.

The only things that may be an issue and should be confirmed before purchase are the Bell Housing, Flywheel, and the Z-Bar/Fork assembly but I'm not 100% sure as I've always had OHC 6 parts to work with.

I just know that they are different than the V8 but again I never tried to use V8 parts other than a Clutch assembly.

Hopefully, others will chime in.

[FrankieT/A]

I'm not an OHC 6 person per se, but I was under the impression the block was basically Chevrolet. If that's the case you would need to use a Chevrolet bell housing. Everything else would be basically the same and interchangeable.

[Jeff Hamlin]

After I posted and was thinking about it, You will need the OHC 6 Bellhousing.
It has the Starter Pocket on the Passenger side so a V8 bell is of no use.

[66sprint6]

Yep, I have the trans, bellhousing, shifter and fork.
Thanks for the replies. I was not enthused about this switch over, but my son sure is. So I'm glad that I kept the tranny and everything.

[gtospieg]

I'm pretty sure you will be happy with the change...anything is better than the ST300. Depending on your rear gears I would look for a Saginaw with the 3.50 1st gear. Glad to hear you're getting started.

[camerjeff]

Just be sure you get all the parts from a 66, 67's use almost all different parts except for the actual flywheel, bellhousing, clutch fork & Clutch bell crank ball. I once had 66 & 67 Leman's apaprt and side by side in the garage. I could no believe how much they looked alike and how different they were, the 67's Collapsible steering column with hazzard lights changed the pedals & Z-Bar, and the different floor pan changed the porch. I think the shifter would also be the same now that I think about it.

I have a complete 67 A-Body set up if somewere in the parts stash if anyone needs it.

[Hokie1984]

Originally Posted by gtospieg

I'm pretty sure you will be happy with the change...anything is better than the ST300. Depending on your rear gears I would look for a Saginaw with the 3.50 1st gear. Glad to hear you're getting started.

I have a 3.23 rear and Saginaw with a 3.11. I would not go any higher if I was you. Night and day different than the ST300 that was in there

[gtospieg]

That's why I said "depending on your rear gears"...I had a Saginaw with the 3.50 1st gear and 2.73 gears and it sure did burn tire....3.23x3.11=10.05...2.73x3.50=9.55...more than enough gear. However, with a 6 cylinder car and some weight those low 1st gears can really help an under powered car get moving.

[george kujanski]

Had a Lemans Sprint with the Saginaw 3 speed and a 3.90 axle. The OHC never had a bunch of low end torque to get the heavy body moving... I put a 5 speed in it that had a lower first gear, then it was a please to drive.

george

[gtospieg]

Originally Posted by george kujanski

Had a Lemans Sprint with the Saginaw 3 speed and a 3.90 axle. The OHC never had a bunch of low end torque to get the heavy body moving... I put a 5 speed in it that had a lower first gear, then it was a please to drive.

george

Exactly...that's why I suggested the Saginaw with the low 1st gear...maybe not with 3.90's though, that would be 3.50x3.90=13.65 1st gear...crazy!

[66sprint6]

Thanks, guys. I believe that some of you have been talking with my son as well. He's on the alternate universe to me: Facebook.
I'm still wondering if our car needs the pedals that mount with a bolt through the under-dash metal braket, or if it is secured with a pin instead of the bolt, with a clip on the one end. I see both for sale. But since there are no pedals in the car now, does it matter anyway?

[gtospieg]

I can't say for sure on 66 but on 67 it's a pin with clip setup...I would think they are the same but pedals may be different.

[gtospieg]

Originally Posted by gtospieg

I can't say for sure on 66 but on 67 it's a pin with clip setup...I would think they are the same but pedals may be different.

I guess I'm wrong...I was looking in the Ames catalog and they list 66-73 clutch and brake pedal assemblies. "Includes sleeves, bushings and BOLT w/NUT. Kinda makes me wonder what I actually have in my 67. I have another set of pedals loose so I'll have to check those.

Sorry if I misled anyone.

[einstein]

Originally Posted by FrankieT/A

I'm not an OHC 6 person per se, but I was under the impression the block was basically Chevrolet. If that's the case you would need to use a Chevrolet bell housing. Everything else would be basically the same and interchangeable.

Nope, OHC6 is a BOP bellhousing, and the 6 is different than the Pontiac V8.

Originally Posted by 66sprint6

I know that I need to weld a Z-bar bracket to the frame. I'll get into that later.

I don't recall any welding of brackets for the Z-bar., pretty sure it's a bolt-on.

The 3.50 first gear Saginaw 4-speed was a common Vega ratio, identified by 2 rings cut in the input shaft splines. I had one decades ago that Fred Simmonds put in his 4-door 67 with Sprint engine, because his car was A/C equipped it had a 3.23 axle and a 3.11 first from factory. I think he also went to the 69 H camshaft, so the higher first gear gave a better driving experience on both points. Unfortunately I never got a ride in it, so I'm going from memory of things he told me 25 years ago.

Maybe your son has interacted with him on Facebook.

[gtospieg]

einstein...Quite sure 66 and 67 are weld on bracket for the Z bar. 68-72 are bolt on. That's the way they are listed in the Ames catalog and the way I've seen 66/67 frames.

[Jeff Hamlin]

66-67 A-Body Bracket definitely welded on.

[camerjeff]

Jeff and Ames are correct, welded on Z-Bar bracket for the 66-67 model years & bolt on bracket for 68-72 model years. The bracket is the same for V8's & OHC-6's as is the ball stud on the other end of the Z-Bar. Everything else is different for an OHC-6, vs a V8, there are also differences between the OHC-6 parts for 66 & 67 due to chassis & floor pan changes made to fit the TH400 into the 67 GTO's.

[66sprint6]

In looking at the gearing, I do not know what the ratio for first is on this particular unit. But our rear end is a known 3:23, and the Tranny is from a '67 Firebird Sprint. So I'm thinking that it's all adequate, especially for what we are doing for now. What do you think?

[Goatracer1]

I did the conversion on my wife's F. bird. I didn't have a Saginaw so used a Muncie. Even though it didn't have the very low first gear it was so much better than the T300. I wasn't interested in originality so I used a modified V8 bell housing too.