Toploader Tail housing

[acinider]

Hey everyone,
I'm trying to install a 64 toploader with a HEH-P tag and tail housing of DOZR-7A040-A into a 66 mustang 2+2. The DOZR housing is not stock to a 66 mustang and has different shifter mounting holes. I'm trying to install a Hurst Comp/plus shifter in the car using the hurst 66 mustang install kit and it fits, except it's about 4 inches too far forward for the shifter to fit through the tunnel into the interior. Does anyone know of an adapter plate to install a 66 mustang hurst shifter into this car without replacing the toploader tail housing? Thanks, Brent.

 

[dennis112]

N/M

 

[dennis112]

The proper location for the 66 Mustang shifter mount is at the rear of the tailhousing. Apparently you currently are trying to use the holes that are mid-way on the housing. Although the tail housing you possess may have a boss in the approximate location, it will not work as one of the boss is offset compared to the earlier offering. I do not know of a readily available adapter, although if one was so inclined, it could be made.

Do you have the correct aluminum mounting bracket for the 66? If so it is very easy to swap the tail housing if you have it.

IIRC, the HEH P has a 25 spline output shaft. Weak. Has it been changed out?

 

[acinider]

Hey Dennis, thanks for the reply.

I am using the front most holes to mount the shifter and it's placing the shifter too far forward. I was going to talk with Hurst or David Kee Toploaders and find out which shifter plate bolts to this tail housing then try the install again. I believe the linkage will work if I can get a shifter plate that bolts to the rear-most of the tail housing.

I do have the correct 66 alum mounting bracket and, if I can't find/make an adapter, I will find a correct 66 tail housing then complete the install. However, if I can avoid buying another tail housing then that would be preferred.

I've read that the 25 spline output shaft on this trans is crap but I don't have the money to replace it at this time. Whenever I rebuild this trans I plan to swap in a 28 or 31 spline shaft.

 

[dennis112]

The steel bracket shown in the following link will move the shifter back more to the rear: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HUU-1956834/

The bracket is shown from the transmission side and it mounts the shifter toward its rear (the left hand of the photo.) It is made of steel.

Not sure if it will work in your application as it is normally used in a BB 67-69 Mustang, which also use the center of the tail housing for mounting--like I assume yours is. This bracket will move the shifter 1" more forward than the aluminum bracket location (when it is properly mounted in the rear.)

I have both brackets kits here and have compared the mounting locations on an early double drilled housing. I have never tried mounting the steel mount on the late housing like you have, although if I get a few minutes in the garage tomorrow I can check.

 

[acinider]

Thanks for the find! If you could check for fitment, that would be great. Below, the red oval shows where the hurst 66 mustang plate bolts to and the blue oval shows where I believe I need a plate to bolt to in order for the shifter to fit correctly.

Tomorrow I'll measure how far off the shifter is to see if 1 inch is enough or if I need a plate to mount on the rear most mounts.

 

[dennis112]

OK, here is what I can offer.

In the following pic, I show the same D0 tail housing as you have on the top and the correct C4 housing for your car on the bottom:

Here is the bracket in question mounted on the front set of mounting holes:

Note that the shifter bolt holes are located to the rear by 5/8" center to center from the mounting bolts.

The same bracket bolts to the rear of the early housing:

It will not bolt onto the rear of the late housing as none of the bolt holes will line up:

The bracket I am showing is the one for a 67-69 big block Mustang as for some reason the forward mounting location was used. Here is what it looks like:

The small block Mustang uses the aluminum type, like you probably have and it should be mounted on the rear of the tail housing. It is the same part for all 64-69 Mustang toploaders. Obviously it doesn't fit the D0 housing, as shown above. Sorry, but I have never seen the aftermarket rear mounted D0 mounting bracket to know what it looks like.

As far as I know, Ford did not change the location of the shifter mounting hole for the 67-69 big block cars so theoretically, either the forward steel mount shown, or the rear mounted aluminum mount should place the shifter in the same hole.

Since my aluminum mounting bracket is presently on the car and is inaccessible to check at this time, I cannot lay them side by side but wonder if the shifter attaching bolt holes are staggered more. I can tell you that the shift rods are identical between the 2 shifter locations as I have compared them before. I never tried to mount this metal bracket in the car to check for fit (I have an aftermarket tail housing that has multiple bosses for various factory shifter locations.) I do remember comparing the mounts in the past and thinking that if the mount was 1" more to the rear on the steel mount, the locations would be identical,

My aftermarket tail housing that allows me to use either shifter mount (and others) is below the C4 housing at the top:

Hope this helps.

 

[acinider]

Hey, those are great pics. I believe the BB mount will work with a DO tail housing in my 66 car even though it mounts more forward. I was thinking the adapter would need to mount to the rear of the DO housing but none that I could find mount like this. I also talked with David Kee Toploaders and they said the BB install kit will work good. They said some of the shifter arms may rub a little so ill have to massage some of the parts and the BB plate threads are different from the SB, so just replace the entire install kit.

I'm going to return the 66 install kit and order the 67-69 BB mustang kit and I should be in business!

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HUU-3735587/

thanks for the help.

 

[2+2GT]

All 64-73 Mustangs had the shifter mounted at the rear. Ford used Fairlane transmissions on BB Mustangs, so the shifter had to be mounted on an adapter plate, which you can buy.