Projects 54 Chevy Pickup Transmission Question

Guys,

I am new to HAMB and new to restoring cars. I am not a mechanic by trade, and learning as I go. I was given a 1954 Chevrolet 3100 from a gentleman that passed away at my church. He dropped a mid 70's Chevy 350 in it and replaced the front clip and rear axle from a donor Trans Am. The transmission is a Turbo 350 mated to the Chevy Small Block 350. Rear axle is 3.73 gear ratio. I have to idle the truck at 1300 rpm in Neutral to keep it from stalling when I put it in gear. When I am driving about 60 MPH it is at 2700 RPM.

I have a couple of questions.

First, I know I need to replace the Torque Converter. Will a 2400 rpm stall be a good choice?

Second, without modifying the axle, does anyone know of a good bolt on transmission that may give me 4 gears so I can drive faster at lower RPM?

Thanks for any help in advance.

BTW... work done so far in the last 3 months:

- New Bed
- Vintage Air installed
- Power window installed
- New Alternator
- New Edlebrock Carb
- New springs
- New bench seat
- Body work started
- Fully rewired
- New wiper actuator
- all lights replaced
- Installed rear bumper
- Lots of other stuff

 

700r4 trans

 

Is that the same length as a 350?

 

Great info. Lets hope I have a 9 inch tail shaft. Looks like they would be the same length.

What about Tourque converter. BTW... The motor has a huge cam in it. I am not sure the size, but it is why I have to idle so high. think 2400 Stall is good?

 

i would change cam or at least advance it 4 degrees with a 3 key timing gear. http://www.northernautoparts.com/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductId=2650

 

Ill get corrected if i'm wrong, but i think the highest you can get for a 700r4 is 2400 and if you have to idle it that high it will push you through a stop light if the motor is that stout

 

A 700r4 would be the best solution, but also the most costly. I know you said you didn't want to change the rear end, but I ran into a similar situation with a '59 Chevy pickup with 350/350. It was cool around town, plenty of get up and go, but then my job changed and I had to travel on the freeway to get to work. So, I had a set of 3:38 gears installed (Trans-Am rear end) - problem solved.

 

Waldo - How much slower is it on takeoff?

 

Good question, it did affect acceleration a little. But here was my thinking - taking off from a light and chirping a little 2nd gear rubber was only going to get me a ticket some day. The trade off was a little slower acceleration, but better gas mileage on the highway, and less wear and tear on the engine at highway speed.

 

I have two 700r4 transmissions in my barn- paid 50 each. Watch for guys selling 305's
they often have the trans also and are so discouraged trying to sell the 305 they let
the trans go cheap.