Its taken me over 10years to get my valiant back on the road(life happens). Well I found a deal on a good running super6 225 904 combo the guy is pulling to go to a V8. And it got me thinking it may be cheaper and easier to drop in my car to get it back on the road again.

My 64 has new 12.5" gt mustang disk breaks front and shortened and rebuilt ford 8.8 out back with disk breaks, new 1" torrsion bars, boxed k frame and 2" lowered espo leafs. Rear gears are 3.73 tires 245/45r17 on cobra R wheels.

The plan was to build a healthy motor, and install a T5. The motor needs the cam insyalled and final assembly the holley 390 needs rebuilt I have no tuning parts or rebuild kit yet. My fuel pump and water pump has been sitting on a shelf for 10years I am sure the seals or diaphram are shot. The T5 needs the addapter plate finished, flywheel redrilled or new pressure plate, floor cut or modified, crossmember built, speedo cable modified.

My questions are.....

Can a stock 73 slant 6 live with a 904 coupled to 25" tires and 3.73 gears at 55-75 mph?

If so will a later 73 radiator fit in a early A to use the trans cooler. Is it just cut the opening wider and drill new mounting holes?

Will the speedo cable need modified originally was 3speed?

Any modifacations needed to trans tunnel or crossmember other than a hole for an aftermarket shifter?

The super six engine and trans combo plus radiator is $500 I would still need a floor shifter and drive shaft modified. Otherwise seems almost a drop in setup.

My thinking is this could be a band-aid temp kinda deal. Would I be happy its not my original plan no but would I be happier having it on the road able to enjoy my classic car and have a back up to my dd F350 pigblock, I think I would. What are you guys thoughts.

Yes, the motor will live.

I tried a later radiator in my '66 and it physically would not fit. It was too tall.

You will need a '64-66 oil pan and pickup. The '73 pan will not clear the steering and K frame.

IIRC, you will have to use a later speedo cable as the trans end is different.

As far as the floor, all I had to do on my '66 was make a dent on the driver's side to clear the kickdown linkage.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Ok so I some how forgot I had a 66 auto radiator at my dads storage he brought over to me today it looks like it will work. PROBLEM SOLVED

Found speedo cables at auto parts store ~$20. THATS SOLVED.

Went today and checked out the motor and trans. Will be bringing home friday. My question now is about super six kick down linkage. Is that only the rod from the carb to the trans. It almost looks like it connects to a (zbar from drivers side frame rail to drivers side transmission like the zbar on a manual trans car) is that required. The shop told me the kid still needs it to connect to his 360/727 combo.

The Z-bar will be the column shift linkage.

SS kickdown linkage will not work on anything but a SS Slant. It will do him no good.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

I'd like to see the look on their faces when they figure out it's the wrong shape and length for a V-8...