Removing bell from 4R70W

[Pentroof]

Has anyone here done this? I'm working on a '70 F100 project for my daughter and really want to pull the 3-on-the-tree and replace with a modern electronic OD.  Quicktime makes a bell that bolts to the pump and mates to an FE.  I think I'll also be using either a Microsquirt or USShift controller.

Looks to be straightforward, but thought I'd ask if any gremlins are lurking.

[FElony]

Going to do this, too. Do you have a converter lined up yet?

[Heo]

Thinking about that to. I have  some cruise-O Matic bells
that should be possible to convert

[wcbrowning]

Has anyone here done this? I'm working on a '70 F100 project for my daughter and really want to pull the 3-on-the-tree and replace with a modern electronic OD.  Quicktime makes a bell that bolts to the pump and mates to an FE.  I think I'll also be using either a Microsquirt or USShift controller.

Looks to be straightforward, but thought I'd ask if any gremlins are lurking.

Is that the electronic version of the AOD?

[e philpott]

seen a few wacked off and looked rough before Bell was installed , I have seen a few where they are nicely machined down , both seemed to work good

[Pentroof]

Going to do this, too. Do you have a converter lined up yet?

I'll use a stock F series or Expedition converter.  This is just a 2WD daily driver.

I am thinking about paddle shifters though...and a guy I work with thinks he could program a push button gear selector. 

[Pentroof]

Thinking about that to. I have  some cruise-O Matic bells
that should be possible to convert

Yes, Broader Transmission in Texas does that mod if you source the tranny from them. Another member on here had them do it for his Cougar. These trannys are a dime a dozen and easy to rebuild, so I can't bring myself to pay someone else, especially when they're several states away. Maybe if I needed a performance unit, but not for this truck.

[Falcon67]

I did similar to the shorty Powerglide to mount a JW bell on it for the 351C.  You just mark and whack, then use an angle grinder to finish as needed for the bell to mount in place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL93XAc4MGs

[Pentroof]

I found several nice used 4r70w trannys at the local recycler. They'll take the 3 speed as a core against it, pull it from the vehicle and load it into the bed of my truck for $300.  Can't beat that.  I'll go over next week and look at them closely and smell the fluids to tell them which one I want.  It only has to get my daughter around town for a couple years, so I'll take a chance.
I'm told they're not bad to rebuild, so I may even take a look at that option before mating it up to the FE. I've got time.

[FElony]

Going to do this, too. Do you have a converter lined up yet?

I'll use a stock F series or Expedition converter.  This is just a 2WD daily driver.

Does that bolt to an FE flexplate?

[Pentroof]

Going to do this, too. Do you have a converter lined up yet?

I'll use a stock F series or Expedition converter.  This is just a 2WD daily driver.

Does that bolt to an FE flexplate?

Yes, 11.5" bolt pattern.

[FElony]

Going to do this, too. Do you have a converter lined up yet?

I'll use a stock F series or Expedition converter.  This is just a 2WD daily driver.

Does that bolt to an FE flexplate?

Yes, 11.5" bolt pattern.

Pilot hole in crank?

[Joey120373]

If you do this please post lots of picks, I want to do something similar for my truck, that PA bell housing isn't cheep though, $940.

[Falcon67]

I'll add some notes - just in case.  I use a local guy - Michael at Freak Show Performance - so I'm lucky to have a pro converter house close by.  He built a converter for the dragster, using the standard setup for a PG converter with an adapter bell to fit a Ford.  Not uncommon, lots of the 275 tire types do things like that.  We ended up being about .065 too long in the converter once all the pieces to be used were set up and measured.  Full setback in the trans + .125 pull out was that much less than the depth from the back of the motor plate to the flex plate bolt face, including the required .250 spacers for the converter to clear.  He cut the converter apart and machined a few surfaces and I got back the space I needed.  Side note - he also would not let me pay him for the work.  Crazy.  I also had to take a little off the pilot adapter because of how the motor plate and flex spacer positioned the flex plate away from the end of the crank.  Needed a little step - not something you're likely to encounter, but if an adapter bushing is needed, note carefully how it seats in the crank.

All that to say - be sure you do several careful measurements using all the pieces you intend to run and a final mock up before fully committing to the final install. 

The adapting a PG to the Ford block ended up being right at $1000.

[e philpott]

Going to do this, too. Do you have a converter lined up yet?

If your Hard Core and don't need/care about Lock-Up Converter , they make a adapter shaft to use a C6 converter if you want , you would have 4 speeds just no Lock up torque converter clutch