New Project: ‘64 Valiant Wagon

AJ/FormS said
The later transmissions have many upgrades, and got stronger over the years.
If you upgrade to an engine with a 67 up crank, it will have a different convertor support hole, and needs a bushing to use the 66 and older convertors. Not a big deal except
I have heard that finding a small-nose performance convertor is getting harder; usually neccessating a custom build.
In the long run, IMO, I think it would be best to swap the trans out when you upgrade the engine; because now you can buy off-the-shelf TCs.

However;
You can upgrade the guts of your early 904 case to 67 up parts and so get the TC interchangeability and still keep the B&T driveshaft, if you so desire. Ya gotta love Mopars. That B&T is not particularly weak, and you cannot put much tire into those factory rear tubs, so there is no hurry to get rid of it.
Lots of guys run their warmed up 360s thru that trans and driveshaft. Even the 7.25 will take some abuse if you install a SG, so it don't peg-leg. Just don't unload 400 hp into it all at once,lol. Get this; if you upgrade to disc brakes on the front, you can even leave the 9inch drums in the back, running no proportioning valve.

I have been kindof looking for a nice old wagon similar to yours to drop my HO367 4-speed into. But I would eventually tub it and it would get an 8.75... and probably ladder bars, cuz my tire-smoking days are over.
But it looks like a Dakota may be coming home to roost this summer.........so we will see.
Happy HotRodding

Thanks! A ton of great info there! This car is fairly different from my Scamp, and it’s pretty interesting to look at the differences.

Haven’t done much yet, but i did replace the broken torsion bars and swap 10 inch drums on the front, as well as strip most of the interior. Now I can call her an actual roller not just a wreck.

The floor pan is in pretty bad shape. That rubber mat did a number on it. It’s rotten through right back to the axle tunnel. The car was last registered in 1990, and i can only guess how long ago the roof of the shed it was in collapsed.

Everything in the engine bay is rusty garbage. I put some trans fluid in the engine in the hope of freeing it (it’s locked up) but I don’t see how i can get around stripping it down even if it does break loose.