Converting an automatic 74 Swinger to a 4 speed

In a streeter,
to properly bang gears, you sorta need ~4.30s, and a short period cam, then shift at 5000 or so. With 26.7" tires your redline roadspeeds are; 35,48,66, and 92; there you go; 3rd bangshift comes at or near the speed limit. I can tell you that even a smoggerteen feels like a racecar with 4.30s.. But, of course, cruising 65 mph will not be fun as the rpm is ~3500. 55 is doable at 2970; but 55 feels sooooo slow. On the flipside, 500rpm with that short-period cam is 3.5mph with the 2.66low, and 3mph with a 3.09. To make it interesting, put a small-port top-end on that 360, with a TQ, and let her mooooooooooan. Gosh that is soooooo addictive. You will be having sooooo much fun.
I would consider a 3-pedal solid longroof A or F roller, as partial-trade, with a black,brown,or tan interior, lol.
Too bad yur so far away.

BTW;
@jonn6464 mentions that you need a driveshaft. What you really need is the 727 front yoke, cuz the standard 2.66 trans comes with the larger than 904 mainshaft. However, the 6-cyl F-body overdrive trans comes with the 904-sized yoke. With this trans, you can run 3.73s or even 3.55s
Here is a roadgear comparo; first the 2.66/4.30s, then the overdrive with 3.73s, then with 3.55s; With their associated 65mph cruise rpms, and 5000rpm roadspeeds.
11.44-8.26-6.02-4.30;65=3513 shifts 35/48/66/92 Saweet!
11.53-6.23-3.73-2.72 ;65=2222 shifts 34/64/107/146;1st&2nd not bad
10.97-5.93-3.55-2.59 ;65=2116 shifts 36/67/112/154;It's going away
as you can see, the overdrive box trades away the 48mph gearchange to get that low cruise rpm. You cannot get it back without sacrificing first gear; so you need a stout engine to pull that 5.93/6.23 second gear at low rpm; like a Magnum, that is to say, a Hi-compression engine. The bonus here is that with the Hi-C /short-period cam/ teener, and cruising at 2100/2200, she has the potential to be very fuel stingy on the hiway.
But in all honesty, a Five-speed would be a better choice.
Something with ratios like the AX-15, or NV3500; the former has ratios of
3.83-2.33-1.44-1.00-.79; splits of (.61-.62-.69-.79) and the latter has
3.49-2.14-1.38-1.00-.73; splits of (.61-.644-.725-.73).. I like the NV for its better placed Second and higher First thus having more progressive shifts;
The NV ratios work fairly well with 3.73s with roadgears of
13.02-7.98-5.15-3.73-2.72, and 5000rpm shifts at
31/50/77/107/ and forget winding up od,lol. A great second gear for a 318 is around 8.00. Compare Second gear of 7.98 here versus 8.26 with the 4.30/A833 combo; and 65=2225 with those 3.73s.. But the NV does require some serious tunnel work. See pic below, it's too tall to fit into the factory tunnel.
You can make
a similar combo with a Commando A833 and a GVod but it gets pricey. The advantage here is no tunnel work, a true bolt-in, except 2 things; the driveshaft needs to be shortened, and you have to make yur own shifter mount.. The ratios would be;
3.09-1.92-1.40-1.00-.78od and roadgears with 4.10s are
12.67-7.87-5.74-4.10-3.20.. With 5000rpm shifts the road-speeds are;
31/51/69/97/ and forget od again. and 65=2740 . I have run this combo for about a year with a smoggerteen, and I liked it. (edit;actually I ran 4.30s) With an HO367, I swapped the 4.30s for 3.91s then 3.55s, and liked the 3.55s. That is what is in my car today, many years later; (Commando/GVod/3.55s) and she loves it.The road ratios with this combo are;
10.97-6.82-4.97-3.55-2.77, The 5000 rpm shiftspeeds are;
36/58/80/112 and 65=2240
But you lose the shift into Third at or below the 65 mph speed-limit, it moves to 80mph. No big deal for the HO367..... but again, you sorta lose the shift banging thing; not going into third until 80 at WOT
To it's credit, city driving and short shifting with this combo is a lotta fun, and the combo always has a fun gear to play with. In everyday driving I shift at about 2800. The 367 is pulling easy and sounds great thru the full-length 3" duals, this puts the shifts at 20/33/45/63 and into od at 65.
But with the GVod I usually shift into 3od first, then 4od. The road-speeds, shifting at 2800 this way are;
20/33/45/57/65 , and the splits are a nice progressive
62-.73-.78-.72 into final-drive


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They are still automatics. They suck *** to drive. Dumbs down the experience. I learned to drive on 3.23’s and I banged gears all the time.

Go for the stick. The automatic is symptomatic of society today. Most people under 35 can’t drive a stick. Just stupid.

And don’t get me started on the worthless CV transmissions. It’s like driving an oversized snowmobile. Just straight junk. JUNK.

OP, go for the stick. No reason not to. If I had to have an automatic in my car I’d quit driving and ride a bus or get an Uber.