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The 66 originally came with a 273 and 904 console shifted automatic. After I got ahold of it, I swapped in a 340 and built 727. I originally planned on putting the same combo back in but was bitten by the 4 speed bug (or 5 speed bug, whichever funds will allow), after my buddy Darren bought a 67 Nova SS 327 4 speed.
In these pics, I show how to install a 4 speed hump into an early A.
Between 65 and 66 they changed the style of 4 speed shifter (from a Hurst to an Inland shifter I believe), so the 64-65 humps are different than the 66 humps. The 64/5 humps have a small 3" hole and the 66's have a 7"x3" oval that carried over to the later years. The pics below show how to convert a 64/5 hump to a 66 style hump for use with later style Hurst shifter.
The above pictures are of a 64/5 style hump. I will post a pic of a 66 style later.
This is a shot of the rear tranny crossmember. You can see how the crossmember was "modified" from the factory. I'm not sure whether this modification is necessary when using a later model Hurst shifter.
Another shot of the frame modification and what the hump looks like removed from the floorpan. The "ear" on the pass. side is an identifying characteristic of the 63-66 A body hump.
Hump Modification and Installation
I started out by measuring a later humps oval opening and centerline from the back of the hump. Based on the 67 up hump and pictures of a 66 hump, the oval started about 1" from the rear of the humps rear edge. There is an clearance area (for shift linkage?) on the 65 hump pictured that will "go away."
Laying out the cuts and sectioning the circle opening. I used a plasma cutter and it made short work of the cuts. A sawsall or cut-off wheel would work well too.
All buttoned up! I did another conversion for a Moparts.com member on his 66 cuda. I haven't heard of any problems with it so it must be a go!
The installation went fairly well. I used the floorpan section that came with my hump to lay out my cuts. I cut the section above the tranny crossmember frame so that I could get in there and POR-15 it. Later, I got excited and welded in the hump and forgot to replace the metal over the frame and had to creatively install a new piece!
All done!
Drop me a line!
Other Site Links
65 Dart Convertible Pages
/Convertibles Engine Swap /
Floorpan Replace /
Spitfire Header Installation
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65 Dart 3" Exhaust /
55 F-100 Pages
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55's Framework /
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55's Frame Redo
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