888

Thanks very much for the info, I've never seen a parking brake like that.

Thanks for the response. I did read up on the Truck O Matic and there were some diagrams and troubleshooting included and it all added up to why I always get manual transmissions in everything I own. It looked way simpler than the automatics and usually more fun to drive. I've been doing some research since you mentioned the M6 and it mentions a fluid drive coupling attached to the flywheel and conventional clutch mounted in tandem. I saw something attached to the end of the tranny tailshaft as well that looked like a torque converter. That wasn't part of the Truck O Matic? So the conventional 3 speed manual transmission from that era can mount with the fluid coupling in place? Does it require a special clutch from that era to clear the coupling? Will any later manual trannies fit? I'd really like a 4 speed manual on the floor if I could find one I really appreciate anything you can tell me! The truck looks like a pretty solid unit but unless I can find a solution for the Truck O Matic with a good donor pool, it will probably just sit in my barn forever and I'll kick myself for buying it.

I've been looking for an older Dodge truck for quite a while, I've had a number of 89 to 93 Cummins trucks and an 84 D100, but nothing older. I came across a barn find 53 5 window 1/2 ton that has been sitting since 1973, it died somehow or another and the farmer parked it and that was that. Plates are still on it so it seems legit. Lots of surface rust but pretty good overall except for a orange sized hole in the front corner of the floor by the drivers side cab mount and some deep rust at the front fender/supports. I have some concerns about what's hiding behind the bolt on plates above the running boards as well. If it wasn't for the fenders, I could pretty much just leave the body alone otherwise. It's all there down to the hubcaps. Engine is locked up but the plugs are in and I'm told no one has tried to force it. I saw 3 pedals in the photos and assumed it was a 3 on the tree but it's badged a Truck O Matic and I saw a weird torque converter at the end of the driveshaft. I thought he wanted a lot for it for what it was and I wanted to check out what exactly the Truck O Matic was so I passed until I could figure out what that was. I found the service manual online and after reading the description of how it worked, I determined it's not something I'd want to drive so I'd like to swap in a conventional manual 3 or 4 speed from that era. I told the seller as a courtesy that the Truck O Matic would have to come out and the engine was iffy so I was going to pass. These guys flip barn finds as a secondary business so I thought that was the end of it but he invited me to make an offer. It has been on Craigslist so long that the ad expired so maybe they will cut a good deal on it but..... Million dollar question which probably means the difference between a project that may have a chance and a PROJECT that would probably never leave my barn: What all has to change to make this swap? Driveshaft, transmission, bellhousing, shift linkage? Rear end geared differently? How difficult is it to find a donor for the parts I need? What am I getting myself into? Thanks!