Hey all,
Just brought home a 1968 Torino GT Fastback orignially with a 390 S code and a 4 spd to work on with and for my 15 year old son. After jacking in up and searching under the car I notice a few odd things.
Transmission: Casting number C2604194, tag code RUG, has aluminum case and 10 bolt top cover. Tail of the tranny has a weird cylinder on the driver side and the shifter comes through the floor too far towards the firewall. It has 4 gears with reverse up to the left.
I know the toploader did not come out until late 63 or early 64 and this thing has a C2 part number representing 1962. But the 10 bolt topload cover and RUG tag suggest toploader. So what is it?
Engine: The engine sure looks like a FE block, but the motor mounts don't line up. i.e this one bolts more to the front of the engine bay then the crossmember for 1968. Stroke is 3.78 (estimated with a milkshake straw in the spark plug hole while I turned the engine over) so not a 352 or 360 or 361. casting date is Sept. 27 1961 but I cannot find any other markings except some small ribs cast on the outsides. I also see the alternator is mounted where the old generator would have been, so definitely not a 1968 block. So what is it?
Trans sounds like a SROD, is it an internal shift? There is no mistaking the ID of a FE. Is part of the head molded to the intake? Pictures would help if possible.
Doug,
Thanks for the response. Did some more crawling around and searching the web. The trans is exactly like pictures I found of a SROD with internal rail. I have not heard good things about this tranny except that it gives great gas mileage due to the overdrive gear for 4th. Can it stand up to 300 plus horsepower and torque? I doubt it as it was meant for V6 Mustangs etc.
Engine is definitely a FE or FT (truck version of FE) and yes the intake (Edelbrock in this case)is molded into the head. I hear the casting number can be found if you take off the starter so will try that next. Seems someone moved the whole drivetrain ahead 2.5 inches to get the oil pan to fit in the chassis. Makes me think it may have come out of a truck. Out of curiosity, is your 390 oil pan a front sump or split front and back or?
My '82 Mustang GT came from the factory with a SROD 4 speed, if you don't slam gears it will get you around but upgrading to a "real" Toploader is correct, strong and more fun.
![[linked image]](http://www.fairlanet.com/images/febanner.jpg)
