The Novak Guide to the
Adapting Ford Style Transmissions to AMC Engines

Conveniently, no adapter is required to adapt Ford truck transmissions to some AMC bellhousings.

The bellhousing bolt pattern for the Ford NP435 and Ford T18 & T19 is the same as the T150 and the T176 transmissions. The Jeep T18 has only one bolt hole different, the bolt near the clutch fork is higher on the Jeep version. Note that the 1980 to 1986 series SR4, T4 and T5 use a different bolt pattern from the Tremec 17x series transmissions of that same era.

AMC bellhousings in 1972-1975 CJ's and other trucks are incompatible due to their longer depths and transmission face bolt patterns. No bellhousings after the CJ (1986) models are compatible.

When purchasing one of our transmission to transfer case adapter kits, you will be able to choose the proper, unique pilot bushing for your AMC engine to the Ford input shaft, or these pilot bushings can be purchased separately.

Early AMC Cranks
Not all AMC crank flange bores are the same. Early motors 1971 and previous - as well as those with automatic transmissions around this era - featured a ~1.8" step (image, right) or a shallow recess instead of a ~1.8" centering bore as found on later AMC V8 engines. This distinction is important to make if adapting to Ford style transmissions. All early and late cranks (in our documentation) feature a pilot bushing bore that is just over 1" in diameter whether they have the above step-bore, or not.

Crank Position Sensors
We've also developed a precise method of placing a CPS (Crank Position) sensor into a '76-'86 AMC 258 bellhousing to make it compatible with the Jeep 4.0 Liter engines. Call us for details on this.