Posted by Rob Steller on June 23, 2000 at 04:38:42:
In Reply to: Re: NP 540 D transmission posted by Gary Robertson on June 22, 2000 at 20:12:15:
Gary,
I'd get the bellhousing and the 315 if possible, just to have, though I do not know the '57 bell will fit your TW. The TW's were not done the same way as the other trucks, I think. The body style is a hold over from earlier years I think (others know TW's better than I do), and the bellhousing mount may be also. I know of two mount setups. The flat bottom that has a round rubber pad and a vertical bolt through (on my '58 W-300, seen on '58 D-700) and a square rubber block with studs out both top and bottom, kind of channel like, fits over cross member at an angle ('63 W-300 and many post '59 D-500 etc.) You basically need to see which you have, and match to it. If you have the latter channel type, I can get the casting number for you to validate anything you find. I do believe the 315 and 318/360 have the same bolt patterns. All you need for the clutch is the disk with correct spline. Pressure plate is the same. I'd think about the 12" clutch for the Airstream, though you'll have really low gears to start in. You will probably find the same trany ratios that I have, They seem most common. I have 4.88 axels, with 40.5" diameter tires and I find 2nd gear is a perfect starting gear. I'm usually at about 10,000#, and run a 413 4 bbl engine, 13" clutch. When I had the 318 poly and 435 trans, 11" clutch, I did slip once in a while on very steep starts in 2wd 1st. Rob