Jmorera1970 Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 I have a 1956 Plymouth Savoy, it has a 318 Dodge engine and an A727 transmission that is not installed, supposedly it was taken from a 1978 Dodge D100, the engine and transmission have already been adapted but I have a question, the transmission has some cables and I don't know where they connect, I don't know if you need a computer or a regulator, the engine has already started but I just need to know where the transmission cables go to be able to enjoy my 56, thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmorera1970 Posted March 3, 2023 Author Share Posted March 3, 2023 (edited) I have a 1956 Plymouth Savoy, it has a Dodge 318 engine and an A727 transmission that is not installed, supposedly it was taken from a 1978 Dodge D100, the engine and transmission have already been adapted, but I have a question, the transmission has some cables and I don't know where they connect, I don't know if You need a computer or a regulator, the engine has already started but I just need to know where the transmission cables go to be able to enjoy my 56, thanks Edited March 3, 2023 by Jmorera1970 language (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
61polara Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 (edited) The 1978 transmission is set up for a linkage connection to either a column or console mounted shift leaver. Your car has the shift cables for a push button transmission shift, which ended in 1964, so you will need to find an earlier transmission for the push button shift to work. Also, in 1956 your transmission could be the two speed PowerFlite or three speed TorqueFlite, so to use the cables, you will need the matching transmission. If by cables you mean electrical wires, it may be for a lock up torque converter, but I think that came a few years later. Edited March 3, 2023 by 61polara (see edit history) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 2 minutes ago, 61polara said: The 1978 transmission is set up for a linkage connection to either a column or console mounted shift leaver. Your car has the shift cables for a push button transmission shift, which ended in 1964, so you will need to find an earlier transmission for the push button shift to work. Also, in 1956 your transmission could be the two speed PowerFlite or three speed TorqueFlite, so to use the cables, you will need the matching transmission. Dave is correct. There may be other options: 1. It may be possible to adapt a later series column shifter which would be suited to your current transmission 2. Some MoPar vehicles manufactured during the era of your current 1978 transmission were optioned with a floor shifter, and this may be your easiest, and possibly most effective, efficient, and affordable adaptation. You could also enclose it in a console . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3macboys Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 24 minutes ago, Marty Roth said: Dave is correct. There may be other options: 1. It may be possible to adapt a later series column shifter which would be suited to your current transmission 2. Some MoPar vehicles manufactured during the era of your current 1978 transmission were optioned with a floor shifter, and this may be your easiest, and possibly most effective, efficient, and affordable adaptation. You could also enclose it in a console . Further to Marty's post Lokar offers a solution for a floor shifter for you. Pictures of the cables you are asking about would help. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan G Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 Switching to a late 70s Mopar steering column could work, but then you have to adapt that to your steering box. Snowball. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmorera1970 Posted March 3, 2023 Author Share Posted March 3, 2023 9 hours ago, 3macboys said: Further to Marty's post Lokar offers a solution for a floor shifter for you. Pictures of the cables you are asking about would help. 10 hours ago, Marty Roth said: Dave is correct. There may be other options: 1. It may be possible to adapt a later series column shifter which would be suited to your current transmission 2. Some MoPar vehicles manufactured during the era of your current 1978 transmission were optioned with a floor shifter, and this may be your easiest, and possibly most effective, efficient, and affordable adaptation. You could also enclose it in a console . The electrical cables that come out of the transmission where they are connected? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmorera1970 Posted March 3, 2023 Author Share Posted March 3, 2023 10 hours ago, Marty Roth said: Dave is correct. There may be other options: 1. It may be possible to adapt a later series column shifter which would be suited to your current transmission 2. Some MoPar vehicles manufactured during the era of your current 1978 transmission were optioned with a floor shifter, and this may be your easiest, and possibly most effective, efficient, and affordable adaptation. You could also enclose it in a console . this column will help me to adapt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 (edited) Are they like shifting cables, I don't recall any electrical other than the back up light switch on a 727. It may be that some of these had a neutral start switch, some testing with an ohm meter would help. The shifting cables were all done after 1965 with that year having a column shifter with cables (one year only) push button before that, and linkage after. My experience is with Chrysler, I am sure Dodge is quite similar. Just reread that your tranny is from 1978. I doubt these were controlled electronically but my memory is as old as I am. Your tranny should have a lever to change gears and another for the kick down. (be sure to rig that kick down lever) B/U switch is towards the rear if I recall correctly. Post some pics. Edited March 3, 2023 by JACK M (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 (edited) My comments are on your duplicate post. Post a pic of your transmission. Edited March 3, 2023 by JACK M (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 The electrical switch, if it has one threaded binding post, is the neutral safety switch @JACK M mentioned. The starter relay, from approximately 1962 forward (including 1978), has a floating winding to trip it. The power comes from the key switch (in the start position) to one of it's pins. The wire from the neutral safety switch goes to the other pin to provide a ground, but only in Park or Neutral. A 1956 Savoy probably has some Autolite starter relay or solenoid, and it probably works the same way if the car had an automatic transmission originally. A factory wiring diagram would be needed to figure that out. Things changed a lot on Chrysler products every year in the 1950s. If the switch has 3 pins, and it probably does for 1978, one of those pins is the same as the binding post in the example above, and the other two are a backup light switch. If by cables you mean shift cables, those won't hook up to a 1978 727 transmission. Automatics in 1956 if I remember correctly can be a Powerflite or a Cast Iron Torqueflite. They were both shifted with cables. There was no "Park", and the parking brake was used instead. The parking brake was mounted on the back of the transmission, so when the original transmission is gone, there is probably no parking brake. For the 1978 727 transmission you need a shifter that shifts using a linkage. The kickdown linkage matters on the 727. It's not just kickdown, it also does the job a vacuum modulator does on some other transmissions. Make sure it is all there and hooked up. There's probably a sliding linkage in it somewhere, but the factory linkage always adjusts so that it bottoms out (but just a tiny bit) at full throttle. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalowed Bill Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 the shift pattern is bound to be different. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusty Trucker Posted March 4, 2023 Share Posted March 4, 2023 This is a good lesson in "look before you leap". Jumping in to an installation of components 20+ years newer than the original vehicle can have it's challenges, and hind sight is always 20-20. The original poster is learning, like most of us have, that adapting parts, even those from the same OEM, is not effortless and inexpensive. I respect his position in wanting to improve the performance and reliability of his car and the fact that he is asking for assistance rather than giving up. He is finding out that this hobby can be every bit as frustrating and expensive as it is rewarding. As a veteran of engine swaps, various major modifications, and restorations over the years, I encourage him to persevere. The rewards, if not financial, are worth all the sweat, exasperation, and skinned knuckles. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmorera1970 Posted March 4, 2023 Author Share Posted March 4, 2023 7 hours ago, JACK M said: Are they like shifting cables, I don't recall any electrical other than the back up light switch on a 727. It may be that some of these had a neutral start switch, some testing with an ohm meter would help. The shifting cables were all done after 1965 with that year having a column shifter with cables (one year only) push button before that, and linkage after. My experience is with Chrysler, I am sure Dodge is quite similar. Just reread that your tranny is from 1978. I doubt these were controlled electronically but my memory is as old as I am. Your tranny should have a lever to change gears and another for the kick down. (be sure to rig that kick down lever) B/U switch is towards the rear if I recall correctly. Post some pics. I don't know if the person who sold me the car was cheating on me here are photos of the transmission Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmorera1970 Posted March 4, 2023 Author Share Posted March 4, 2023 8 hours ago, JACK M said: My comments are on your duplicate post. Post a pic of your transmission. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmorera1970 Posted March 4, 2023 Author Share Posted March 4, 2023 1 hour ago, Crusty Trucker said: This is a good lesson in "look before you leap". Jumping in to an installation of components 20+ years newer than the original vehicle can have it's challenges, and hind sight is always 20-20. The original poster is learning, like most of us have, that adapting parts, even those from the same OEM, is not effortless and inexpensive. I respect his position in wanting to improve the performance and reliability of his car and the fact that he is asking for assistance rather than giving up. He is finding out that this hobby can be every bit as frustrating and expensive as it is rewarding. As a veteran of engine swaps, various major modifications, and restorations over the years, I encourage him to persevere. The rewards, if not financial, are worth all the sweat, exasperation, and skinned knuckles. I bought this 56 with an engine and a transmission thrown inside, little by little I restored it, it takes a lot of patience and money, but thank God everything is already adapted and the engine started and it works fine, now I only need to connect the transmission, which is the most complicated but with your help soon I will take this car to where it belongs (to the road), Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmorera1970 Posted March 4, 2023 Author Share Posted March 4, 2023 1 hour ago, Crusty Trucker said: This is a good lesson in "look before you leap". Jumping in to an installation of components 20+ years newer than the original vehicle can have it's challenges, and hind sight is always 20-20. The original poster is learning, like most of us have, that adapting parts, even those from the same OEM, is not effortless and inexpensive. I respect his position in wanting to improve the performance and reliability of his car and the fact that he is asking for assistance rather than giving up. He is finding out that this hobby can be every bit as frustrating and expensive as it is rewarding. As a veteran of engine swaps, various major modifications, and restorations over the years, I encourage him to persevere. The rewards, if not financial, are worth all the sweat, exasperation, and skinned knuckles. When a person loves classic cars, any sacrifice is worth it. Thanks for this comment, it gives me more strength not to abandon this project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFranklin Posted March 4, 2023 Share Posted March 4, 2023 You should ask the seller about it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmorera1970 Posted March 4, 2023 Author Share Posted March 4, 2023 8 hours ago, JACK M said: Are they like shifting cables, I don't recall any electrical other than the back up light switch on a 727. It may be that some of these had a neutral start switch, some testing with an ohm meter would help. The shifting cables were all done after 1965 with that year having a column shifter with cables (one year only) push button before that, and linkage after. My experience is with Chrysler, I am sure Dodge is quite similar. Just reread that your tranny is from 1978. I doubt these were controlled electronically but my memory is as old as I am. Your tranny should have a lever to change gears and another for the kick down. (be sure to rig that kick down lever) B/U switch is towards the rear if I recall correctly. Post some pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmorera1970 Posted March 4, 2023 Author Share Posted March 4, 2023 3 minutes ago, JFranklin said: You should ask the seller about it. the person who sold me the 56 was not honest with me 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivguy Posted March 4, 2023 Share Posted March 4, 2023 Look in an old Chiltons or Motors manual that covers the years of the transmission. They have a unit repair section that will illustrate the different type transmissions. They usually display the different units and describe how to repair them. Your public library may have these manuals, if not you can find them in used book stores. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAKerry Posted March 4, 2023 Share Posted March 4, 2023 Do you have a transmission shop locally. They should be able to tell you what the connection is for. I would think it has to do with the lockout, reverse light switch? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted March 4, 2023 Share Posted March 4, 2023 I think Bloo's info will put you on the right track. And yes, the kick down in important. We got a bit confused by your term (cables) They are wires. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted March 4, 2023 Share Posted March 4, 2023 You shouldn't have much more that the neutral safety switch and back up lights. Here is a link to some 727 diagrams: https://forum.e-bodies.org/electrical-and-audio/11/727-neutral-safety-switch-wiring/20891/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted March 4, 2023 Share Posted March 4, 2023 (edited) Now you know why he sold it. Elmer down at the filling station, told him to put a newer (second hand) engine and transmission in it but didn't tell him how. Neither one knows how to make it work so they sold it to you. I could probably get it to work but I have been working on cars for over 50 years. First thing I would do is get a factory wiring diagram for both 56 and 78 models. If I had the pushbutton linkage I would figure out how it works and try to adapt it to the newer trans. If this was not possible, next effort would be to swap out the steering column for one with a gearshift. Vans usually have the easiest to adapt but sometimes you have to take what you can get. It would be easier to put in a floor shift and leave the steering alone if you don't mind a floor shift. On second thoughts I would leave the steering alone and just put in a floor shift if I couldn't adapt the pushbuttons. That would only be the beginning of the problems. Another, that none of you figured on, is that the 56 parking brake is on the back of the transmission while the newer models have it on the rear axle. So you have to swap out the rear axle to get working parking brakes. You will also have to make, or find a suitable drive shaft. This is in addition to adapting the wiring, cooling system, etc. Lots of fun if you don't go nuts. Edited March 4, 2023 by Rusty_OToole (see edit history) 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted March 4, 2023 Share Posted March 4, 2023 Is there any chance of getting the original engine and trans back? And all the other parts they took off? 9 chances out of 10 it would have been easier and cheaper to get it running with the original engine. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted March 4, 2023 Share Posted March 4, 2023 I thought the center pin and wire on the 3 pin switch was neutral safety, but wasn't sure. The diagrams in the link @60FlatTop posted confirm it, it is the center wire. The other 2 pins and wires are a backup light switch. You might not even need the backup light switch, but if you do, it's there. I don't know what that other wire by itself is, but I'm guessing a lockup torque converter. I would ignore that for now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmorera1970 Posted March 5, 2023 Author Share Posted March 5, 2023 4 hours ago, Rusty_OToole said: Is there any chance of getting the original engine and trans back? And all the other parts they took off? 9 chances out of 10 it would have been easier and cheaper to get it running with the original engine. I don't think it can be recovered, since when I bought it it had already gone through 3 owners who abandoned this project, I already started the engine and I just need to adapt the transmission cables and the new differential, in Cuba to these cars I used diesel engines and manual transmission Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 12 hours ago, Jmorera1970 said: I already started the engine and I just need to adapt the transmission cables A Vice Grip clamped to the end of the shift cable should do that. You already know the neutral start switch doesn't mean much. The only thing they are good for is maybe a lawn mower. And I'm still able to run faster than a mower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
61polara Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 15 hours ago, Jmorera1970 said: I don't think it can be recovered, since when I bought it it had already gone through 3 owners who abandoned this project, I already started the engine and I just need to adapt the transmission cables and the new differential, in Cuba to these cars I used diesel engines and manual transmission If you did that in Cuba, you can overcome this obstacle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpb56savoy Posted August 18, 2023 Share Posted August 18, 2023 Ha! I started a similar conversation with same car on another page! I have the exact year and make, except mine is a 2 door hard top. My troubles now are finding a transmission for it. so on so on so on...... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpb56savoy Posted August 20, 2023 Share Posted August 20, 2023 On 3/2/2023 at 7:14 PM, Jmorera1970 said: I have a 1956 Plymouth Savoy, it has a 318 Dodge engine and an A727 transmission that is not installed, supposedly it was taken from a 1978 Dodge D100, the engine and transmission have already been adapted but I have a question, the transmission has some cables and I don't know where they connect, I don't know if you need a computer or a regulator, the engine has already started but I just need to know where the transmission cables go to be able to enjoy my 56, thanks This the exact platform! I have a 318 all built ready for the carb and headers. just found a lead on a 727 trans. not sure if I should get the used rebuilt or buy from summit or jegs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpb56savoy Posted August 25, 2023 Share Posted August 25, 2023 few more weeks and it's go time. pull the flatty out and in goes 318 mild cam, edlebrock 4 barrel, hooker long tube, streetfighter 904 trans. all that will be left is rear end. should turn out to be a fun little ride. I'm sure everything will go without a hitch (lots of sarcasm). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted August 25, 2023 Share Posted August 25, 2023 (edited) Sounds like a nice ride, good performance without over powering the stock chassis suspension and brakes. The icing on the cake would be to paint it like a 1956 Fury. They were all white or off white with a gold anodized flash down the side and looked sensational. You might be able to duplicate the gold with a vinyl overlay from a sign shop. For info on this type of conversion you would be better off asking at the HAMB forum. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/forums/the-hokey-ass-message-board.5/ Edited August 25, 2023 by Rusty_OToole (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m-mman Posted August 25, 2023 Share Posted August 25, 2023 Don’t 1956 Mopars use an “end of transmission” parking brake? As I understand modern transmissions in a 50s Mopar eliminates the parking brake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted August 25, 2023 Share Posted August 25, 2023 Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmorera1970 Posted August 25, 2023 Author Share Posted August 25, 2023 22 hours ago, jpb56savoy said: few more weeks and it's go time. pull the flatty out and in goes 318 mild cam, edlebrock 4 barrel, hooker long tube, streetfighter 904 trans. all that will be left is rear end. should turn out to be a fun little ride. I'm sure everything will go without a hitch (lots of sarcasm). tomorrow I'm going to remove the chassis to install new brake lines, but first I want to scrape and paint the chassis well 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted August 26, 2023 Share Posted August 26, 2023 14 hours ago, m-mman said: As I understand modern transmissions in a 50s Mopar eliminates the parking brake. I think the plan is to also swap-in a modern rear axle. That would provide a parking brake. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmorera1970 Posted August 26, 2023 Author Share Posted August 26, 2023 6 hours ago, EmTee said: I think the plan is to also swap-in a modern rear axle. That would provide a parking brake. Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpb56savoy Posted September 2, 2023 Share Posted September 2, 2023 On 8/25/2023 at 6:53 PM, Jmorera1970 said: tomorrow I'm going to remove the chassis to install new brake lines, but first I want to scrape and paint the chassis well jmorera is there any chance you can send me a photo of the engine mounts on your 56'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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