I neglected to mention I was planning to put the car on a spare 70 model
chassis that I've finished repairing, blasting and painting. My 76 frame
has some rust holes in the rear trailing arms and I opted to work on my
70 frame since it was off and I could do it at the same time I was using
my 76 frame as a jig for the body. Up until today I didn't know there
were any differences in the frames other than some guessets in the
front. I guess I need to get some more information and confirm my 70 is
a 70. The car was purchased as being an overdrive car but that had been
removed. I was assembling the suspension pieces to the 70 frame
yesterday as I found this information. Since the frame is off the body
it might be a good idea to see if I can't weld some proper brackets.
That is unless there's a compelling reason not to just go with an A type
other than originality. They seem to be different and I'm soliciting as
much feedback as possible as to which is more desirable and reliable.
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Di Iulio [mailto:diiulio@ix.netcom.com]
Sent: Monday, December 09, 2002 8:23 AM
To: Ronald A. Dowty; 6pack@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Which overdrive A or J?
todd is correct in pointing out some inaccuracies in your email. the
J-type was built for your late model car, the A-types for the earliers.
the 2 overdrive gears that the j-type offers are enough for my driving.
i'd go with what was built for your year, will save alot of explaining
in the future as to why you've got an a-type in a "j-type period" car.
my 2 cents....
Tom Di Iulio
1976 TR6 (w/ j-type)
Denver, Co
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ronald A. Dowty" <rdowty@dowtyenterprises.com>
To: <6pack@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, December 09, 2002 3:00 AM
Subject: Which overdrive A or J?
> I am currently working on my 76' TR6 to be finished by Spring if I
> keep hurrying. The rolling chassis should be done tomorrow and I have
> all the replacement panels bought if not installed on the body. The
> engine is also ready. One of the two things I need are an overdrive
> and AC. I'll ask the AC question later. I'm waiting for a guy named
> Roger Bollick to finish his article on installing one using Vintage
> Air parts. As for the overdrive I realize the J type was correct for
> my car but it was originally a non overdrive car so the frame brakets
> need to be modified where as the A type is mostly a drop in. The
> question is which is better. I think the A type works in 3 and 4th
> gears and the J type only works in 4th where I'd probably use it. I
> was going to keep watching eBay for a few months and if I could get
> one reasonably I was going to pick it up. I have a 70 parts car and a
> working non-overdrive transmission from it as well as the one from the
> 76. I'm not super worried about having a J because I have a later car.
> I'm buiding a daily driver and I want it to have the best of both
> worlds like an early head (actually my later one is just shaved to
> 9.5:1) and earlier bumpers but with some of the later improvements
> like the brake pistons (which are usually upgraded on rebuilds).
>
> So which is better and why? I've never had an overdrive but the speed
> limits here are about 20 MPH faster than the last time I drove my
> baby. I need to be able to cruse at 70 just to drive from one side of
> town to the other on the bypass.
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