440 Kickstart mini project.

Forgive me if none of this makes sense..I'm typing it while I got this horrendous headache just pounding on my temples.
I've got this posted in my build thread but figured I might have more insight in the proper category. So before I reassemble my motor, I wanted to take a crack at adding a kicker to my 1980 440a1. I got a complete kicker assembly from ebay, lubed it up a little and installed in the lower case (left the return spring off to ease operation) Set my 440 trans into their spot and made sure all rotates and shifts right, then set the lower case on top (didn't use any case bolts, just have the 2 knock pins in ) gave a slow rotation of the kicker and....wholly shit :S it's definitely not a drop in procedure. From what I can(t) see through the oil pumps pick, the kickers gear doesn't mesh right with 1st. What's happening is that when I rotate the kicker, it lifts up the case to try and mesh up with 1st.
I was told that I shoud be able use the gears off from a 78-79 400 that has the 6spd tranny. I'm totally game for that but is there any differences that can be seen off a picture(cause this will be an Internet purchase)that'll indicate that it's indeed from a 400? From what I can make out using partzillas diagrams, the 6spd 400 & 440's primary has a 13t casted cog to drive 1st on the counter. Been on the interwebs looking for a diameter size of a 400's 1st gear to compare to my 440's which comes out to 86.87mm roughly.
Any info on this would be awesome and would go a long way right now. Thanks in advance!



ed

Here is a pick of an early KZ400 gear set on the left and a late KZ400 gear set on the right.
It has been about 10 years since I did this modification to my 440. The late 400
gear is hard to come by and can be pricey also. I didn't want to pay that much at the time so I
used the early 400 parts on my 440. The shafts are the same size and spine so the gears will swap.
The drive gear for first is wider and has to be narrowed. The counter shaft gear can be used as is.
But the dogs on the 6 speed that engages the counter shafts first gear have to be machined on the
side that is closest to the shaft to fit the early first gear.



The 400 has 23 teeth on the kick shaft gear.



The 440 has 20 teeth.



The 400 [on top] has a wider drive for first than the 440.



And a pic of the dogs.



Hope this helps.



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Rex! You sir, are awesome! Before this post in my build thread I still didn't quite understand what had to be machined till after your pics of the different trans. side by side. Now so I understand 100%, The only gear that needs to be machined is the casted gear on the driveshaft(primary)from a 400, and the reason for such is to make room for the 440 gears to slide on. Oh and yeah gotta do the dogs as well.
Found a complete 400 5spd trans. on ebay, should be here in a few days. Thanks once again Nebr_Rex! Hopefully I'll be able to give you useful info when the time comes. I'll continue this in my build thread.

Your welcome.


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