A few tips for someone else doing this conversion - some may be obvious to most of you, but were not to me.

If converting a 66 283 with a 3speed manual and you have to deal with a chain auto parts store ask for a flex-plate for an 82 C10 with an automatic and a starter for the same year. (Your old starter will not work.) Verify that the flex-plate has the multiple locations for different torque converters - mine did.

You will need a new yoke.

If you purchase an aftermarket cross member and have not moved your motor forward be prepared to drill new holes.

700r4's are metric. Get the right bolts.

A later model 700R4 will have a pulse generator gear that will be difficult to remove. If you take a dremel and slice thru the gear stopping short of cutting the shaft it will slide right off so that you may install the correct gears. Bowtie Overdrives speedo gear selector chart works perfectly by the way. My speedometer is now correct - it never was before the conversion. Your speedometer cable will be too short if it has never been replaced - a 72 C10 cable available for about 9 bucks at the auto parts store fits perfectly.

I used the TV Made EZ from Bowtie Overdrives (not the band) and couldn't be happier - easy to install and adjustable to change the shift feel slightly.

I used a tilt column from a 72 truck and the Kugel Components shift linkage kit with the "long" rod - worked fine and allowed me to easily line up the gear pointer.

Gas mileage improvement is the way I justified this swap, and for once, I won't be kidding myself as there is a marked improvement.

Oh, one more thing. If you are doing this on an assembled truck, do yourself a favor and remove the old cross member with a Sawzall or a torch - trying to get the rivets on the cross member with the cab on is just not worth the aggravation.

"Disclaimer" If you set your truck on fire with the torch, It is not my fault (but it is not hard to put out if you are paying attention)!