hey Im new to this forum and being a chevy guy Im actually new to oldsmobiles.. seems some things are the same and alot of things arent. More or less I bought a 62 dynamic 88 cause I needed a car and I got it for 200 bucks. The car is straight and all original, not molested anywhere and everything works. My problem is the trasmission and the fact that it doesnt stay in third gear and slips in 2nd. Talking to my tranny builder he gave me the unfornunate news that nothing other than another slim jim tranny will bolt up he said if I wanted a tranny that isnt a POS Id have to swap motors along with another tranny. So my question is this... what motors (that you can get from a recycler) will bolt up without crazy mounts and be able to run a th400? It kind of amazes me that every one I deal with in my buisness only knows chevy including me, the BOP cars are in a world of their own. I cant spend alot of money on this and I get awesome deals through the recyclers here around my shop so preferably that would be the way I would go. If anyone can think of a reasonable swap please lemme know this is my only transportation!!!

 

First let me start off by saying that buying a 45 year old car (for any amount of cash) as primary transportation was probably not the best move.

But since you did not come here for a lecture Lets start by saying that your tranny guy has probably not got the capabilities (tools, know how) to fix your transmission. I would keep searching. The motor that is in there now, does have a different bellhousing than later 330, 350, 425, 455 and later combonations.

I know of a man who has a 64 Jetstar and is swapping in a 425 and TH350 combination. While parts for early 425's are harder to come buy and more pricey, the TH350 is a great daily driver transmission, that you could almost tear apart and fix at home with the right tools.


It will cost you in the long run either way you do it.

John

 

as far a a daily it was that or some 80s piece of crap that couldnt pass smog if it wanted to so I went with the car that ran good. As far as my tranny guy, he can rebuild it no problem google "Jim Galatioto ATO transmissions" I would trust him to build a top fuel tranny. He talked me out of rebuilding it because of the cost and the fact that even when fresh it still isnt that good compared to what I could get for equal or less money to that. More or less as far as parts go is there any later model motor eg mid 70s later that would bolt up? a rear trans crossmember isnt that hard to make but motor mounts are where Id rather not mess with. If there isnt anything other than other rare bird motors then Ill just have to bite the bullet and fab motor mounts also, then Id just stick in a SBC and call it good, I have a few at my disposal

 

Well, if you are going to go with a SBC, then you probably need to find a Chevy Forum...you won't get a lot of help from the purists on this site.

If you stick with Olds, I am sure there are a few tried and true combinations that people have tried. For the later model engines, I think you will probably have to fabricate some mounts, or find some suitable ones to fit the frame of the car. The bolt holes for the mounts on the motor are probably in different positions than the later blocks.

If you are talking about a reliable late model daily driver engine then I would shoot for a 70's 350, or 403, with a TH350 behind it. Parts are a dime a dozen, and upkeep on them is not that expensive. You should be able to score a running drivetrain from your local yard.

IMO, wether you go with a later Olds motor or a SBC, you will probably end up spending as much as getting your slim jim rebuilt after you make mounts, get new fluids, plugs, wires, build a wire harness to make it run... that kind of stuff.

And I didn't mean to bag your tranny guy. Your message read as if HE was trying to get out of doing it.

Good luck.

John

 

well you have really been helpful I trully appreciate it. I just wish olds had the same interchange that chevy did and does not to mention I have parts coming out my ears for them. I want to keep it within the make as much as possible regardless of the money though. I come from the school that you put the same make parts in your car, and that hemis belong in mopars or diggers and fords should just be burned :P Ill call my BOP{ yard on monday and see what he has to offer. More than anything I like using my connections to do stuff on the cheap but cheap doesnt always mean ghetto just discounted. So Ill look into the 403 that would probably be my best bet and yes a th350 is rediculously easy to build. I cant remember if it was a glide or a th350 but this guy set all the gears up blindfolded on tv was pretty funny.

 

J.C.Whitney makes a universal engine mount that will fit between the frame rails and bolt to a GM engine. I prefer the OLDS engine combo that was mentioned. You would be better off getting a complete unit from the wrecker, such as all the acc. brkts, drive shaft, pulleys and fan, starter, exhaust manifolds with part of the head pipes also. Get the engine mount from Whitneys , bolt it up and set engine in, drill the frame and bolt it or you can weld it. You may have to fab a trans mount.
Gene
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...wflag=1#review

 

I don't have the name of the company name but you can google it up. There is a company maaking adapters to mate later GM transmissions to the pre 65 blocks. The integral bell housing is a problem on the 371 or 394 engines.
Personally, i like the old blocks. Bullet proof bottom ends. Used to be run in Fuel dragsters in the 50s and 60s because of strength. Didn't breathe as well as a hemi but that's what a blower is for.
The adapter will not be cheap. Less expensive to just pick up something like a 455 and TH400 and adapt if you want to keep olds.
Putting a Chevy in an Olds goes against the grain to me.
Depends on how Old School you want to play it. jp

 

Actually, the 64 Jetstar 88 is a unique case in the 61-64 full size cars (I own one). This one-year-only configuration came with a 330 and Jetaway trans. The 330 mounts are welded to the frame, are different from the 394 mounts, and use one-year-only rubber motor mounts. Since the small blocks and big blocks use the same motor mount locations, a 425 (or 455) is a bolt-in - for the 64 Jetstar 88 ONLY. Since the TH350 is the same length as a Jetaway, that's a bolt-in also.

Unfortunately, none of this helps with the 62 D88 and 394 in the original post.
The company that adapts the TH400 to the 394 is http://www.transmissionadapters.com/

The kit for this is $995.

 

I have a 1964 Jet Star I and I also have access to a good runnig 1970 455 olds engine w/a th400. My engine has very low oil pressure when warm and I think I can hear a strange noise inside engine when it gets warm and the preasure gets low. Thus an engine swap. Has any one actually done one of these swaps and can help? Thanks

 

#1 .. The Slim Jims absolutely suck..Its a small transmission and the car weighs too much.. #2.. There is a company called TANSON where they will adapt a TH-400 to bolt up to a 394 ( I have had Tanson do this for me and was pleased ) Plan on spending about $1500 for the entire swap. Dont let the pricetag scare you - its about the same price if I was going to have my '59 Olds Hydramatic transmission rebuilt!