I'm worried about my leaking SlimJim Hydramatic in my '63 88. Either the pump seal is leaking or the front seal for the torque converter is bad. I'm having a hard time locating a pump seal rebuild kit here in Salt Lake and I'm worried about what to do if the transmission fails. The transmission has 176k miles and was rebuilt 30K miles ago, I'm not sure how much life she has left in her.
I really like the 394 as a torquey 2 barrel that is great for cruising but I'm thinking that it may be easier to go a modern engine/tranny rather then adapting a 700r4 to the 394.

For example a 2003 4.8L/4l60E would be good combo for the old '63. I would be looking at new mounts, painless wiring harness, and provisions for the computer. It would probably save 200 pounds off the front end and make for a more efficient and quicker car. The nice thing about the LSX motors is that everything is available for engine swaps as they've been installed in everything from Cessna 172s to 32 Fords.

For the sake of keeping the 394, could I swap the Hydra for a 4-speed gear box of that era, syncroed of course. How hard is it going to be hunting down the appropriate third pedal, transmission mount, flywheel, clutch cylinder, etc...

Or should I bypass the old 4-speed and just go all the way for a T56 6-speed? I don't mind switching gears, just as long as the engine sounds good.

Essentially what I want to know is what should I be keeping my eyes open for? What has been done before and what do you all suggest?

 

Tons of info over at LS1tech, lots of vortech motors too.
At least get a 5.3. They're the same price as a 4.8 and lots more of them out there. You can mod your own engine harness.
Go with the 4L60, you can probably get the trans with motor as a pullout for a couple hundred more. Forget the T56, they almost always need tunnel mods due to their size.
My build 72 442, 5.3, T10. BTW, this is my second LSx swap, great motors.
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...-iii-swap.html

 

You're right, there are a lot more 5.3L engines out there. I just hope my '63 Olds gets its speedo reading off the front wheel rather than the trans. I don't want to cut up my sweet dash.

 

The Cable X box will drive a mechanical speedo.

 

This is a short thread with no end. Did you end up swapping the engine and tranny?

 

He hasn't been on since May of 2013.