1969w3155

The L33, the 455 2bbl in 1970, was the standard engine in the SX for the first half of the year, and was available in the Cutlass and Cutlass S, but not the F-85. Looking at the engine service manual, it appears that the th400 was the only transmission offered with it. If you were to order a Cutlass or Cutlass S with this engine, then I assume, that this was the defacto tranmission, with no base, 3spd manual as the standard trans. would that be right? I though that a couple of years ago that there was a discusssion on here about that engine, and that a 3spd manual was available. But the service manual would indicate that not to be the case.

joe_padavano

The SPECS and Powertrain booklets show M40 (TH400) as mandatory with L33.

1969w3155

Thanks, Joe, that's what I figured. Apparently my memory of the thread is faulty. I thought that it would have been an interesting combo in a Cutlass, if the engine and manual trans had been available.

joe_padavano

I think the problem may have been that the new-for-1970 Muncie HD three speed manual wasn't configured with a column shift linkage. The Saginaw three speed used in the column shift applications wasn't going to survive behind even a 2BBL 455. Not sure why any manual trans with a four speed wasn't offered with L33, however, since you could get both the three speed and four speed in the 442.