Hello friends, Here's an Oldsmobile trivia question for you. I have a friend in Slovakia who is nuts for old American cars and trucks and he's fortunate to have enough money to indulge in his hobby.

He has a 64 Olds Delta 88 convertible that has transmission troubles. He bought a rebuild kit, but I guess his Slovakian mechanic didn't do the job right. Anyway, he wants me to buy him a rebuilt transmission here and ship it to him there.

The problem is that neither he nor I know what kind of transmission he has. I've taken a photo of both the engine and transmission. I hope that one of you guys can identify it. Please let me know.

By the way, I am personally restoring a 71 Vista Cruiser. I plan to post the project and I'm sure I'll have some questions for you guys as time goes on.

Thanks,
Kurt Lammon

 

First of all, he can't have a 1964 Delta 88 as there is no such thing. The Delta name was first used by Oldsmobile in 1965. If he's been going around telling people he needs a transmission for a '64 Delta 88, maybe that's why he's been having trouble finding one.


He more likely has a Dynamic or Super 88. The automatic transmission on the full-size (except Jetstar 88) 1964 Oldsmobiles was the Hydramatic.

 

Sorry, Jaunty, I was able to quote your orignal (see below) before you could correct it. Stick to spell-check, haw haw!


I must conclude that the car is a Super 88, based on the Starfire pie plate (assuming its correct), as the Starfire engine was option in the Super but not the Dynamic in 1964.

I do not believe an automatic transmission was "standard equipment" on the Super or the Dynamic. Being that its an auto, the original equipment transmission would be the roto-hydramatic, also known as the "slim-jim" (the term "hydramatic" is frankly a bit too vague).

 

I'm sure you guys are right about the model designation. The main thing is what kind of transmission is it? According to information I found on Wikipedia, it says: "The Super Turbine 300 (Jetaway) was introduced for the 1964 model year as a replacement for the earlier Buick Dynaflow and Oldsmobile/Pontiac Roto Hydramatic transmissions. It was the only automatic offered on GM A platform cars (Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Cutlass, and Pontiac Tempest) through 1966, and was available on the full-sized Buick LeSabre and Oldsmobile Jetstar 88/Delmont 88 as a cheaper alternative to the three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic "

So the way I read this, there are three possible transmissions for the 64 "Dynamic 88"? Can you guys tell the type based on the photo of the pan?

Thanks, Kurt

 

I don't think this is correct. I owned a '64 Jetstar 88 for five years back in the '90s, and I had all the manuals and sales literature. In all the time I owned the car and was working on it, I never came across anything that said that anything other than the two-speed Jetaway was available for that car if you wanted an automatic transmission. The three-speed Hydramatic was not available on the Jetstar 88. It WAS available on the Jetstar I, which was a sort of a down-scale version of the Starfire and offered for, I think two years ('64 and '65).

Remember, Wikipedia isn't perfect, and I think it's mistaken in this case.


On the other side of that coin, the two-speed Jetaway was NOT available on the other full-size '64 Oldsmobiles. It was a Cutlass/F-85 transmission, and it was available on the full-size Jetstar 88 only because the Jetstar 88 was the low-cost, full-size Oldsmobile that year and was able to be "low-cost" because it used the Cutlass/F-85 engine, drivetrain, and brakes.

 

kurtlammon, the ROTO-Hydramatic transmission (nicknamed "slim jim") that is in your friend's car is a FOUR speed (though some will insist that its stirctly a three speed, with a variable vane torque multiplier in the fluid coupling) automatic transmission. It should not be confused with the Turbo-Hydramatic offered starting in 1965, or the 2 speed Jetaway available in the Jetstar 88s. Based on the shape of the pan that would have to go on that trans, it sure looks like the 4 speed Roto-Matic ("slim jim") that would ave come in the car from the factory.

I don't blame you for wanting to know for sure; hopefully someone else with some person experience with these cars/transmisisons will chime in and confirm what I've said.

 

Hi Kurt; What your friend has for a Transmission is a Roto 10 Hydramatic. Full rebuild parts and or reseal kits, including "NEW" Damper plates can be purchased and shipped anywhere in the World from www.fatsco.com. They are I believe on the east coast of the United States.
Your friends picture of the engine compartment is also a "394" and sure looks good being an Air car as well. Nice detailing! Good Luck....

 

Thanks again for the expert info, guys. I called Fatsco, but they don't have any rebuilt trannys, just rebuild kits. Since he's already tried to rebuild it once, I don't want to lead him down that path if it's not necessary.

Is there anybody who makes a kit to mate a more modern TH-350 to the old 394 block? Perhaps it'll mate right up, I don't know. If that could be done, then all he'd need is a new driveshaft possibly.

-Kurt

 

I just pulled up a WEALTH of info on 442.com on transmissions. It seems like the TH-350 or TH-400 should bolt right up. Anybody else have any experience with a swap?
-Kurt

Here's the link: http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/oftrn.htm

 

FYI, information there is even less reliable than from Wikipedia...

At least Wikipedia can be updated when mistakes are found.

 

X's 2

 

The original type slim jim trans might prove the best route to go at the end of the spending. CW[/quote]


Like Coldwar says it'll probably be a better car leaving it stock with the original Tranny and the fact it's an Air Car with an original motor will increase it's resale value later!!!

 

PM Sent; ..I know a older local gentleman here in central NJ who has a fondness for the '63 big cars; just called him and he does have a few spare transmissions. I presume that a '63 trans would work; perhaps someone here can verify.

 

Thanks a ton Coldwar and Aliens... Sounds like a pretty big task to make the TH400 conversion. Aliens, can you give me the contact info for your friend with the Slim Jims available? If I can get one and have it rebuilt by someone who knows what they're doing, that would be the best way to go, especially considering the resale value. It is a nice looking car... might as well keep it original if possible. (Also, any suggestions on a good transmission shop familiar with Roto-Hydramatics?)
Thanks, Kurt

 

Coldwar, I will contact the place in Chicago today. Thanks a lot for the suggestion.
-Kurt