Got a 1963 Starfire with slim Jim Trans. It is getting weak, and no one here wants to touch it. Looked into a newer trans. upgrade, but it requires too much cutting and fab work. Looking for any suggestions, Thanks

 

Where in Colorado are you? Who have you asked to work on it?

 

Read this thread.

My New TH400 Compared To Slim Jim - ClassicOldsmobile.com

 

Boy it is hard to log in here.

 

So where in Colorado are you? Who have you asked to work on it?

 

Thanks for posting the link Charlie. It seems that Ross Racing had some poor customer service that was unresolved in that thread. If you pay for work like that make sure you use a credit card.

 

I am located in Colorado Springs and have tried local rest shops as well as transmission shops, local and franchise.

 

I "used to be" a Fan of the slim jim, (you're right, no one wants to touch them. ) BETTER, Use a 700R, Same lower 1st gear And has a OVERDRIVE, and is very easy to rebuild ! I put them in everything now..

 

 

Thanks Fonz, do you know what kind of mods are required for 1963 Starfire ragtop? It has factory center cousole with tach.

 

not familiar with a 63 starfire.. from what I remember about a slimjim, they are smaller around than most auto trans,.so the trans tunnel may need to be altered (Maybe not, because in 64 they changed from slimjim to 400 trans) only thing I'm" SURE of", A 700R IS A BETTER TRANS ! AND WILL WORK WELL IN A HEAVY CAR.

 

I've mentioned it before on our site, the Slim Jim Rotohydramatic is NOT a good transmission. Unless you're doing a concours restoration on your Starfire, you should make plans to replace it. The TH400 is bulletproof. Probably can't go wrong with a 700R4 or 2004R either since you're having the case modified anyways.

 

X2. Basically isn't that just a drop in? I don't know a 63 so forgive me. If so that is what I would do.

 

Nope, what I recall from other threads on here is that tunnel/floorpan mods are required.

If you haven't already, you might inquire with these guys. They might be able to give you some ideas with regard to sorting out your Slim Jim:

www.fatsco.net

 

I will see what I can find out also for you. My Brother lives down there. He is also a gear head. He is having serious health issues right now so I may not get a quick answer. I will see what I can find out.

 

Here's another thread on a Slim Jim conversion. Apparently the user in the thread Charlie posted; ripper27, finally got his Ross Racing conversion done.

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...ebuild-156406/

 

I believe you are wrong. The "switch pitch" 400 came in 1965 B-body cars with 425. You should have had a Slim Jim in the 64 Starfire with the 394 engine. 1964 was the last year for the 394 and Slim Jim.

 

Been wrong before, what i "tried to say" was, the 700r is much better than a slim jim

 

So does a 700r fit better? Great transmission if so.

 

I think the user in the threads that Charlie and I posted; ripper27, actually used a TH350 in his Ross Racing conversion. It fit better than a TH400 and is still a much better transmission than the Slim Jim Rotohydramatic.