I am contemplating a transmission swap in a 63 Super 88. I would like to instal a Turbo-Hydramatic (I have a complete 64 Olds "98" arts car) into a 63 Super 88 with a Roto-Hydramatic. What kind of torque coverter to rear crankshaft problems will I have and what other problems can I expect to encounter. Has anyone on this forum ever attempted this swap or know anyone who has? I'm going to do it one way or another, I'm just trying to see if anyone else has ever done it.

Thanks. Dennis Vieira / Auburn, New Hampshire

 

AFAIK this is a direct swap. There is no conventional torque converter/flex plate on the slim jim tranny. It uses a cast iron flywheel, and there are a couple weights; Starfires used the light one and that would be the best.

 

I believe the 63 Super 88 and 64 98 both have the same transmission. It should be a Slim-Jim Rotohydramatic. Not a very good transmission IMHO.

 

No, that's not correct. In 64, with the 98 and 98 only, the transmission is a Turbo-Hydramatic. The rest of the line has the Roto-Hydramatic. I'm just trying to find someone whoes done it.

 

Well Dennis, I have gone the other way, from a 1963 88 into a 1964 98. No problem at all, as the transmissions looked identical. I pulled many, many Roto-Hydramatics out of 1964 98s when I was working at the Olds dealership after I got out high school. The trans guy would overhaul them the next day, and when school was out the next day I would reinstall them. I've never seen a factory-installed Turbo Hydramatic in a 1964 Olds.
DW

 

Whoever told you that knows very little about early 60s Oldsmobiles. Turbo HydraMatic was introduced on 1964 C-body Cadillacs and Buicks only. Other Buick/Olds/Pontiac fullsize cars didn't get THM-400 until 1965. A Turbo HydraMatic will absolutely not bolt up to a 394 CI engine without heavy case modification, and you will not find any Turbo HydraMatic service procedures in the 1964 model year Oldsmobile service literature. I say that because the THM theory of operation manual was published late in 64 model year for the 1965 cars' upcoming THM introduction.

ALL fullsize Oldsmobiles and short wheelbase big Pontiacs had Roto 10s. Long wheelbase big Pontiacs had Super (Jetaway) HydraMatic. 1964 B-body Buicks were still using DynaFlow and 1964 Cadillac D and commercial chassis were using Controlled Coupling (Jetaway) HydraMatics.

If that Ninety Eight has a Turbo HydraMatic, someone besides the factory put it there.

 

I researched putting a TH 400 onto my 394. You can get the case of the transmission modified, or you can have an adapter plate made. I believe there is a company called Tansen that does this.