I need some help, it says 79 CK hydramatic
December 27th, 2011, 06:29 PM
#1
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I need some help, it says 79 CK hydramatic
hey guys,
Picked up a big block to rebuild and the transmission came along with it.. I now know little about 455 big block but I am clueless about the transmissions.
Would one of you guys help me identify which car this transmission belongs to or what engine it goes with? I read alot of TH400, TH350, how do I tell if this one of them? there's a serial # 43031 and another #529, not sure what it means...
I told the owner I dont care for the transmission but he insisted not to take it off since I want a manual car when all said and done.. currently my 72 cutlass has a 350 w auto...
oh yea, how much is it worth running condition and if it needs a rebuild...
thanks for listening.
Picked up a big block to rebuild and the transmission came along with it.. I now know little about 455 big block but I am clueless about the transmissions.
Would one of you guys help me identify which car this transmission belongs to or what engine it goes with? I read alot of TH400, TH350, how do I tell if this one of them? there's a serial # 43031 and another #529, not sure what it means...
I told the owner I dont care for the transmission but he insisted not to take it off since I want a manual car when all said and done.. currently my 72 cutlass has a 350 w auto...
oh yea, how much is it worth running condition and if it needs a rebuild...
thanks for listening.
December 27th, 2011, 06:46 PM
#2
Oldsdruid
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southside Vajenya
Posts: 10,535
It's a BOP-Cad pattern Turbo 400, from a 1979 rear-wheel-drive Cadillac. Probably a DeVille or Fleetwood, which would have had a Cad 425 engine.
My guess is it was a jobber rebuild that got swapped out sometime during the Oldsmobile's life. Either that or it came out of a Seville that had had a 455 transplanted in place of the original EFI Olds 350.
It's a Turbo 400 so is worth saving, but later versions did not have the torque capacity earlier ones had. Seems like 76-later versions especially had some weaknesses, but a competent rebuild will eliminate them.
Describe the 455. What heads? If J's it is a 73-76 engine. Get the numbers off the machined pad at left front of the block, just below the cylinder head and we can determine the year of the engine.
My guess is it was a jobber rebuild that got swapped out sometime during the Oldsmobile's life. Either that or it came out of a Seville that had had a 455 transplanted in place of the original EFI Olds 350.
It's a Turbo 400 so is worth saving, but later versions did not have the torque capacity earlier ones had. Seems like 76-later versions especially had some weaknesses, but a competent rebuild will eliminate them.
Describe the 455. What heads? If J's it is a 73-76 engine. Get the numbers off the machined pad at left front of the block, just below the cylinder head and we can determine the year of the engine.
December 27th, 2011, 06:53 PM
#3
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 715
It's a BOP-Cad pattern Turbo 400, from a 1979 rear-wheel-drive Cadillac. Probably a DeVille or Fleetwood, which would have had a Cad 425 engine.
My guess is it was a jobber rebuild that got swapped out sometime during the Oldsmobile's life. Either that or it came out of a Seville that had had a 455 transplanted in place of the original EFI Olds 350.
It's a Turbo 400 so is worth saving, but later versions did not have the torque capacity earlier ones had. Seems like 76-later versions especially had some weaknesses, but a competent rebuild will eliminate them.
Describe the 455. What heads? If J's it is a 73-76 engine. Get the numbers off the machined pad at left front of the block, just below the cylinder head and we can determine the year of the engine.
My guess is it was a jobber rebuild that got swapped out sometime during the Oldsmobile's life. Either that or it came out of a Seville that had had a 455 transplanted in place of the original EFI Olds 350.
It's a Turbo 400 so is worth saving, but later versions did not have the torque capacity earlier ones had. Seems like 76-later versions especially had some weaknesses, but a competent rebuild will eliminate them.
Describe the 455. What heads? If J's it is a 73-76 engine. Get the numbers off the machined pad at left front of the block, just below the cylinder head and we can determine the year of the engine.
howd you know it was from a cadillac, just curious? Is there a link to a decoder?
thanks
December 27th, 2011, 07:35 PM
#7
Oldsdruid
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southside Vajenya
Posts: 10,535
Buick, Olds, Pontiac and Cadillac used the same bellhousing bolt pattern. Notice the two "bat ears" at the top of this one. Chevy bell patterns are more rounded, no "ears".
So- a "B" code is Buick, an "O" would be Olds, "P" Pontiac and "C" Cadillac on transmissions with this bell pattern. Chevy would also be "C" but, different bell pattern.
Starting late 70s, HydraMatic built most transmissions with a universal bolt pattern case so they could be used in all carlines. Trying to remember if the T400 ever got it- Turbo 200/200C and Turbo 350s w/ universal BP are common.
So- a "B" code is Buick, an "O" would be Olds, "P" Pontiac and "C" Cadillac on transmissions with this bell pattern. Chevy would also be "C" but, different bell pattern.
Starting late 70s, HydraMatic built most transmissions with a universal bolt pattern case so they could be used in all carlines. Trying to remember if the T400 ever got it- Turbo 200/200C and Turbo 350s w/ universal BP are common.
December 27th, 2011, 07:43 PM
#8
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I've been researching transmissions for the last 2 hrs... yea, not so bright here... you didnt mean $400 above right, lol.. im losing it.. what's it worth if I want unload this puppy?
December 27th, 2011, 07:44 PM
#9
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December 27th, 2011, 07:46 PM
#10
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Join Date: Jun 2011
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Buick, Olds, Pontiac and Cadillac used the same bellhousing bolt pattern. Notice the two "bat ears" at the top of this one. Chevy bell patterns are more rounded, no "ears".
So- a "B" code is Buick, an "O" would be Olds, "P" Pontiac and "C" Cadillac on transmissions with this bell pattern. Chevy would also be "C" but, different bell pattern.
Starting late 70s, HydraMatic built most transmissions with a universal bolt pattern case so they could be used in all carlines. Trying to remember if the T400 ever got it- Turbo 200/200C and Turbo 350s w/ universal BP are common.
So- a "B" code is Buick, an "O" would be Olds, "P" Pontiac and "C" Cadillac on transmissions with this bell pattern. Chevy would also be "C" but, different bell pattern.
Starting late 70s, HydraMatic built most transmissions with a universal bolt pattern case so they could be used in all carlines. Trying to remember if the T400 ever got it- Turbo 200/200C and Turbo 350s w/ universal BP are common.
December 27th, 2011, 08:09 PM
#11
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Location: Shorewood, Il.
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Those of us that've seen hundreds of these transmissions over the years can tell by looking - watched them come and go!!
Tag tells a lot, too!!
Final gear ratio is 1 to 1 on either a 3 or 4 speed - it's the overdrive that makes the difference!!
You can install a 4L80E on a Olds motor, but you need an adapter, a computer, and a shorter driveshaft!
And maybe a BFH for floor 'adjustment'!!
Tag tells a lot, too!!
Final gear ratio is 1 to 1 on either a 3 or 4 speed - it's the overdrive that makes the difference!!
You can install a 4L80E on a Olds motor, but you need an adapter, a computer, and a shorter driveshaft!
And maybe a BFH for floor 'adjustment'!!
December 28th, 2011, 07:03 AM
#12
Oldsdruid
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southside Vajenya
Posts: 10,535
Biggest clue is the shape of the oil pan. A 400 has a pan shaped vaguely like the state of Texas. T-350s have a more or less rectangular pan. The one you have is a short-tailshaft version which will work fine in an A-body GM car.
December 28th, 2011, 08:18 AM
#13
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Those of us that've seen hundreds of these transmissions over the years can tell by looking - watched them come and go!!
Tag tells a lot, too!!
Final gear ratio is 1 to 1 on either a 3 or 4 speed - it's the overdrive that makes the difference!!
You can install a 4L80E on a Olds motor, but you need an adapter, a computer, and a shorter driveshaft!
And maybe a BFH for floor 'adjustment'!!
Tag tells a lot, too!!
Final gear ratio is 1 to 1 on either a 3 or 4 speed - it's the overdrive that makes the difference!!
You can install a 4L80E on a Olds motor, but you need an adapter, a computer, and a shorter driveshaft!
And maybe a BFH for floor 'adjustment'!!
December 28th, 2011, 08:21 AM
#14
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so what's this thing worth?
December 28th, 2011, 11:31 AM
#15
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Location: Shorewood, Il.
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Wow - you've skipped basics!
Clutches are for manual shifted transmissions, torque converters for automatics!!
A used 79 T-400 w/converter, with no history or warrantee, is worth about scrap.
Clutches are for manual shifted transmissions, torque converters for automatics!!
A used 79 T-400 w/converter, with no history or warrantee, is worth about scrap.
December 28th, 2011, 03:10 PM
#16
Oldsdruid
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southside Vajenya
Posts: 10,535
It's basically worth saving as a rebuildable core. Turbo 400s ain't exactly a dime a dozen any more so if you have space to store it, it's worth hanging on to.
But, as Rickman points out, with unknown history it is basically worth scrap price if you want to sell it. $75-100 tops for trans and converter if the fluid is clean and red, which shows it may be in working condition. You should assume it needs a rebuild and sell and price it accordingly- you don't want to sell it as a good trans and the guy gets it in the car and it don't work.
It's possible it's a Turbo 375, which is a '70s Turbo 400 with a few less clutches and designed for heavier cars with low-performance engines. The 375 can easily be upgraded to 400 internals and make a pretty stout transmission. I've had several of those over the years that I got cheap because the seller didn't know what a 375 was and thought it was a junk transmission.
But, as Rickman points out, with unknown history it is basically worth scrap price if you want to sell it. $75-100 tops for trans and converter if the fluid is clean and red, which shows it may be in working condition. You should assume it needs a rebuild and sell and price it accordingly- you don't want to sell it as a good trans and the guy gets it in the car and it don't work.
It's possible it's a Turbo 375, which is a '70s Turbo 400 with a few less clutches and designed for heavier cars with low-performance engines. The 375 can easily be upgraded to 400 internals and make a pretty stout transmission. I've had several of those over the years that I got cheap because the seller didn't know what a 375 was and thought it was a junk transmission.
Last edited by rocketraider; December 28th, 2011 at 03:20 PM.
December 28th, 2011, 07:29 PM
#18
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thanks all for feedback! If no one jumps on it, she will remain in my basement.
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