Bobbity

I recently acquired a '64 Cutlass, 330, Jetaway trans. I toasted the trans towing it, so what reasonable options do I have? I can't afford a hot rod transmission or a high zoot rebuild, but are there more economical ways to get it back on the road? TH350, rebuild, a pony....I'm pretty capable doing my own wrenching, but I won't rebuild it unless I can con my kid into doing it...

joe_padavano

I fixed your thread title. The TH350 is as close to a direct bolt-in as you can get. The 2.52 first gear will make a noticeable difference off the line also. The hardest part of this swap is cobbling up a kickdown cable, as the original Jetaway used an electric kickdown. Aftermarket cable kits will solve this problem. Everything else bolts right in, though of course your two speed shifter won't show all three forward gears.

Bobbity

Way cool. So the bell housing pattern matches the 330? Would this be any BOP 350 or Olds/model/year/engine specific?

joe_padavano

Any short tail BOP TH350 works.

Bobbity

Excellent news, thank you!

BangScreech4-4-2

I put a TH350 in my '64 Cutlass years ago. Really woke that 330 up. A big improvement -- couldn't recommend it more highly. And the best thing is TH350s are cheap and plentiful nowadays because everybody wants overdrive.

Bobbity

I just got off the phone with a guy who offers a complete rebuild on the BOP TH350 for $599. Might just save the day.Can I keep using the original flexplate, starter and driveline?

joe_padavano

From post #2:

Bobbity

Picked up a th350 from a '78 Trans Am with 63,000 original miles. Guy even threw in a new torque converter. Now, to purty it up and get it put in. I know, yay me...

Bobbity

TH350 installed today. Haven't had a chance to drive it yet. But, for those who say it's a drop in, a few things didn't. The lip of the trans pan had to be 'relocated' partway across the left rear edge. Nobody around here makes metal cooler lines to fit. Had to get pretty creative there. The Jetaway dipstick tube doesn't speak th350, obviously. And, apparently, aftermarket dipstick tubes don't speak Cutlass. Getting one to fit properly was like a fight between eighth graders.... a whole lotta pounding went on, with very little being accomplished. But, it's in, t runs, it doesn't leak and later it'll go...

joe_padavano

Aftermarket dipstick tubes are designed for the Chevy bellhousing, not the BOP bellhousing. That isn't the transmission's fault. I just bend my own cooler lines.

Bobbity

Not assigning blame, just pointing out what I learned in doing the swap. It runs ok, needs a carb most likely. But the transmission is a rousing success.