We picked up a 60 Chevy for my wife a couple of weeks ago. Im looking for automatic trans options. I have a line on a stock powerglide but its not going for cheap. Is there any others that will work with without breaking the bank. Im not scared of a little fab work but Im not looking to get crazy. Its just going to be a nice cruiser/ grocery getter for the little lady. Thanks for the help fellas. This is my wifes first old car so should be a fun experience.
Check your other thread on this. For my wife, it would be a small block V-8 and Turbo 350. By modern standards, the old PowerGlides are a mite troublesome and are getting expensive. An adapter for a modern transmission to the 235 would cost about as much as a 305 and Turbo 350 combo bought used.
When I met my wife, she drove a car with a 3 speed column shift, non-synchro low transmission. I guess wives have changed over the years. If you found an original 58-62 235 powerglide transmission and it's expensive, keep looking. You should be able to find one cheap eventually. But the V8/auto idea is probably a better plan in the long run
One of the big disadvantages of the 235 6 cyln is that the only automatic that will bolt right up to the engine is the early cast iron powerglides.. A T350 can be adapted to the engine, however, it takes a lot of machine work.$$$ If you want to keep the 6 cyln upgrade to a '63 or later 230, this engine originally came with the aluminum powerglide which can be replaced with a T350 on a bolt in basis.. A lot of people are looking for good 235's to use as a replacement for the 216 babbit pounder's.. The 235's fetch a good price if you sell it while it is still in the car..
Not quite true some Chevy trucks had HydroMatics in the mid fifties they actually worked well but RARE!
Oh she will drive the 3 speed but she "wants" an automatic. I figure if I can do it without breaking the bank and it makes her happy than what the hell, right ? Its not like Im throwing it on an s10 frame or something . My neighbor just bought a 62 biscayne with a cast iron pg just sitting in the trunk. fate perhaps..hmmm. I figured the glide would be my best option as it should be a bolt in application. Shes keeping the 235, stock drums etc.. Just a low budget safe reliable cruiser with some "old school cool". Can I use the bell housing off the three speed to mate the PG to the 235 or are they the same ?..Thanks for the help fellas.
The cast iron powerglide for a 235 is different from the cast iron PG for a V8. So you need to find one that came behind a six. The bellhousing on the iron PG contains a lot of automatic transmission parts, and the six and 8 have the starter location in a different place, so you can't just swap stuff around. There is also an adapter plate that fits between the engine and transmission bellhousing, and the flexplate, torque converter, transmission cooler lines, shifter, etc needs to be installed.
Thanks for the info squirrel, Im hoping its for a 6 because thats what the biscayne which it was found in had originally. I assume if I get the casting numbers i will be able to find what I need to know. I know its got the torque converter and lines still attached. I'll have to look for the flexpalte. This adapter plate you speak of, its a stock part ? I could perhaps locate at one of my parts sources for cheap if they were on all 235 W/PG's I'll get those casting numbers soon. The only thing I could clearly see that I jotted down was 3777283. Im thinking bout offering 100to 125$ as the condition is unknown, does that sound about right ?
I understand you want to keep the 235, but if it was me, I'd put in a later 250 and hook up a 200r4 or 700r4 automatic
The adapter is a stock piece, it bolts to the block and has the round flange that the PG bellhousing bolts to. The PG for the six has the starter mount above the crankshaft centerline, the 8 has it below, so if there's an ear on the bellhousing sticking out above the middle, then it's the transmission for a six. Like this picture
I hear you guys. But the 235 is in it, It"ll run just fine and Im sticking with it.. Squirrel, thanks again brother, Im gonna swing by after work and have a better look and get some pics. And take inventory of all thats there. As i said this is just a good times budget cruiser, done in the garage on weekends so Im not getting to crazy with it...yet. Now my 52 Chevy Will soon run a Vette 327 with a muncie 4 spd 2x4's and posi gears, But thats a whole nother deal. This biscayne will never see the strip so Im just gonna keep it simple and cool... Thanks fellas, I'll keep you posted.
Here it is, traded an old metalflake wheel for it. It came with the filler tube and torque converter also. Going to get it cleaned up and have a look inside and go from there. If anyone has the stock adapter ring for a good price please let me know. Thanks for the help fellas ..
I just picked up a 235 with an automatic transmission adapter plate attached to the block. I'm planning on removing the adapter tomorrow. If I'm successful, I'll post pictures of the adapter so you can see if it meets your needs. I don't have any use for it. I'm gonna rebuild the 235 and mate it to a T-5 manual five-speed and put it in my project truck (a 1950 Chevy 3100). I have no idea what it's worth, and I'm not too worried about that end of it. I'm a fairly new member here, and I'm relatively new to the hobby as well. But from what I've read here (and I've done a LOT of reading...), the folks here are eager and willing to help out one another. I'd like to help out too, if I can. If the adapter is what you need, we'll figure something out. Damon
Make sure you pick up the 235/261 torque converter and flex plate. Btw - the V8 and 6 cylinder gearboxes do not interchange, as the provision for the starter are in different places.
hey man I know this is far from you but maybe a Hamb relay to texas??: <hr> Chevy 60's parts. Flywheel, Pressure plate, Clutch, Starter, all came from an inline 250 cubic inch. Should work on other inliners and V8 350 too. Bell housing adapter ( casting number GM 3742366) is for connecting a Chevrolet cast iron powerglide to a 350 or 283 or 327 V8 or 250 or 292 inliner. . Straight six call or text 9five1 (265) (5659) please include ad title when texting, thanks.. Location: Murrieta it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests <table summary="craigslist hosted images"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center"></td> <td align="center"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"></td> <td align="center"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> PostingID: 2659180160
Here is a curious question: Can you take the V8 to cast PG adapter and turn it around and mount it to the 235? Then you have the V8 pattern toward the transmission and then could use almost any modern day Chevy automatic. Is this a possibility? Granted you may need to mount the starter backwards toward the transmission and put a crank to flexplate spacer.
Sure would be nice to see the 235 to PG adapter picture. Would butting the 235 and V8 adapters back to back work? I would think the PG side of the adapters might be the same, or if different, would a spacer ring with holes drilled and counterbored work? Just a thought, since the OP wanted to keep this low cost.
Check this guy out: BUFFALO ENTERPRISES 25625 Dahl Road, Arlington, WA, 98223 (360) 652-7684 Transmission Adapters: 235/261 to Powerglide, Turbo 350 & 400, Scattershield GMC 228/302 to Powerglide, Turbo 350 & 400, Scattershield NO Spacer Plates - 1 piece Blanchard Ground Steel Custom Flexplates - Chevy Six and GMC Six I haven't purchased anything from him, but the people that I've heard from that have say it's quality stuff. You may have to call more than once, he has been building stuff for these since they were new, and he "doesn't do no Internet". 200-4R and 700R4 seem to be popular, the extra gears really help from what I'm told by those that have done it.
Here are some photos of the transmission adapter that I have and don't need. It was bolted to a 1958 235 block. The torque converter was also still attached to the flywheel, but I had to cut it off with a torch. If this adapter can help you, please let me know soon. Someone else is asking about it. Thanks! Damon
I have not found anyone making an adapter to mate a 200R or 700R to the 235.. and I would not know how to install the TV cable to the 2 brl carb... I am thinking if using the Buffalo kit to install a T350 behind my 235.
Um, these can all be had with the same bolt pattern on them, Chevy trans bolt pattern is Chevy trans bolt pattern... an adapter for a TH350 will also mount either of the others. TH350 and 200r4 also come in BOP pattern and there's a dual-pattern 200R4 case, so you have to watch which you buy. TV cable would require a bracket I'd be shocked if no one makes, but would be easy to fab if no one is.
Hi! i realize I am resurrecting a decade old thread, but seems like a good place to ask! th350 and 6l80e have the same bell housing… we just got a nice 54 Chevy project. It’s going to built bone stock except there transmission, open drive, end rear axle and 12 volt. We were thinking 3 on the column with a BW overdrive. Hard to find, and 12 volt can be an issue. 5 speed would be sufficient but we don’t want a floor shift. There is always Japanese 5 speed column shifts but I’m not up for that. Automatic might be a better choice for everyone. 6l80e with a controller would be epic. With a 4ish:1 rear, it would be powerful with a 235. is there any mechanical reason why this can’t/shouldn’t be done? I’m certain there are opinions but facts would be much more helpful. thanks!
Ok first off why a 6l80 Big heavy truck tranny 4l60 is a lot lighter and you won’t have to cut half your car up to fit it in. The 4l is a overdrive tranny so you can still use a big rear gear. But it is your car and your dough.
More gears I don’t like today’s 8 and 10 speed automatics but I understand why they are there - I have always felt 6 was the pinnacle. My daily has been a 4.3 liter Lexus with a six speed (though I just listed it) and I was impressed by the range of happiness it provided the v8. I imagine a 6 speed, if the shift smooth with the aftermarket controller, and that 235 would be silky smooth, stout, and jot disappointing unless I look under the cab… besides, Wont a 4 speed auto totally dog a 235? At first I was committed to a 5 speed manual, but there is something appealing about “D” and relax and go. Never regretted the th350 in my 50 chevy sedan
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