Say you've got a '61 Catalina two-door sedan (I don't, but I'd like to) in which you want to replace the Hydramatic on the column with a manual transmission on the floor. Aside from an original bellhousing are there any other options out there? My father seems to think Lakewood still makes a scattershield for an early 389. What about clutch linkage pieces and pedals? Could they be swapped over from a same-era Chevrolet or is the setup entirely different?
Lakewood is showing a bellhousing for 65-77 pontiac. You can check them at: http://www.mrgasket.com click on the Lakewood logo for their catalog. When I switched my '61 Ventura to a 4-speed, I used '59 or '60 Pontiac pedals (Don't remember - it was 1964) and linkage. Don't know about the Chev. pedals but they should be close. Dan
Here's a link to a Pontiac forum . Some of the members there really know their early '60s Ponchos and should be able to give you some accurate info. Just register, introduce yourself (never hurts to break the ice) and ask your question. I can tell you right now that some of the pre-'64 tranny and linkage stuff can be a little tricky to find parts and interchanges for, very doubtful that any Chevy pieces will work. ----- Bart ----
You might have a problem with the starter. Most pontiacs up to mid 1964 had the starter bolting on to the transmission. That makes it hard to change over to any other transmissions. The blocks back then had no provision for a starter to be bolted directly to the block.
Starting in '61, the bolt pattern on the back of the block was the same all the way up thru '79. The lakewood scatter shield has Bolt patterns for chevy and BOP patterns and starter pockets in both the left and right sides with what appears to be holes for starter mounting bolts. I have no idea if the scatter shield is stout enough to support a starter or not. The material is bout 1/8th " and the addition of the Lakewood block protector plate would add another 1/8th". I'd think 1/4" should be enough for starter mounting but have no valid experience to base my supposition on. I no longer have a Lakewood scatter shield to look at. Mine went with my 50 chevy sedan delivery when it sold. Someone here should have one to look at to tell if the starter bolt holes are in the left side of the shield for BOP starter mounting..........
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