Buddy of mine is building a killer 454 BBC wants to run an early 4 speed hydro, anyone done this before, can it be done?
Yes it can be done, just the same way that a hydro goes behind a small block. You need a 4 speed hydro with a Chevy bellhousing and flywheel. Make sure to balance flywheel/flexplate to whatever your crank is. Stock 454s are externally balanced. I have one (not for sale) that I will post a picture of if I can. Pat
Not the greatest of pictures but you get the point, bellhousing has the Chevy bolt pattern. Search Hydros, 4speed hydros, B & M hydros in the search ares there is a lot on it. Good luck, Pat
You need a chevy bell for a Hydro. If I'm not mistaken there is an Ansen adapter for sale in the cl***ifieds to put it to a chevy. There are 2 types of bells. The Chevy one as pictured above, or an aftermarket adapter that mates an oldsmobile bell to a chevy block. You need a early to mid 50s GMC truck flywheel and torus ***embly. Oldsmobile torus ***emblies are too large. 52-56 Oldsmobile 88 and 98 Hydros are the strongest (well the dual range hydros with the mid length tail shaft are the strongest). They have more clutches than the others. Here is mine. '54 Olds 98 Hydro with Chevy "Drag Mach" (Hildebrandt?) adapter.
My hydro has 55 on the tag and the bellhousing looks just like a 55-57 chevy stick bellhousing (its not though) and bolts onto the transmission it is a stock piece and came with the trans. I can't tell from Von Hartman picture if his bell unbolts. Pat
I have the whole setup, trans out of a Cameo, belhousing, flywheel,starter, torus, and torus cover if you are interested. If you use the chevy bel housing you must have the chevy starter which is rare.
Although it's been nearly eleven years, might you know where s cameo starter and hydro flywheel can be found ? Thanks, Greg
Although it's been nearly eleven years, might you know where s cameo starter and hydro flywheel can be found ? Thanks, Greg