A guy at work has a 63 Caddy and the trans is not shifting properly,what exactly is the original trans and would the bolt pattern on the block be the same as the 64 and up that has a TH 400 and how much newer 400 could be used.
TH400 will not bolt up, crank flange is different as well as bolt pattern, original trans is the Hydramatic. Have you tried adjusting the TV rod?
64 is a transition year. Series 62 and 75 ( if i remember correctly) had jetaway and others had st400 (th400) wich was buick bolt pattern case and had adapter plate to meet cad engine.also it has prnds shift pattern, not the usual prndsl. I happen to own 64 sedan de ville, so this is a subject that i know pretty well.
They have adjusted it and no change and never driven or rode in it so I have no clue on what is going on.
No, the crank flange is different and will not accept the 429 flexplate. From the 63/64 Cadillac Website: Swapping the Transmissions ---> Things to Consider Hydramatic Drive Plate with 3 3/16" opening & Turbo Hydramatic Flexplate with 3" Opening!! ==> While the hydramatic drive plate with the 3 3/16" center opening will mount right up to Turbo Hydarmatic crank since the bolt patterns are the same, there is a gap and will usually rip out in short order. ==> the Turbo Hydramatic flex plate opening has to be enlarged to exactly 3 3/16" to mount to the Hydramatic crank end and...if it is not exactly centered and a snug fit it to will quickly rip out. ==> In addition, the inside diameter of Hydramatic crank rear center is 1.6", while the inside diameter of Turbo Hydramatic is 1.7". This may cause the front center cone section of the Turbo Hydramatic torque converter to not have enough clearance, requiring either the rear center section of the Hydramatic crank to be honed out at least .1" or the nub of the Turbo Hydramatic torque converter to be honed down in order to mount the Turbo Hydramatic torque converter on the back of the Hydramatic crankshaft. ===> A best option is the swap out the correct 429 crank designed to fit the Hydramatic drive plate or Turbo Hydramatic flexplate. To go from Hydramatic to Turbo Hydramatic or vice versa consider these differences between cars with the Hydramatic and the Turbo Hydramatic that need to be addressed: ==> Front driveshaft section on TH equipped cars is longer (putting a TH in a 63 or 64 limos requires the front drive shaft section from a 1965 limo). You will either need to find the correct driveshaft section or modify your current front driveshaft sections. There are longer front slip yoke ***emblies available but due to considerable different in length, it is probably not a good option. ==> The 1963 and 1964 Cadillacs had different transmission crossmembers since in 1964 they had to provide for securing both the HM & THM transmission, and of course the rear mounts and Yaw mounts are different between the HM and THM due to difference in size and shape of the transmissions.
Friend of mine had his rebuilt in a 62 Does great. Doing a swap would include an adapter, some crossmember work, some column and instrument cluster work.
What @Moriarity said. We've had a few of these and they won't shift without it being dead on. We had a 63 that had an odd 390. It looked like a 429, used 429 valve covers but it was a 390. I was a punk kid so don't ask details, I remember the trans was a "prindle" too, PRNDL or PRNDSL.
They got it shifting better and if one wants to use the earlier block with a TH 400 it will have to be a 65 to 67 engine?.
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