does anyone know if any other transmissions will bolt right up to the back of a 331? it has the hydramatic on it right now. im trying to find something different. i just dont know what would bolt up to the 331. thanks for the help
There was also a manual transmission that came in early Cads (331). They're hard to find, but they're out there if you look hard enough. If you're looking for something newer, there is a place called RPM somewhere in California that builds 700R4 and 200R4 Overdrive transmissions that are modified to fit the 331. Ron Parks is the guys name, I've done buisness with him several times and he does good work...not quickly though. If you don't have any luck finding his info, PM me and I'll try to find it for you. He is a great source of info for early Cad stuff... Do you have a Cadillac or are you using the 331 in something else? John
Contact Bendtsen's in Minnesota. What they don't know about engine/transmission combinations and adaptations ain't worth knowin'. web site is www.transmissionadapters.com. Or Google "Bendtsen's"
I think an Olds bellhouseing from the same era bolts up and you could bolt a standard to that. otherwise, if you look around that was a popular swap into fords back then and on up into the '60s. They called them a Fordillac, its still pretty easy to find adapters for Ford ****** swaps. Also they got adapted to LaSalle trannies alot, and there is still a bunch of stuff floating around to do that. Guess that's not what you wanted to know, right?
If you have an old junk yard in your area, keep an eye out for any GM car from that year, 1953, as the Willow Run Hydramatic plant had a fire and many of the GM cars had standard shifts for a almost a year in 1953, even Cadillacs.
Actually the fire in Livonia, Mich meant that the Caddys switched to a Buick automatic trans. The only Cadillacs to have sticks are 1951 and before. The only exclusion to this are the 75 series limos. Hyfire
keep the hydra-matic,trust me on this. my car has one,and my brother's car has one. they are tough as nails.
I don't think cadillac had overdrives. I have a 49 cad hydro that I'm looking to sell if you need one.
I am going to run an automatic but why should I run the Hydra-matic, I am building a 34 Ford and using a 1955 331 Cadillac in it and I am on the fence as to which automatic to run? I got a transmission with my engine but I am thinking of putting a 700r4 on it instead of the Hydra-matic also. I hear good things about the Hydra-matic, but you have to find a shop that knows what they are doing to rebuild it and the master kit is pricey nowadays. Besides, when I got my motor/trans combo I didnt get a drive shaft ( harder to find), and then what about a shifter. The Hydra-matic also ways at least a 100 pounds more than a alum. case 700r4 trans. Now I know you could argue the adapter kit is $500.00 to put a late model transmission on my motor, but you can get a good working used trans for like $200.00. Add in the price of a driveshaft and a lighter mini starter and you are still in it less then a stock rebuild on the Hydra-matic, and the parts are all easy to get for the 700r4. Besides my car wiegh's way less then the Cadillac my motor came out of, and I would have the benefit of an overdrive transmission. Just my 2 cents, what do you think? CBB
I think you should buy this adapter from me, Use the stock starter and shift your car, like a real hotrod. Cragar 302 V8 55-62 Cadillac to Late Ford, Bellhouse
Honestly...if I were building a hot rod I'd go manual. Like they say..if it ain't got 3 pedals it ain't a real hotrod. As per the hydro. It's a great ******. I've got one sitting on my garage floor right now. I pulled the 331 out of my 53 caddy. I'm at the point with it now where I'm thinking of dropping a chevy mill in the caddy and taking my time building the 331 and doing it right. Save it for a hot rod and run a 4 speed behind it. But it's still up in the air. A bit off topic. I am still trying to seperate the ****** from the block. I pulled the 30 flywheel bolts and all the ****** bolts. It seperates like 3 inches out but won't full seperate. I've tried turning the crank to dislodge it, etc. Nothing seems to work. Did I miss something? I can't seem to find anything I missed.
A bit off topic. I am still trying to seperate the ****** from the block. I pulled the 30 flywheel bolts and all the ****** bolts. It seperates like 3 inches out but won't full seperate. I've tried turning the crank to dislodge it, etc. Nothing seems to work. Did I miss something? I can't seem to find anything I missed.[/quote] Try this... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1977&highlight=drain+torus
That helps a bit but I already did that. I'm wondering if I missed 2 botls. There were one or two that were up and down (instead of threaded toward the block). I left those. Gonna go back in. I can't find anything on this. Been looking for a while now. Thanks.
I pulled the B&M hydro out of my Duece yrs ago. Never did like the 2-3 shift spacing. I put as adaptor bell housing,flywheel etc and a 4 spd [t10]. It work well and was more fun to drive.
As far as Hydros go, they're great ******'s! They shift hard from the factory. As far as being tough well, they were ran in M-24 Tanks in World War Two!!!! Is that tough enough for ya? I've seen them in lots of different hot rods. A local guy has one in a 64 el camino. A hydro is definitely an old school Hotrod transmission! It all depends on your personal preference. Quote: <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD cl***=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by r8odecay A bit off topic. I am still trying to seperate the ****** from the block. I pulled the 30 flywheel bolts and all the ****** bolts. It seperates like 3 inches out but won't full seperate. I've tried turning the crank to dislodge it, etc. Nothing seems to work. Did I miss something? I can't seem to find anything I missed </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The flywheel is actually one side of your torque converter, all those nuts and bolts hold it together, there is a gasket inbetween and after years and years it's glued together, so basically it will need some persuasion to separate the two. Once this happens you will see the bolts that hold your flywheel to your crankshaft. Hope that helps
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