My buddy has a 55 pontiac with a 3 on the tree that grenaded. He wants to keep it simple, so we're trying to find a stock trans. I don't know anything about pontiacs or where i'd begin to look for a replacement. Any suggestions?
I'm afraid you're stuck with '55-'56 Pontiacs. They went with the heavy duty 6 bolt top trans in '57, and the conventional Chevy type three speed in '58. Depending on what parts are broken, you may be able to use a '50s Buick three speed (with the five bolt top cover) for parts.
how much do you get for the adapters, what year ford gear boxes will it fit, and what else needs to be changed to use it? i found a local guy (thanks to JIVE BOMBER!!) that's a pontiac guru. we may be able to fix the existing one with parts he has but it's a long shot. i'm pushing him toward 350/350 as much as i hate to say it!
The 55/56 Pontiac "One Armed bandit" transmissions are worthless. A 350 replacement is a no brainer. If you have to rebuild it Heathen is right, the Buick Special trans. gears can be used.
If you broke the Pontiac trans, you'll break the Ford. 55-57 bellhousings use one pattern, you may be able to get other transmissions in, they just won't work with the column shifter. The other problem is the hole for the retainer bearing is specific to that trans, although it could be machined larger. I've been meaning to take a spare '56 manual bell I have and see what you'd have to do to get a T5 hung on the back of it. A TH350 won't bolt to a '55 block, some of the holes will line up but there's no place to bolt the starter.
Back around 1967 I had a couple of 55 Ponchos with factory manual units. I specifically recall installing a full syncro 3-speed from a shiverlay and it bolted direct to the stock bell but a floor shift was required. Would a chebby column interchange??
from what i understand there is an adapter to put an early ford 3 speed behind it, and one that will mate a th350 with the stock motor. the th350 adapter kit is like $800 from what i was told. if you've ever seen the streets in san francisco you'd know that the automatic conversion would be great!
A modern 3/4/5 speed will bolt to your engine via a 1958-60 stick bell, but I can guarantee you that nothing newer will bolt to a '55-'57 bell without enlarging the center hole and drilling and tapping at least two new bolt holes.
ya that's pretty much what "pontiac pete" here in oakland told me. that being said....... what about the illusive adapter plates i've heard about. that seams like the best way to update to something that's not just another piece of ****!
No to steal away from the task at hand, but those bellhousings don't excatly grow on trees. Or do they?
HA! ya none of this stuff grows on tree....... not in oakland anyway! i'm all for keeping the stock running gear if you can maintain and replace it, but this is retarded!!
No, they don't...but neither do many of the parts and pieces that we all think are so wonderful! Another possibility for you is a bell housing from a mid '50s GMC truck that was Pontiac V8 powered; I know, also not plentiful, but I've bought (and sold) two of them at swap meets in the past five months. The side mount provisions on the truck bell probably won't line up with your p***enger car mounts, though.
Right on, '55 and '56 GMC respectively had the 287 v8 and 317 v8 and the trucks often had a manual ******. Never robbed parts from a GMC though.
i found a place (wilcap ind.) that makes a 55 pont. 287 to th350 adapter for $550 barring a 55 3 speed trans falling from the sky, this might be the solution
Of course, you could price out the machine work on the original bellhousing, too. GMC used the Pontiac V8 and even had their own version, a 336 I believe, through 1959. Could come in small or big trucks.
You can go with an earlier trans as well, there are just a few things to watch out for http://members.tripod.com/starchief57/techtips.htm#gear
I found a three speed, it came out of a '53....$50 plus the shipping (yikes) or maybe buy the thing a bus ticket. PM me a phone number if you want to investigate this route, and I am only the friendly middle man. (Oh yeah andI am heading out of town, but Ill look for the pm)
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