Well I am new to projects and have found a relatively east starter project, I think . I just picked up a 1960 4d Pontiac Catalina. Pretty solid body and has everything minus a 389. I am picking up a 389 on Thursday that is out of a 64 Catalina. I have been told that the motor should bolt right onto the 1960 hydramatic bellhousing. Wondering if anybody knows what I may need to get this to work, if anything. I have read that the starter may be block mounted in 64 and mounted on the bell houing in 60.. Not really sure one way or the other. I am hoping to get to the Iola, WI swap meet this week and pick up anything that I may need.. thanks in advance for your help!!
would it be easier to just put the 64 motor and ****** into this car and make drive shaft adjustments if needed?
I think Pontiac was still using the "Roto-Hydramatic" transmission - aka the "Slim Jim" - in 1964 during the the transition from true Hydramatics to Turbo-Hydramatics. I had a Roto-Hydramatic in my '63 Catalina; it worked OK but was hard to get parts or service for. There may have been another automatic transmission available on '64 Pontiacs but I think it was something uncommon, too. So I would recommend keeping the 60 Hydramatic, which should bolt to the 64 block without any problems.
From 1959-1964 all parts pretty much played well together, but some may play better than others. I think your combo should be fine. Bob
55-60 Pontiac bellhousing bolt pattern is all on it's own. 61 and up is differant. If the 64 block is already tapped for a block mounted starter, than a th350 or 400 can be bolted up to the 64 389 with no problems. 61-63 is the same bolt pattern as the newer transmissions, but no provision for block mounted starter. If not tapped for block mounted starter than an adapter plate is available from Butler performance that mounts up a starter when using a newer trans.
55Chieftain is right. I looked it up and the 61-64 bolt pattern is different from the 55-60. That being the case, Id look for a BOP 350 or 400 Turbo-Hydramatic.
Where did you look up the specs? I havn't been able to find any databases anywhere. Will I have to adjust the length of my driveshaft? I will probably just look for a 350 if I can't get the transmission that is currently attached to the 389 I am picking up.
Even if the slim jim is hooked up to the 64 engine, it isn't worth messing with. Now if it was a hydromatic out of a Bonneville than it would be worthwhile. The drive shaft will need reworked as well as the shift linkage. Also the 350 will fit easier than the th400 in the trans tunnel.
I just looked at Wilcap's list of engine/transmission adapters. 55-60 require a different adapter than 61 and later Pontiac engines. Their website also has pictures. ... I should have thought of that before leaving my first message. It's a good thing 55Chieftain remembered. I don't any good place to look up driveshaft lengths. However, a 1960 Pontiac would have GM's X-frame ch***is so it should have a two-piece driveshaft. You might only have to modify the front portion. If you're real lucky, you might be able to use the front portion of a 58-64 Chevy driveshaft - there were several. Maybe 55Chieftain knows something about that, too?
Here's some info from a recent post over on PY. http://forums.performanceyears.com/forums/showthread.php?t=608813&highlight=th350+swap
On the site 55Chieftain mentioned, look at donpontiac's 9-3-09 post. He says he was able to use his original driveshaft by picking a TH350 with the right length tail shaft housing. There are several of those, too, so that might help.
Thanks for all the info guys. I really appreciate it. I will just get a 350 and pick up what I need to get it in there. Sounds like a lot better set up.
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