Hi guys, need a little info. I've got a project coming in that is going to use a 1956 Olds V-8 , what are the options for transmissions and/or adpaters for transissions for these things? My customer is gravitating towards an automatic. Thanks in advance for your help.
Should be a Hydramatic 4-speed auto from the factory, supposedly a good ****** if it's working right, though they can be hard to find people to work on. We have a '58 and I already decided that if the ****** takes a dump, I'm prolly gonna drop $600 on the adaptor to put the more common Turbo 400 behind it.
http://www.transmissionadapters.com/early_olds.htm Google is your friend, man. This is just one of them, I'm sure there's more. Possibly cheaper, as well...
I have a 1955 Olds Holiday that runs on the stock 324 with hydromatic ******. I will tell you despite the convenience of running an adapter with a chevy ****** I HIGHLY recommend sticking with the hydromatic! No slips, drips, nor eratic shifts, just a solid ****** that LOVES to climb the steep inclines of the rocky mountains.
Know your history, Gr***hopper. Google B&M HydroStick. Read the MANY entries. Just don't use the Jetaway, stick with the slant pan hydro. If it was good enough for Stone, Woods & Cook and Mazmanian It's still good enough. Of course, if you wear the dreaded "Gold Chain", adapt a Turbohydro. It'll go really well with the crybaby doll
All ****** options for these early engines are pricey. Each have their pro's and con's. FWIW, there were two different automatics available in '56, the Dual-range Hydramatic and the Contolled Coupling Hydramatic (Jetaway). If the transmission has a pan on the left side of the case as well as one on the bottom, it is a Dual-Range Hydro (the one used in g***er racing). If it only has a pan on the bottom, then it is a ****** that should be swapped out unless you are doing a restoration. The C-C hydramatic is not a good hot-rod ******.
My project is a 56 olds. Im putting a 700 r trans behind the 324. there is a couple people that make adapters, Goatroper02 here on the hamb , and bendstens. I went with bendstens myself, i didnt know of goatroper at the time. i had to cut out my floor boards quite a bit, fab a new trans mount, fab side mounts on the block, cut the driveshaft, and thats where im at right now. its quite a bit of work. i had a 55 olds and got the transmission rebuilt on that one. it was an awesome transmission. if you get the linkage just rite it should work real good.
My 55 Olds has a hydro, and I don't think it will ever wear out. Just make sure you get the shift linkage on the money. First gear is a HOOT.
anouther great thing about a hydro, stump pulling 3 something first, so with the right gearing, it'll have as much leg as most any overdrive
Tony do you have any info on installing your ****** in a car that had a slim jim in it yet? I want to know if the tunnel will still have to be enlarged. Can I get some measurements from center of input shaft to top of bell housing where it's bolted to the ****** and top of center of the ******. That will give me some idea. TH400 ******. Thanks Pat
Go with the dual range hydro. The 56 dual range is one of the best. If you have the CC hydramatic then there maybe a need for a pilot bushing for dual range installation.
I have a 56 98 with the factory 324 and hydra matic. It sat up for years and I recently gotten rollings. The ****** was ok, only a sticky 2nd gear. Recently i drove it, heard a pop and lost all gears except 1st and reverse. Anyone know what this could be? has it happened to anyone else?
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