Hot Rods Can an early (50's 4 speed hydromatic) fit behind a late model (80's) Olds 350?

Thinking of buying into a HAMB friendly car that has what i believe is a 50's hydro behind a late model 350 Olds. Is that swap feasible or was there an adapter involved. The shift pattern is the same as a 50's GM with reverse being where low would be on a more modern (350 turbo) which is why I'm thinking it's an early Hydro. Bill

 

Anything is possible but sounds unlikely.

 

I would say unlikely also, but a couple of close up pictures could prove us all wrong.

 

that would be a real trick for sure. pics would clarify it.

 

Bill besides pics try throwing a magnet on the case. Not a strong one but a weak one, to avoid being attracted to steel internals. The old hydros have a cast iron case, modern th350/ 400 etc would have aluminum case.

 

I believe reverse shift pattern valve bodies are common in Th350-400 for racing. Could that be the answer. Best to look under the car and see what is there.

 

A quick peak under the car should tell you real quick

 

i have an adapter for pontiac 389-421 engines to olds hydros.

do they share the same pattern as BOP engines?

 

Unfortunately its is a low car in an unheated garage (high temp the day I looked was 8degrees) and even laying on the floor on a piece of cardboard, I could not see the trans. I think the magnet test will be an initial clue. Most newer GM trans are aluminum cases. Thanks, Bill

 

Yes they do, but you'd need an Olds patterned flex plate / torus mounting plate.
Still seems strange to modernize the engine but not the trans. Usually , it's the other way around.
Can't imagine much of a market for these pieces.

 

No floor jack?

 

there's the rub, none of the hydro catalogs list that stuff for any engine newer than the early 60's. somebody had to make a crank adapter to mount a hydro flywheel to accept the torus.

same issue i'm having. i need an adapter for a y block crank to a pontiac hydro flywheel

 

I can't think of any 4 speed automatic produced in the 50's. What did they come in?

 

1946caddy, Cadillac,Oldsmobile, Pontiac,GMC, Lincoln, Hudson,Nash, Kaiser,Frazer possibly a couple others used the 4 speed Hydro.