Fitting a 216 to a 1950 Pontiac trans

Does anyone know if there is a bellhousing available to fit a 216 Chevy motor to a 1950 Pontiac trans? We have the chevy and Pontiac bells and could make an adapter plate but an old bolt on would be nicer.

 

As I understand it, there was a reason GM put a 235 in their Powerglide cars. The 216 didn't have enough power.

Others can probably give you details, but I think the Hydramatic used in the Pontiac takes even more power than the PG.

As far as I know it is in no way a bolt up, and, if you somehow managed to do it you wouldn't like the result.

 

This car is a manual, base model car. No Hydra. He's just looking to put around in it. For the price its going to cost to make the adapter we might as well just throw a belly button in it.

 

I HIGHLY doubt that adapter was ever made !!

 

According to original documents the Chevy engine was only 6 horsepower less than the bigger heavier flathead Pontiac. Chevy at 84 and Pontiac at 90.

 

"if there is a bellhousing available to fit a 216 Chevy motor to a 1950 Pontiac trans"

I just assumed auto Pontiac. I know, shouldn't assume. Based on the info given, I also assumed you wanted to put the Pontiac transmission in a Chevy. It appears that you want to put the 216 in the Pontiac. You might be able to make an adapter by redrilling a bell housing that fits a 216, a truck bell may have the same bolt pattern on it you need. GM used a lot of parts common to a lot of their vehicles. Almost any other engine would be much more worthwhile it would seem.

 

Im kinda leaning towards another engine but when a $25 216 pops up you grab it. Hell its scrap weight. The 216 Bellhousing is roughly 1/2" narrower than the original Pontiac so a plate could be added between them and work but the price to make said plate wouldn't. What I was really wondering was if there was a Chevy bellhousing with the wider bolt pattern for the transmission.

 

What are the "torque" specs for both engines? I would think that would have more to do with it that just horsepower. As far as swapping transmissions; you might want to look at Canadian made Pontiacs. The reason I say this is, there's a French-Canadian over on ChevyTalk.Org, who is restoring a "Pontiac". The car has a flathead six Pontiac engine, but Chevrolet Powerglide transmission, stock. Perhaps the same thing was done with their manual transmission cars? I know, that's going the other way than what you're talking about doing, but it may give you some insight. The other issue I see is, the Pontiac was an open driveline, while the Chevrolet was still an enclosed driveline. Use an open driveline Chevrolet transmission, with the 216, and make your own driveshaft. Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

If the 216 is out of a car, probably, if out of a truck, probably not. There is a consideration of the center hole being the proper size also. Drilling a new pattern into the bell housing is also a possibility.

 

The Chevy has only 4lb ft torque less. The open driveline is why I was looking for an adapter. We have access to the original Chevy trans but it is the closed style. Would a later open drive Chevy trans bolt to the 216 bellhousing? I have no problem making a driveshaft, wouldn't be the first time.

 

The casting wont allow for redrilling. The flange on the front of the Pontiac trans is substantially larger than the Chevy.

 

If you are willing to use a different transmission you can do it with all stock parts except probably the driveshaft. You would have to change the bellhousing to a truck housing. As I said above, your Pontiac transmission may fit a 216 truck bell housing. There are no open drive Chevy transmissions that will fit the 216 car bolt pattern.

 

As a reference here are the two bellhousings. Pontiac on the right, Chevy on the left.

 

So we would need a bellhousing from a 50 or so truck and a trans from what?

 

I don't know if I can give you all the combinations, but, the bell housings that will fit your 216 are from any 216, any 235, any 261 truck engine, any GMC from 228 to 302.

The first open drive Chevy car was 1955. They had a 235. 235 was used thru '62. There were a couple of truck patterns that they used. One of the truck patterns (smaller truck) would fit a multitude of car & light truck transmissions from that '55 transmission until recently. Also the car bell housings on the 235 will work. The transmission can be from either 6 or v8 . I can't tell from the picture if the pontiac pattern is the one but it looks close.

I hope that helps a little.

There are others on here that can add some detail.

 

There may be such an animal. GM Canada made some Pontiacs with Chev sixes in the late 40s. Whether they had the Chev torque tube drive, or Pontiac open drive, I am not sure. Maybe one of our Canadian Pontiac owners can chime in.

 

Possibly the easiest way to get from the Chev engine to an open driveshaft, would be to get a 55 up Chev transmission.

 

If this helps any, Pontiac was forced to use Powerglide transmissions during the hydramatic fire period. Perhaps they made an adapter to do this. I know it probably is very rare.

I had a 51 GMC 3/4 ton truck with a 235 in it. It also had the granny 4 speed transmission. I am thinking that the previous posts may be correct in saying that the bell housing for the Chevy and GMC truck engines have a different transmission pattern.