Not too far off the subject. I posted this a while back, but here it is again for all the noobs and in case you haven't seen it. I think it had a Rocket motor, not completely sure.
[ QUOTE ] I heard that Olds changed the back of the block some where in the 50s so all trannys are not interchangeable. Also heard the early trannys are better than the late one. [/ QUOTE ] That is true. The crank and flywheel are pretty much all diferent for every model year of the 303's and 324's. That is the main reason why you can't find a tranny adapter kit. My 324 makes decent HP and tons of torque with a 3 deuce setup. I can chirp the tires in all 3 gears with the crappy ass 3.08 gears. Granted it is a one wheel burn. I guess the junk-a-ways are decent, i don't know much about the pre '56 trannys. EXPENSIVE to rebuild!!! A planatary gear will break you $500, and there are four of them in that bad boy!
[ QUOTE ] I heard that Olds changed the back of the block some where in the 50s so all trannys are not interchangeable. Also heard the early trannys are better than the late one. [/ QUOTE ] What you guys may be talking about as far as changing the back of the block goes is that the block wasn't changed, but the bellhousings were. I forget the actual year of the break, but the 49-51 or 52 had the bellhousing the Cad-Lasalle trans fits and the 53-53 on up had the bellhousing the later Olds trans fit as well as the 38 Buick floorbox fit these later Olds bellhousings and was a viable trans for the Olds provided you used some Olds parts to convert the Buick trans to open driveline.
ok 49-55 you can run prety much any hydro you want.where you run into problems is in 56 some of the cars used the jetaway.this didint have a pilot that went into the crank.they have an alumm case.junk trans imp.soo if you get a 56 motor that was originally eqiped with a jetaway it will not be drilled for a pilot bishing.it will have a wick instead.youll have to have it drilled out.if you get a 56 motor originally with a hydro it will be drilled for a pilot bushing.it just soo happens that 56 was the best year for the 324 soo try to find one with a hydro.originally the hydro ones where on std. 88 models.they will usually have a 2 brl,but not always.another good way to go about it is to get a 54-55 324,and use some of the 56 parts like heads,and distributor.plus the cams are easier to find for 49-55.they are different,and do not inter change with 56-58. eric
Paul, I remember them, they had quite the reputation. No this one was in EB. When leaving the center going toward Brockton N Central continued straight up the hill to Flint's junk yard. If you went to the right it turned into Plain St. and went past Oakdale Packing. At that V in the road there was an island and the car lot was behind it. It changed owners from time to time. I don't think that anyone stayed there too long. Tom
C9, It doesn't get much better than that. That's a great looking car. I think we all need time machines. We didn't know what we had when we had it. But then that may be true about today.
Hellbilly_Buzzard, Well I guess that I need to be careful and find a good tranny, and the correect one for that matter. All this info from everyone is great. The three duece setup sounds great too. I am going to pass on the Weiand 2X4 set up and look for trips. What are you running for carbs? Before I get the cart before the horse, I need to lock up this engine deal.
Eric, Thanks for that info. I am putting all of the replies into MS Word and printing it out. When I go looking I will be able to find what I need and pass on the junk. I did that about four years ago with the Y-Block stuff and I made some good finds. Hope that I can be as lucky with Olds stuff.
I have 3 Stromberg 97's with .055 jets (.045s are standard for the 97'2) on an OL-396 intake with a progressive linkage. With the .045s when I had the motor at the desired rpm range, the mixture screws were about a 1/2 turn from popping out and the idle screw was all the way in.
Hellbilly_Buzzard That's interesting. I have six 97s. I'm using three on my Offy on the Ford 312. That would leave the others for the Olds. I have no idea of what is inside but I'll have to check them out and do a rebuild anyway. Sounds like the .045s ran out of adjustment before falling out. Some folks don't care for the 97s so I thought that I'd ask. I like the way they look and the whole nostalgia thing too. That 10 kinds of people thing of yours had me lol.
I like the 97's a lot. They are so easy to rebuild. The only problem I had was with the floats taking on fuel. After I got that taken care of nothing but good things to say. [ QUOTE ] That 10 kinds of people thing of yours had me lol. [/ QUOTE ] nobody cathes that joke Here is a pic of my setup.
That looks neat. The Olds engines have a great look to them. The trips make it look even better. I was at garage night last night and one of the guys there was talking about the 97s. He said that the only problem that he saw people have was not setting up the outside carbs as secondaries. But if that is done right they work like a charm.
cool.i hope you find a good one.i have to make a correction though.when i said the jetaway had an alum case i was wrong sorry.it doesnt.it has a alum bell,and tailshaft.wheras the hydro is all iron.i just pulled a 56 motor/trans the other night,and once i got the gunk off i realized it eric
Even a hardcore Ford guy like me, don't think its a fair fight, Olds vs Y-Block....Take the Olds........OLDBEET
OLDBEET, Thanks for the input. I am hearing the same from a lot of other Ford guys. If all things go well I will be most likely using Olds power. A friend of mine is pushing a Lincoln 368 that is available. I believe that that engine is quite large and probably very expensive to rebuild. Does anyone know where I can get accurate info on the size and weight of the Y-Block and Olds engines for comparison? That would include the length, width and height of both engines to like points of reference. I have found info for the sbc and flathead.
The early Hydro had cooling "grills" in the bellhousing and used that air flow past the torque converter for cooling and no external oil cooler. Starting in '56 the "new" hydro had external cooling and a trans cooler in the radiator.
What I could find Olds 303 http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/ofe303.htm#E303%20303CIDEngineDetail all olds http://www.442.com/tech/50sengidspecs.html
[ QUOTE ] The early Hydro had cooling "grills" in the bellhousing and used that air flow past the torque converter for cooling and no external oil cooler. Starting in '56 the "new" hydro had external cooling and a trans cooler in the radiator. [/ QUOTE ] DrJ, Sounds like the Ford-O-Matic. Air cooled through 1955 and then hooked to the radiatior starting in 56. The later ones were considered better under heavy loads because of the better cooling. Is that true of the Olds?
[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] The early Hydro had cooling "grills" in the bellhousing and used that air flow past the torque converter for cooling and no external oil cooler. Starting in '56 the "new" hydro had external cooling and a trans cooler in the radiator. [/ QUOTE ] DrJ, Sounds like the Ford-O-Matic. Air cooled through 1955 and then hooked to the radiatior starting in 56. The later ones were considered better under heavy loads because of the better cooling. Is that true of the Olds? [/ QUOTE ] I abused my 55 for 12 years and it was a gallon low on fluid when I bought the car. two quarts of stop leak and drive. I'd put the pre '56 hydro in a car with a slim jim rather than fuck with the slim jim. But, REAL hotrods have three pedals!
there are several differances externaly to identify between the hydro and the jetawy.the hydro will also have a side pan that contains your valve body.with no cooling line like what was mentioned.those fins on the bellhousing are just a vent.the jetaway has it too.at least in 56.the jetaway(56-60) is a different trans that the slim jim(61-64).go with the hydro if going automatic.also i wouldnt go word for word on that 442.com website have of what is n there is wrong. eric
the junk-a-way also has the side pan. I know the bellhousing for the junk-a-way is part of the block and not the tranny. Another thing that might help you out. The junk-a-way is a center "O" transmission. Reverse is all the way to the right on the tree. I beleive the hydros are center "R" trannies. (I could be wrong so please correct me if I am.)
Hellbilly_Buzzard, That Olds info and links are now in my Olds folder. I am looking at a 56 4dr ht that I got a lead on. I am not sure of the model or if the car is for parts and how the drive train is. But it my second lead. Thanks again.
DrJ Sounds like the early trannys can take a beating. I heard that some where else too. Half the fun of a project is the accumulation of the parts. I enjoy the hunt almost as much as the find. I understand your liking 3 pedals, I do too. But I want my honey to be able to drive it too. She has put up with me for over 35 years and I want her to be happy.
56olds-ERDY, Welcome to the discussion. Thanks for your input too. All of this info is very helpful. The last thing that I need is a pile of Olds stuff that I can't use or get rid of. I don't want to rival my Y-Block collection. I won't have room for my coupe in the garage.
I've got a decent collection of 324 stuff, could always use more though! My combo is going to be a 54 324 block with 56 heads. I'll prolly run my Edelbrock 4x2 set up, got Isky adjustable rockers, Moon valve covers, Offy remote oil filter set up, and a Mallory dual point. I've got two 54 324's and one 55, and heads stacked up like cord wood. I've got a stick set up but will probably run my slant pan B+M Hydro. I've got a 62 slim jim, 56 jetaway and the B+M. I could snap a couple pics and send them to you if you need to know the differences. Here's a quick way to ID heads. Look at the center exhaust port, you will find a number cast into them. #7 are 54 heads #8 = 55 heads #10 = 56 heads
the jetaway doesnt have a side pan.i can post pictures.maybe that would be easier.the trans still has a bellhousing that attaches to it.while it is shorter than most.its still there,and bolts on.oh wait i have a couple pics of my 56 poncho slant pan(hydro) here but i tore the front apart.ill snap some of a complete 55 olds one,and a 56 jetaway that i am in the middle of pulling from a motor at the moment. eric
rocket88 Heads like cord wood. That's a lot of heads. You didn't collect all of that over night. The pics of the trannys would be helpful. Thanks
Eric, As they say "a picture is worth a thousand words." I can see the slant pan and side pan. Any pictures are a help and lots of other HAMBers with similar questions will be able to see for themselves too. Thanks
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