Is a 60's flat pan 4 spd hydro worth building for behind a hemi in a coupe? i saw one for sale local.
NO, the later hydros are not what you want. Ideally you want the cast iron dual range.I think they were something like 53-55 preferred. The later aluminum cased trannies were not anything you want to get involved with-obviously not referring to the th400-350 or glides.
Is the Hydro in my '58 Olds worth a ****? It's got a leaky front seal and I'm about to drop it and take it to the ****** shop to get it fixed, UNLESS it's not worth it. I like the way it performs...
use a 54-56 Olds or Pontiac slant pan or 54-55 Cadillac flat pan dual range units. These have the 8 plate clutch paks and are the most durable of the dual range units. 52-53 units are also dual range but I believe do not have the bigger clutch paks. As far as single range (51 and back) units, only 1951 would be qualified as a usable unit, as the reverse ge****t was changed to hydraulic actuation for 1951, before that they were mechanically engaged (which meant you could grind it). As said in other replies, 56-64 hydramatics (other than 64 st400) were not very good trannies, especially slim jim rotos of 61-64 vintage.
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