Hot Rods replacing 1949 Pontiac six with V8

Considering replacing the straight six in a 1949 Pontiac with a V8. It is backed by a hydromatic.

Logic tells me to consider an early Olds 303. The fact that it is still 6Volt would make the conversion easier.

But will the Olds 303 bolt to the Hydromatic without an adapter?

I suppose an early Caddy 331 might also work?

any suggestions are appreciated.

 

One nice thing about the first style hydramatic was that it had a detatchable bell housing like most standard transmissions do, so you could bolt several different engines to your stock transmission using factory parts. This includes '55-'60 Pontiac V8s, if you want to keep it all Pontiac.

 

Sorry for hijacking, but does that include my -53 Chieftain with straight 8 and dual-range hydramatic?

 

Yes. Any hydramatic through '55 applies, as does some of the '56s. If your shift quadrant has a Park position, it's the newer transmission.

 

Great, Ive got no parkposition so then I should be able to find another bellhousing!

To be more specific, which bellhousings would fit my trans and what engines could be used?

 

1949-64 Oldsmobile 303-324-371-394
1949-54 Cadillac 331, and since Cadillac changed the rear of the block in '55, if you find a '55 Cadillac hydramatic bell housing, you can bolt it to the 365s and 390s through '62.
1955-60 Pontiac 287-317-347-370-389
Lincoln V8s were backed by hydramatics from '49-'51; did the first few years of the OHV Lincolns use them as well?
If you find a hydramatic equipped '55-'59 Chevy pickup, you'll have the parts to bolt a Chevy V8 in your car. There were also 6 cylinder hydramatic trucks, but the Chevy and GMC sixes used then had a unique block pattern that was not common to any other engine.

 

Thanks alot for the great info, should make it a hell of a lot easier to find some engine and bellhousing for my car.

Once again, thanks!

 

Don't limit your selection based on voltage. The engine doesn't care whether it's 6 volts or 12. Only the ignition coil, and the generator/alternator matter regarding voltage.

 

I agree Mike, but finding the correct starter for an early Olds V8 can be a bit challenging.

great info fellas!

 

Most 6 volt starters will work fine on 12 volts, and most starter/alternator shops can do a 12 volt conversion as well.