Very close. 1950 Oldsmobile. Basically a Lasalle, but check out how short the tailshaft is. I've never seen a complete one for sale.
one year trans..50 Olds. Some internals are not interchangable with the Cad LaS Did you get the front bearing snout?...and the "50 Olds only" rear yoke? I have yet to find a different yoke that can be used...
F&J, Is the front bearing snout the same as the lasalles? No, I don't have the rear yoke. I guess the look is not over
Same snout. The 51-up Olds Selector trans snout looks right but won't work. The 51-up Olds yoke is close...but won't work either. They had the same spline count, but the diameter is just a bit off.
I always wanted to check in an old Hollander to see if they even list yokes..maybe not. You would think that there must be something made in the 30s through now that would work on at least the splines. The seal diameter may be wrong but that's Ok....and who cares what U-joint, right? I wonder if an old time driveshaft shop would have books on splines?
Good information. I do have the snout then. I thought the 50 olds and lasalle (sideshifts) shared the same internals.
Well, I had a 37 LaS top shift trans here. I did use the 50 Olds short tail setup on it just like Paul did. I noticed the 2/3 synco's were different diameters Olds versus 37 LaS. So, I started test fitting to see what else. The syncro from the Olds would not fit to the front input shaft (3rd gear), and it would not fit to the 2nd gear on the top shaft, BUT, if you used all 3 of those pieces together, then the "set" would fit. You just can't use one piece. the clusters were the same. Now if you read up on hamb, the Cad used the LaS style trans to 53 or 55 about. I am thinking some of these later cad transmissions carried the same front gears, syncos as the 50 Olds. I can't say for sure because I do not have an Olds OR Cad parts book. One more thing. The front snout: there is no gasket between the snout and the trans face like you would have on a bolt-on snout (ford or Chev etc) Instead, there is a full face gasket on the trans-to-bell face. It needs to be thick, because the the way the snout fits into the 50 Olds bell or Cad bell. If the gasket is too thin, the trans ears will snap or bend.
F&J, Thanks again for the info. I did not know about the gasket. Does the gasket just fit around the trans. front bearing allowing the snout to stay up in the bell? Like a large sheet with a hole just the size of the bearing
Yes, the gasket is cut out to the OD of the snout. Just lay the bell down on blocks, then stand the trans into the bell, You will see a gap between the trans face and bell. The bell is bored for the snout to fit into. If the gasket is too thick, then the snout won't be pressed tight to the front of the trans. I am almost sure there is a gasket set repro'd...maybe read Paul's tech on the short shft conversion??? in the tech area. I know I read it somewhere on hamb. ...or do some measuring..to tell what gasket thickness.
Damn, you're right! I hadn't noticed that. I need to wear my glasses more often! Awesome find by the way! Congrats! I love me some Olds!
I think I found it K&J, I owe you big time, I would have slapped the two together without a gasket between them and tore something up for sure. http://www.bestgasket.com/admin/uploadedimages/8105.jpg With help from search,touchdowntodd,and Paul www.coopersvintage.com then click on Best Gasket enter part #8105 Moondog, Thanks man. Still trying to figure out whats more fun though the "hunt" or the "find"!
not to be an ass - but why seek out a 1 yr only trans, seems like parts are hard to find. Was this a stronger trans than the one that followed it? Is this needed for a specific engine? Just trying to expand my brain from muncies and saginaws
Yes, it is needed for an old Caddy or old Olds motor with the stock bellhousings. The 50 Olds is the only short tail standard trans made to fit these original Cad/Olds bellhousings. Yes, you can buy a repro bell $$$$ to fit a muncie or Borg T-10 or T-5 to these motors....or even a modern automatic trans. Some guys would rather bolt together old parts to end up with an old style traditional setup. Re-living the "old way" is sort of what the HAMB was created for. It's a challenge to do things with old parts, but some people enjoy the finished product.
Like K&j said, Just for tradition. Building a car with a "cutoff" year like 1956, then building a traditional rod using only parts that were around in 1956 and before. If you were using a GM rear the ideal hot rod transmission would be the 1937 lasalle(no exterior linkage) and a 50 Olds tailsection(because it is short) One on the E site right now as matter of fact, but they go high. Yes the 1950 was stronger than the selector style that was used afterwards. I think it just makes sense to use the old stuff anyway, I enjoy the hunt, they are not making any more and you always have something with a resell/trade value. If you were to buy a newer transmission with new adapters, I feel those items lose value when you install them where the old stuff holds its value. Kinda like the new Camaros I like them but for the price you can buy a 1969 one-Which one will be worth more in 20 years?
The Jalopy Journal
