What are the tranny options for olds 394?

[OldCarPilot]

I've heard there is not much you can do other than 2 different trannys, both expensive. Or and adaptor which is also very expensive.

[Paul]

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expensive.

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compared to what?

Paul

[OldCarPilot]

Chevy... or buick... The adaptor for putting on any late model tranny to the 394 is like $500-$700 and you supply the tranny caseing.

[Paul]

it cost me about thirteen hundred bucks to put a transmission behind my chevy.

I'd say that's realistic. expensive? I don't know..

when I put the Muncie behind my 394 it cost about seven hundred bucks, bellhousing, starter switch over, flywheel, clutch, pressure plate, pilot bushing, throwout bearing, transmission and shifter,

but that was about ten years ago.

Paul

[OldCarPilot]

So a munci will fit? See I want to know what WILL fit behind it. See what my options are.
My TH350 behind my chevy only cost about $570, (junk yard tranny, rebuild and tq converter.)

[Paul]

you need to decide what transmission you want then make it fit.

adapters aren't that hard to find and you can have a flywheel made..

if you want a modern automatic you should be able to pick a useable one up through the local autotrader/paper and have it adapted like you suggest..

here's a 4 speed Hydromatic that could be adapted
324 and trans (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7902031868&catego ry=34202)

while looking on ebay for a Lassale Transmission for an example I see this,
cad motor and trans (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7902046865&catego ry=34202&sspagename=WDVW)

how about using the flathead Caddy setup instead? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Paul

[Rocky]

Factory manual trannys behind the 394 were rare but available. Last month I posted a friend of mine was parting out a 60 olds with a factory stick. I think Yorgatron scarfed up on all the stick changeover stuff which just goes to prove......394 stick stuff is out there if you beat the bushes.
Personally, I wouldn't have either of the available factory automatic trannys behind my 394 but a 4 speed, slant-pan hydro from a 54-56 would make me happy in a light car.

[warbird]

Go with the early Hydro. Kinda heavy and not really cheap, but easy to work on and tough enough that you won't ever break it. You'll have to modify the back of the crank for the early pilot bearing but other than that and TV linkage its a bolt in.

[56olds-ERDY]

the 49-56 motors are internaly balanced,and the 57-64 motors are externaly balanced.you must have the hydro flywheel rebalanced by adding a weight to make it external.they need to do this at a shop.youll also need to use the right lower housing,and starter/starter gear to match up to the hydro flywheel youll be using.the 394 stick flywheels are hard to find.i just sold one.i do have another with preesure plate.the rest is preetty much the same as the older stuff.the gm 4 speed bellhousings are like hell to get ahold of too.im going with the hydro myself.you can usually find a clean used one that doesnt need a rebuild.the one i found was a 56 poncho that was a recent rebuild.came with a motor,but before that i was just going to use one i pulled out of a 55 olds.
eric

[warbird]

Interesting, I didn't know about the difference in balancing between the early and late motors. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
When I did this swap years ago, I just bolted everything up (after having the crank modified), fired it up and drove it. No fuss, no muss and no vibration. Guess I just got lucky! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif