Here is what Im thinking(wondering actually) My 1960 Cadillac has a bad transmission... Wil a 1963 Cadillac 390 and tranny fit in my 60 ? I have a friend who is willing to part with his...maybe. They are different than the 59-62 390 (distributor is the the front) and they are more like the 429 (64 - 67). If it fits in the same frame, then will a 429 (together with a 400 turbo-hydramatic) fit without the kind of major mods a 472/500 requires ? anybody ??? thanx Denis
Dude the 63 hydromatic is a bastard. You would be in a world of hurt if you had to rebuild it trust me. Mine went out and it would have costed me a small fortune to rebuild it. If you can find a shop to work on it and if you can find the parts you still would have to deal with the reverse being all the way down PND12R. It was those problems that got me started with my long term project. I recommend getting an adaptor plate and slapping a TH400 in it you soul dent have many problems. The cross member can be flipped over and the stock trans mount for your TH400 can be used. .... Just my 2 cents Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Legend has it in 1964, because Cadillac is a cheap company, they machined a bellhousing adapter to be able to bolt on the switch-pitch TH400. It is indeed a factory option, and most folks have seen this adapter. These are used mostly on 429s, but ALL in 1964. In 1965 they actually machined the back of the block to take the TH400, and switched over to it! I don't see why that adapter wouldn't work on the one-year-only '63 390... ~Jason
The Jalopy Journal
