1962 Dynamic 88

[Guest]

Does anyone know of a kit to swap in a later model transmission into my 62 Dynamic 88. It currently runs the stock 3-speed which is ready to croak any minute. HELP!

[rocketraider]

Slim Jim. The bane of an early 60s Olds owner's existence. "A damnable transmission" is what I heard an old time tranny guy call them once.

At least two companies are modifying later RWD Turbo-HydraMatic transmissions to fit 49-64 Olds engines. It's not cheap and you have to send them a core transmission. They cut down the case in the torque converter area to where it can mate to the block. You have to decide whether it is cheaper in the long run to rebuild the SlimJim or have a THM modified. If you plan to keep the car, and want a reliable driver and you're not concerned with total originality, I know what I'd do. The blue Starfire will eventually have it done.

Real shame Olds didn't mate their engines and transmissions like Pontiac, and use a bellhousing to attach the HydraMatic to the block. The Pontiac engine has the later BOP trans bolt pattern and a THM will bolt right up.

Tanson Enterprises and Dave Smith Engineering modify THM for Rocket engines. There may be others.

[Sgt Art]

Rocket, would it be easier to drop in a later production Olds Engine/Trans combo instead? Like a 455 and TH350?

[rocketraider]

I think that could be done easily on a 1964 car by getting Jetstar 88 motor mount perches and tranny crossmember (they had 330/Jetaway, which were the genesis of the 350--455 and THM driveline family), maybe a 63 since the frames were essentially identical. I'm not sure about 59-62, but somebody on e-bay was selling a 394/SJ they'd pulled out of a 62 S-88 and stuffed a 350 Chevy/THM in it <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />, so someone with some fabrication skills and imagination could probably do this easy enough. That is another option for the blue Starfire as I have a rebuildable 455/THM375 laying around, that can probably both be rebuilt for less than the SlimJim only, or modifying a THM to fit the Rocket engine. I don't mind updating a driveline with more modern versions of the marque. I wouldn't stick a GM corporate 350 in it- that's getting out of my realm of comfort with old cars.