Automatic Tranmission Adapters: Straight 6 to TH400

rambos_ride

I've done a forum search and was surprised at lack of information on using one of the adapters available.

I guess they're a couple folks making them, but no real infomation on installation and needed alterations - how the Hudson motor performs with a modern automatic etc.

I really want the 50 Super 6 to be reliable and my gut tells me right now the original trans and supermatic drive system are toast..and the costs to bring it back is beyond what I want to put into this car.

So, I have a completely rebuilt TH400 sitting in my shop ready to go and am seriously thinking of ordering an adapter ASAP and would love to get some feedback on either adapters and experiences.

Thanks!

Unknown

Dan

We met at XXX Root Beer two years or so ago and at that time I was the Vice President of the North West Chapter of the Hudson club. In the summer and fall of 2007 I was deeply involved in a building a 1951 Hornet coupe for another club member. The drive train was one of the areas that was my baby. The engine was a correctly built 308, balanced with Silva headers. The transmission was a 700R-4 built by Ed's Transmission in Marysville Washington. The converter was standard GM with approx. a 1400 stall and the rear axle was a 1954 Dana 44 with 3.73 gears. The combo was great for both worlds - with the 308 torque and the GM torque converter the car would come out of the hole like jack the bear and up in overdrive it would cruise at 70+. The addapter and starter were supplied by Danny Spring (K-Gap). E-mail me: waltfredco@windstream.net and I will send you pictures of the project.

Note: I now live in Carlsbad, New Mexico and have yet to establish contacts in this area to continue my hobby.

Fred

Unknown

FlatheadFred/Rambo: I'm sure lots of us would be interested if you could post the pictures here! Thanks

rambos_ride

Flat Head Fred wrote:

Dan
We met at XXX Root Beer two years or so ago and at that time I was the Vice President of the North West Chapter of the Hudson club. In the summer and fall of 2007 I was deeply involved in a building a 1951 Hornet coupe for another club member. The drive train was one of the areas that was my baby. The engine was a correctly built 308, balanced with Silva headers. The transmission was a 700R-4 built by Ed's Transmission in Marysville Washington. The converter was standard GM with approx. a 1400 stall and the rear axle was a 1954 Dana 44 with 3.73 gears. The combo was great for both worlds - with the 308 torque and the GM torque converter the car would come out of the hole like jack the bear and up in overdrive it would cruise at 70+. The addapter and starter were supplied by Danny Spring (K-Gap). E-mail me: waltfredco@windstream.net and I will send you pictures of the project.
Note: I now live in Carlsbad, New Mexico and have yet to establish contacts in this area to continue my hobby.
Fred

Hi Fred,

I do remember meeting you at the XXX (that's Root Beer/Burger joint, in case anyone was wonering ) - how'd you end up in NM? Get tired of the rain?

I sent you an email BTW...

[Deleted User]

Dany Spring did a tech session with this adapter at the 2005 Western Regional in Ontario Ca. If I remember correctly this engine is VicTor Z's

Ol racer

FYI

I can vouch for the trans Adapters from both Danny Spring and Randy Maas.



Dany's Adaptor bolts to the Hudson block on one side and drilled & tapped for GM Trans pattern/dowels on the other side. You do need to saw off a little of your dipstick 'nubbin' then drill a different hole to use the Chevy dip stick supplied. The Starter mounts higher like a '55 '56. It accepts either a Hudson Std or Auto flywheel that needs the 'pilot brg hole' enlarged to fit the 'GM' Torque Converter 'hub' plus 3 holes 'indexed' drilled fot the converter Bolts. (The 'Indexing' needs performed at a Machine Shop to be concentric)







Randy's Adaptor uses a Hudson transmision Bell housing 'bored out' by a Machine Shop to fit the GM Trans Front Pump. The GM Trans needs the 'bell' sawed or machined off then the Adapter slips over & bolts onto the GM Trans front pump just like many Drag Race Trans. The trans goes into the Hudson 'bored out Center' then the whole assy bolts to the Hudson Block..Randy offers the Machine Shop service.



Both Adaptors come with all the Hardware & everything needed and both work very well. Ol Racer

rambos_ride

Ol racer wrote:

FYI
I can vouch for the trans Adapters from both Danny Spring and Randy Maas.

Dany's Adaptor bolts to the Hudson block on one side and drilled & tapped for GM Trans pattern/dowels on the other side. You do need to saw off a little of your dipstick 'nubbin' then drill a different hole to use the Chevy dip stick supplied. The Starter mounts higher like a '55 '56. It accepts either a Hudson Std or Auto flywheel that needs the 'pilot brg hole' enlarged to fit the 'GM' Torque Converter 'hub' plus 3 holes 'indexed' drilled fot the converter Bolts. (The 'Indexing' needs performed at a Machine Shop to be concentric)



Randy's Adaptor uses a Hudson transmision Bell housing 'bored out' by a Machine Shop to fit the GM Trans Front Pump. The GM Trans needs the 'bell' sawed or machined off then the Adapter slips over & bolts onto the GM Trans front pump just like many Drag Race Trans. The trans goes into the Hudson 'bored out Center' then the whole assy bolts to the Hudson Block..Randy offers the Machine Shop service.

Both Adaptors come with all the Hardware & everything needed and both work very well. Ol Racer

Great info Ol Racer ~ thanks!

rambos_ride

Flat Head Fred wrote:

Dan
We met at XXX Root Beer two years or so ago and at that time I was the Vice President of the North West Chapter of the Hudson club. In the summer and fall of 2007 I was deeply involved in a building a 1951 Hornet coupe for another club member. The drive train was one of the areas that was my baby. The engine was a correctly built 308, balanced with Silva headers. The transmission was a 700R-4 built by Ed's Transmission in Marysville Washington. The converter was standard GM with approx. a 1400 stall and the rear axle was a 1954 Dana 44 with 3.73 gears. The combo was great for both worlds - with the 308 torque and the GM torque converter the car would come out of the hole like jack the bear and up in overdrive it would cruise at 70+. The addapter and starter were supplied by Danny Spring (K-Gap). E-mail me: waltfredco@windstream.net and I will send you pictures of the project.
Note: I now live in Carlsbad, New Mexico and have yet to establish contacts in this area to continue my hobby.
Fred

Fred,

Thanks for sending me the pics - I hope you don't mind, I resized a few and thought I'd post them on this thread so others can see.

One thing - I was wondering is, would you attempt this adapter installation with the motor in the car?

Great pictures, and the car looks sweet - is it still around here?

Dan
I found the conversion straight forward with no real problems along the way. The pictures I am sending you will show how Danny Springs adapter works/mounts-the only Hudson parts you will need for the conversion is a stick shift flywheel and a modified Hudson transmission mounting plate. The installation instructions will cover all the needed details. I hope the attatched pic's will help you decide on the best way for you to go ...
Fred Connors



http://www.49c8.com/images/fp/transadapter/SpringsAdapter_FredC_5.jpg

http://www.49c8.com/images/fp/transadapter/SpringsAdapter_FredC_4.jpg

http://www.49c8.com/images/fp/transadapter/SpringsAdapter_FredC_3.jpg

http://www.49c8.com/images/fp/transadapter/SpringsAdapter_FredC_2.jpg

http://www.49c8.com/images/fp/transadapter/SpringsAdapter_FredC_1.jpg

Ol racer

Great Pictures.

I did this conversion on the floor but see no reason why it cant be done in the car with the removable floorboard...

bent metal

Rambo, the modern starter makes all the difference in the world. Talk to Dany at K-Gap, he's got his car set up like that and it's nice.;)

Ol racer

FYI

I use a Transmission Adapter from Randy Maas and Dany Spring and I like them both....

If interest, I was informed that WilCap now makes an adapter too. Auto or Std Trans.



http://www.wilcap.com/hudson.html



Ol racer

[Deleted User]

Ol racer wrote:

FYI

I use a Transmission Adapter from Randy Maas and Dany Spring and I like them both....

If interest, I was informed that WilCap now makes an adapter too. Auto or Std Trans.



http://www.wilcap.com/hudson.html



Ol racer

The Wilcap looks like a nice kit too.

Ol racer

Would only need specify type of motor and Trans desired when ordering

MikeWA

I'm only bringing this up because no one else has, but in my hazy recollections it seems like there is a problem if you are putting an automatic transmission in a pre-'51 car that previously had a stick (which the original poster is doing)- up to '51, the stick transmission cars did not have the rear of the crankshaft machined for the pilot bushing necessary for an automatic. In '51 (maybe late '51?) Hudson started machining all the crankshafts, to eliminate the hassle of having two different crankshafts to deal with. Don't know if the late model GM transmissions need the pilot bushing machine work, but it was a source of consternation when I was talking to the Wilcap guy about adapting a T5 Borg Warner 5 speed stick to my '51 308.

[Deleted User]

Wonder if the kit will it will work with a 700 series or 4L60 series transmission?

If a TH-350 fits, then a TH-400, 700R4, 4L60, and 4L60E will fit also. (provided they are all the same Chevy V-8 bolt patterns, of course)

Unknown

hope wil-cap is finally on the ball . i missed around with them for over 9 months with excuse upon excuse and finally went to k-gap for my adapter

[Deleted User]

Anybody know if KGap is doing an adapter for the 254 eight cylinder engine as well? I've talked to Wilcap who states they think they can do one but haven't so far. From the comments here and to support our friends at KGap I'd like to deal with them. Guess I could call em but just wondering if anyone had any previous knowledge.



Rick

Ol racer

If I remember right the GM converter 'pilot hub' just slides into your Hudson flywheel by boring out the flywheel pilot hole to the GM converter Pilot dimension. I (think) it does not go into the crank so should work...

[Deleted User]

Iif I had known about the ability to put on a modern tranny I may not have rebuilt the hydromatic. Not my favorite auto trans to be sure. Of course if I changed the trans I would have to change the whole driveline assembly I think. Maybe it's better I didn't know.



Harry

Unknown

the adapter that k-gap made me was for my 1951 254 straight eight .

[Deleted User]

unique1963 wrote:

the adapter that k-gap made me was for my 1951 254 straight eight .

Great news! Should work for my '42 vintage eight then.

RL Chilton

Dan-



Do you still have those pictures? I couldn't open them. If you prefer, would you e-mail them to me? I'm also going with the 700R4 (probably) because I want the overdrive.

rambos_ride

RL Chilton wrote:

Dan-

Do you still have those pictures? I couldn't open them. If you prefer, would you e-mail them to me? I'm also going with the 700R4 (probably) because I want the overdrive.

My webserver is down, thats why the pics aren't available. The box is down right now while I'm trying to figure out whats wrong - otherwise I'd email them to you..

I'm hoping to have things resolved in the next few days and you can grab them or I can email them since I think I resized them for the forum....

Unknown

Here's another option. http://www.transmissionadapters.com/Hudson308.htm I met these guys at the 100 car pile up. Nice stuff!! In fact, I ordered a kit yesterday. Arnie 53

Unknown

It looks like this kit is for the 55 and 56 crank, which is different than the earlier crank. It has a larger diameter flange with a larger bolt circle, and uses bolts to attach the flywheel, whereas the earlier crank uses studs. The earlier crank also sticks out the back of the block 1/2" farther.

Unknown

Good call! Thank-you, Thankyou! I talked to Bob today & he will be having both styles soon. Arnie53

rambos_ride

Harry Hill wrote:

Iif I had known about the ability to put on a modern tranny I may not have rebuilt the hydromatic. Not my favorite auto trans to be sure. Of course if I changed the trans I would have to change the whole driveline assembly I think. Maybe it's better I didn't know.

Harry

No need to change the driveline - any good driveline shop should be able to add the needed yoke - or build you a new one with a gm yoke on 1 end and the Hudson - center carrier yoke on the other.

I had custom drivelines built for my CJ5 they were only 125.00 a piece.

And if you'd rather drives your with a modern auto-trans, I bet someone else wanting a stock one would come along.

[Deleted User]

Dan, I have too much invested in this trans to change it out now. I'm getting used to it but there is a reason it isn't still being made, there are much better transmissions out there now. That being said though I will make sure I get a standard trans when I buy a 49, no more hydros for me.



Harry

[Deleted User]

The Hydramatic was good enough for Rolls Royce to use it until 1967.

[Deleted User]

royer wrote:

The Hydramatic was good enough for Rolls Royce to use it until 1967.

I'ts a great trans, it just lacks overdrive, torque converter clutch lock-up (and park, of course), a much desired gear ratio and rpm reducer when gas is $4.XX a gallon. I am installing a 700R4 in mine also.

[Deleted User]

I wouldn't rule out replacing a Hydramatic with a modern transmission if mine crapped out. There's just something neat about the old Hydramatic banging through those gears.