The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 man to auto swap

i am poking around for info to see if i can swap a later model th350 into my 61 chevy w. a 235. i am no longer able to use my left leg, and i do not want to sell my truck. i refuse to give up on this thing and powerglides are pretty scarce.

HELP

Powerglides will not bolt up directly, you will need an adapter plate.SOme are happy with the conversion and others are not.
You may be able to find a Hydamatic from a Chevy or GMC truck that will bolt up to your 235.I have heard that the engine and trannys are a matched set due to machining. I do not have the full info on that aspect of the Hydramatics but it may be that it has something to do with the engine to tranny adapter ring that is matched to the tranny.
I do happen to know where there are two Hydramatics with the adapter rings.

Here is one on eBay that I found. Maybe it is closer to you. I would bid if only shipping wouldn't kill me. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1874189524

the shop manual states that powerglides were avaliable in 61, changing over to different friction plates, but that's about it. i'm trying to crawl under the thing to take a look, but it's a bit difficult right now.

Heamil- Don't give up on that '61! Adapters for newer autos. are expensive and don't work out very good from what I've heard. For a low-buck approach, you could try an original Powerglide that came bolted to the 235's. Plenty of '61 and '62 Impalas, Bel-Airs and Biscaynes came with Powerglides. I don't know if many trucks came with 'gliders in '61, but I'll bet a guy could cobble some linkage together that would look factory stock. I'm guessing your 3/4 came with a 4-speed? If so, you may want to put a different column in to get the shifter up on the tree. The old glides are heavy, but may work O.K. for you if you aren't towing alot.

thanks for the tip; i never even thought of the car thing. as far as adapters, i don't think i would ever want to go that route - too many misalignment variables for me. the 61's came with pg's, but i am guessing in 1/2 tons. mine 3/4 has a 4.57 diff, which is ok for town where she'll do most of the work/play

My 51 half ton was converted to an automatic by one of the previous owners. Someone not familiar with these trucks would think it was original. It still has the torque tube drive, but 5 bolt hubs at the rear and front. From what I've read on this site, I am pretty sure the engine is a 235. I'm not sure what automatic is in it, but it's dipstick is located right below the starter and has a hexagon shape top. It has a column shift, which really looks like it belongs there, with a P....N D L R shft pattern, which seems like it fits the period. The transmission oil cooler is an odd flat do-dad that has coolant line plumbed to it. Kinda neat. My guess was that the setup must have come from a car and was installed by someone a lot smarter than me. I have digital photos of some detail, but have never taken the time to figure out how to post them.

Fret-- will hazard a guess. your '51 has a 1950-51-52 car powerglide and babbit bearing 235, as those years were torque tube rears, and had not yet developed the insert bearing engines, even though they were 235 cuin.(needed more inches to pull the inefficient powerglide) and the shift pattern you described is exactly like the '50 the my first wife had when we married (pea green fleetline two door) sure wish I had it now like it was then. Oh yea, the 'glides of those years were castiron cases and HEAVY!!!!

Fret--as I remember the spindle bearing sizes were the same sizes for the front and was simple (I think)to change the car front breaks to the truck and the rear pivoted just as the truck pivots on the spring hangers, so was probably simple to insert the rear end and get the better gear ratio of the car rear end also.
I have been wrong on things my memory tells me (senior moments)or CRS syndrome, but with 5 lugs front and rear that would have been the cheap way to go, not seen it done but should be possible, maybe not as simple as that but back then there was not much choice/difference in cars and trucks ( 1/2 tons in anything other than sheet metal and bed space)

Bobby, I appreciate your comments. I crawled under the truck today and had a good look at the transmission. There definitely is no adapter, it bolts right up. If it's a Powerglide, it is different than the one in my 63 Impala. They cut the crossmember out to accept the automatic, there are about 3 inches of crossmember left on each side. The engine has left and right motormounts. No front mount.
You mentioned that the rear axel ratio may be that of a car. It's easy to rotate a wheel and count the driveshaft revolutions on an open driveline. Is there an easy way to tell on these torque tubes rear ends?