[Green Hornet]

Have a 61 Catalina......389 2bbl.....with original trans.

Will a TH350 or 400 fit and work?

Heard that an adaptor may be needed..

I realize that driveshaft will need to be modified...

[Stuart]

You will need an adapter to put either a TH350 or TH400 on a 1961 engine. In 1961 the starter bolted to the transmission and there were no provisions for mounting it to the engine block.

As for fit, It seems to depend on the particular car - some people have made a TH400 fit in a 1961 Catalina with only having to make some clearance to the transmission tunnel with a hammer in a few spots, but others have said they had to cut and weld the tunnel.

The procedure is more or less the same for 1961 to 1964 Catalinas, I'd do some searching in this section to find previous discussions on the subject.

[bobslilgto]

Who makes the adapters for the starter?

[Green Hornet]

Originally Posted by bobslilgto

Who makes the adapters for the starter?

Fabcraft...is one supplier...but I couldn't find a website..

[Stuart]

I don't think Fabcraft sells the adapter (Fabcraft has an eBay store if you're looking for them), but you can get adapters from Bendtsen's or Wilcap.
https://transmissionadapters.com/col...-75-inch-crank
http://www.wilcap.com/wilcapstore.ht...egory=14420222
There are also plans floating around that show how to make one, I think they've been posted here in the past.

[bobslilgto]

Thanks, I have 3 slim jims and a 350 here for spares but I think the 350 is going to win. I have my dads 62 G/P. Sorry not trying to steel your post.

[Goatracer1]

My 1964 has a T350 and I couldn't be happier. Remember if you don't change anything else the shift pattern and neutral safety switch will be working incorrectly.. I installed a Dual Gate shifter in the original console to correct the problem.

[Green Hornet]

Originally Posted by Stuart

I don't think Fabcraft sells the adapter (Fabcraft has an eBay store if you're looking for them), but you can get adapters from Bendtsen's or Wilcap.
https://transmissionadapters.com/col...-75-inch-crank
http://www.wilcap.com/wilcapstore.ht...egory=14420222
There are also plans floating around that show how to make one, I think they've been posted here in the past.

I had read...in an old post that Fabcraft sold an adaptor......but did not see it in their ebay store...

[bobslilgto]

I was thinking of a 67 G/P shifter in place of the old one

[bobslilgto]

I found Fabcrafts web site and it's Fabcraftmetalworks.com.

[Stuart]

Green Hornet has a 1961 car, so unless it's been changed over to something newer it's a column shift. The neutral safety switch will be in the wrong position, but the shifter itself will work fine - just the gear indicator on the dash needs to be changed. That can be as simple as replacing it with a little piece of plexiglass and adding some of those rub-on transfer letters to match the newer transmission shift positions.

[pfilean]

Adaptors at Bendtsens in MN and Wilsap Wilcamp or something like that. Can't remember for sure and not home to check my notes.

[Sirrotica]

Link to adapter TH350 to 389 at Wilcap:

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

[389]

Sometimes it seems cheaper and easier to just change the whole deal. Find a good running but rusted out Grandville or Bonneville and swap the engine and trans in. Then have a new drive shaft made..

Or if you know a trans shop that does the Rotos have that redone.. Once you get them adjusted correctly there really not that bad of the tranny. I always liked that grounded second gear feeling and sound they made... The one in my 64 GP 421 ran real good...

If I had your car I would keep the Roto and get a couple spares and learn how to rebuild them. It can't be that hard if your mechanically inclined..