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MOJO Catalina · 10-17-2011, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1967Tempest

Any one know how to get the correct new style PRNDL into the 62 shift indicator?

I'm surprised our PY host doesn't offer these, it's such a common conversion.
You can go to any sign shop with your old one and they can probably make you one.
Might cost you $30-50?

If you want to send it to me I can do it. I've made clock lenses, tach and vacuum gauge replacement lenses and other gauge covers from plexi glass and a friend of mine is in the sign biz. Maybe we can get a run of 10 together to make it worth our trouble?

I guess I should do this in the "parts for sale" category to see if there's any interest..
I can make them for auto on the floor consoles, too.

MOJO Catalina · 10-17-2011, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevep

It sounds like MOJO's Roto has a cracked Torus (or bowl) which is the most common Roto failure.

And the "Trans Guru" awards goes to...

Did I miss the GM recall letter about this common problem?

Engine-Ear · 10-17-2011, 09:15 AM

MOJO, since this thread is pretty long (and wanders a bit here and there), given that the smoking gun has now been found, for the benefit of future searches, besides completely inoperative, what symptoms was the transmission exhibiting (delayed shifting, wicked leaks, ???)?

SteveP, etal, do you think that had this part been made of STEEL that this transmission might not be such a weak link?

Stuart · 10-17-2011, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevep

Cut a piece of plexiglass and put the letters on it??

I know a local guy who swapped in a TH 400 in his '61 Ventura and that's what he did. Actually, his son did it for him in shop class - cut out a little piece of plexiglass, put on some Letraset rub-on transfer letters (available in any art supply store) and that was it. Pretty simple and it looks good, the hardest part is actually replacing the old shift indicator panel.

MOJO Catalina · 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engine-Ear

MOJO, ... what symptoms was the transmission exhibiting (delayed shifting, wicked leaks, ???)?

At first, the trans was slipping at take off and between gears so I tried the TV rod adjustements. It would take getting up to higher RPMs to engage, then it would linger between 2 and 3 for several seconds and sometimes slip, sometimes "clunk" into 3rd. When cruisng at 35 it would seem to be in neutral until I'd goose it and then it would catch/ clunk again.. When slowing down for the left turn into my neighborhood it would slip and feel like I was in neutral again and if I applied slow gas pedal nothing would happen, I'd have to tach it up quite a bit to get it to engage. At times it would shudder when slowing way down as it would downshift.. Pretty Eff'd up!

I figure it developed or had a small crack to begin with and by continuing to run it, the pressure behind the crack eventually got high enough to spread it wider open. By the time I gave up on the TV rod ajustment the trans had quit all together and was pouring out fluid into the driveway and street...

"Old Jim" had bled to death due to a broken heart..

See how the crack eminates from one of the bolt holes?

Maybe the Magilla that put it together torqued the bolt too much and caused the crack?
Is the torque spec for that cover published anywhere?

Keith Seymore · 10-17-2011, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOJO Catalina

I'm surprised our PY host doesn't offer these, it's such a common conversion.
You can go to any sign shop with your old one and they can probably make you one.
Might cost you $30-50?

If you want to send it to me I can do it. I've made clock lenses, tach and vacuum gauge replacement lenses and other gauge covers from plexi glass and a friend of mine is in the sign biz. Maybe we can get a run of 10 together to make it worth our trouble?

I guess I should do this in the "parts for sale" category to see if there's any interest..
I can make them for auto on the floor consoles, too.

I just ordered a lens out of the PY catalog for a later model, like a GTO with a TH400. Bolted right in.

K

stevep · 10-17-2011, 10:59 AM

Keith, you have a FLOOR shift, don't you??

Usually, when the bowl cracks, it's the bowl and not the cover!!

I think that the recall has expired on this one.

gregneun · 10-17-2011, 11:04 AM

Join the thousands that have beaten a path to installing a more modern unit.

Greg

MOJO Catalina · 10-17-2011, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevep

Keith, you have a FLOOR shift, don't you??

Usually, when the bowl cracks, it's the bowl and not the cover!!

I think that the recall has expired on this one.

So what happened to mine is actually NOT what normally happens to these units?

Just another good reason to junk Ol' Jim...

I replaced it with 4 speed Hydramatic from a Bonneville and it works well.. Not as great as theTH400 I'm sure, but I already owned it and it only cost me about $50 for fluid and universals...

stevep · 10-17-2011, 11:54 AM

The cover that cracked it bolted to a bowl that houses the neutral clutch.
That it usually what cracks.
I have not done many of these, but have only seen 1 other crack the cover.

Safari64 · 10-17-2011, 03:13 PM

I am dumping old jim. I have a 400 that I am rebuilding and will put it in the 64 Wagon. What will I have to change besides speedo gear and drive shaft to make this work?
Any linkages that I have to buy? I know the indicator wont line up but that is the least concern right now.

Stuart · 10-17-2011, 03:48 PM

There's a pictorial on the Full Size Pontiac Club website showing installation of a TH400 in a 1963 that should be helpful: http://www.fullsizepontiacs.com/fsptech.htm

1967Tempest · 10-17-2011, 04:01 PM

I was at a show on Sunday and this guy had a super nice 62 Catalina and the column shift was set-up to indicate a new TH350/400 series trans. I know that I have to fix the reverse lights as well. When I have the TH350 in low 1, the reverse lights come on. Freaks a few people out, but then again, the don't ride your butt after that!!!

Dave

Keith Seymore · 10-18-2011, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevep

Keith, you have a FLOOR shift, don't you??

Yes - floor shifted (Grand Prix). Sorry bout that.

I wondered what all the fuss was about (lol).

K

PonCamino · 12-08-2011, 02:06 AM

I am in the middle of a Dump Jim project. I thought I would post a few pictures. I am a bit challenged with forums so bear with me...
first pic is the persuader tool used to reshape the tunnel, used an old sledge hammer and a piece of closet pole dowel
second is the clearance I ended up with around the tail housing of the trans. the engine still sits in it's original position.
third is the top view of the modified crossmember for the trans mount. flipped the original upside down and turned it around. used original bolt holes in the frame.
more to come. tonight it is below freezing outside so I am inside

MOJO Catalina · 12-08-2011, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PonCamino

I am in the middle of a Dump Jim project. I thought I would post a few pictures. I am a bit challenged with forums so bear with me...
first pic is the persuader tool used to reshape the tunnel, used an old sledge hammer and a piece of closet pole dowel
second is the clearance I ended up with around the tail housing of the trans. the engine still sits in it's original position.
third is the top view of the modified crossmember for the trans mount. flipped the original upside down and turned it around. used original bolt holes in the frame.
more to come. tonight it is below freezing outside so I am inside

Nice Job.. You've put in a turbo 400, right?

stevep · 12-08-2011, 09:11 AM

The trans in his picture is a THM 350.

PonCamino · 12-10-2011, 12:53 AM

It is a th350. I bought it a couple of years ago. Had I done my research a bit more I may have gone with a 400 or even a 700r4. Funny story about the trans, I was a Chevy guy and thought all GM trans had the same fit. I was surprised to learn about a BOP TH 350. I am learning about the BOP speedo and yoke the hard way also. Today I modified the driveshaft. I expect to buy a new one later, but for now, it was a good way to spend the day. the lathe was made in 1942. not mine, it belongs to a buddy who has a heated shop and a tig welder.
tomorrow hope to bolt up the starter, flexplate and trans.

PonCamino · 12-11-2011, 10:00 AM

today did not go so well. I do not like the way the modified cross member holds the trans. The weight of the trans seams to have a lot of leverage on the extended plate i welded on. What bothers me is the stress is being transfered to the rubber mount and to the bolts that hold the mount to the transmission. Options? I was thinking about making a second "helper" crossmember to relieve some of the weight. Also i must consider the exhaust pipes. I saw some other creative ways of doing crossmembers but it did not seam like anyone was entirely happy with the results.

pfilean · 12-11-2011, 10:12 PM

Don't remember what year/model you are working on. But in 61 my frame has two sets of cross member mounting holes. I don't remember which set the Slim Jim used but I think it was the forward set with the rearward set maybe for four speed stick as the Catalina/Ventura was never intended to get the 4 speed hydro. Maybe using the other set of holes would get your crossmember closer to where you need to be.

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