Early Hemi transmission question
#759838
07/27/10 10:44 PM
07/27/10 10:44 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 833
Marietta, GA
Joatha
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 833
Marietta, GA
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I have a 354 hemi that I plan to use with a 4 speed. I know where I can get an original bellhousing and spacer (Part number is 1559417/CB 24613 and spacer is part number 1736183). I also have a bellhousing, clutch fork, and flywheel from a 340 and a 4 speed from an A-body.
Can I use the flywheel and 4 speed with the original bellhousing?
Or is the bolt pattern different for the 4 speed vs the bellhousing?
Is the starter going to be lined up with the flywheel?
Would I need an original fork or will the small block version work?
Last, what starter would work with that?
If I can avoid spending the roughly $600-700 for an adapter, I'd like to try.
Thanks for the help!
1966 Barracuda
1968 Barracuda convertible
1930 Ford Model A (soon to be hemi equipped)
2006 Dodge 3500 4X4 CTD Quad Cab
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Re: Early Hemi transmission question
[Re: Joatha]
#759839
07/27/10 11:07 PM
07/27/10 11:07 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 833
Marietta, GA
Joatha
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 833
Marietta, GA
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So, I just got the pictures of the bellhousing and I think its an automatic. Were the old powerflite transmissions a 2 part transmission?
I was expecting to see a hole in the side for a fork. But, it appears to be solid - which makes me think it is for an automatic. I don't know as much about the transmission setups on the early hemis.
1966 Barracuda
1968 Barracuda convertible
1930 Ford Model A (soon to be hemi equipped)
2006 Dodge 3500 4X4 CTD Quad Cab
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Re: Early Hemi transmission question
[Re: Joatha]
#759840
07/28/10 08:18 AM
07/28/10 08:18 AM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,757
levittown pa
fstfish66
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,757
levittown pa
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Quote:
So, I just got the pictures of the bellhousing and I think its an automatic. Were the old powerflite transmissions a 2 part transmission?
I was expecting to see a hole in the side for a fork. But, it appears to be solid - which makes me think it is for an automatic. I don't know as much about the transmission setups on the early hemis.
i my self have never seen a stick shift 354 factory car,,and im not sure what years the clutch flight auto was available,,
all the early and maybe modern,,,have a longer crank shaft the na non hemi,,so thats the reason for the spacer/adapter between the block and trans when using an auto matic,,i would asume you will have to use a spacer with your 340 bell housing,,and yes its the same bolt pattern,,your 340 bell to the 354
a friend of mine was doing a hemi in a street rod,, but changed ideas,,,he has a factory trans spacer,,it was on a desoto hemi and should be the same,,
you should log on to hothemiheads.com and talk over there they will have the correct answers,,
some one here may as well,,putting the hemi in what ???
1966 barracuda prostreeter super charged 340(SOLD)
1940 dodge coupe 241 hemi street rod
2014 ram express hemi 4x4 dailey driver
2015 cherokee
2013 R/T classic
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Re: Early Hemi transmission question
[Re: Joatha]
#759841
07/28/10 06:08 PM
07/28/10 06:08 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Unless that 354 hemi came out of a truck or some industrial application, it is a 56, and almost surely was bolted to a Powerflite, although a few late 56 Imperials and Chrysler 300's came with cast iron torqueflites, and a very few Chrysler 300's had manual transmissions. Powerflites and early iron Torqueflites shared bellhousings: an aluminum adaptor plate bolted to the block, the torque converter bolted directly to the extended flange crank, the bellhousing bolted to the adaptor plate, and the trans bolted to the bellhousing. For purposes of hooking up to a 64-up 4-speed it really doesn't matter which transmission your 354 originally came with, you need an adaptor. The 4-speed won't bolt to the stock bellhousing, and even if the 4-speed bellhousing would bolt to the hemi block (I'm not sure one way or the other), the extended-flange crank in your 354 will throw all the distances off. Hot Heads will have what you need, although not cheap. For someone local to you who knows some of the ins and outs of the early stuff, you might want to talk with the guy near you who owns the gold original-paint 68 Barracuda Formula S coupe. 
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Re: Early Hemi transmission question
#759842
07/28/10 07:07 PM
07/28/10 07:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,129
Vermont
TrWaters
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,129
Vermont
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I also sell the kit to put a small block 4 speed behind your early hemi. As stated, its impossible to do with stock early hemi parts.  HotHeads is not the only source for early hemi parts. 
TR Waters
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Re: Early Hemi transmission question
[Re: Joatha]
#759845
07/28/10 07:36 PM
07/28/10 07:36 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
Quote:
For someone local to you who knows some of the ins and outs of the early stuff, you might want to talk with the guy near you who owns the gold original-paint 68 Barracuda Formula S coupe.
Believe it or not, I was planning to do that! I just saw him at the Caffeine and Octane cruise-in a couple weeks ago. And, he and I went up to Cartersville earlier this spring with our Barracuda's.
That guy amazes me with his car knowledge.
Well, you need to hitch a ride with Bill when he drives down to Moultrie this November. Then the three of us can talk all weekend long about A bodies and pre-muscle-era Mopars. 
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Re: Early Hemi transmission question
[Re: Joatha]
#759847
07/29/10 12:01 PM
07/29/10 12:01 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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They do it again in February. Not much in the way of Mopar stuff in the swap meet, but every once in a while you luck out. The car corral is like a huge car show.
Well, keep plugging away on your Hemi - model A project. Like to see it when it's done.
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