what auto can I fit to a grey motor?

[tmudie]

Hi guys,

My sedan has almost made it out of the panel beaters (after 9 mths !!!).....the manual gearbox was a bit dodgy before I put it in for the body work, and I'm thinking about slipping an auto in it.

I've been collecting some bits for another project and have a tri-matic and EH auto steering column, floor hump, and EH radiator with auto cooler combo etc. Will all this work with the standard grey motor? if so can anyone give me any tips? otherwise what's the best auto to go with? I don't want to put a red in this car, the grey is pretty warm with twin carbs, hot cam etc.
All advice gladly accepted. Thanks

Tony

[Jockster]

G'day Tony
Any of the Holden 6 cylinder auto's up to the VK Commodore will bolt up to a grey motor....but you will have to fabricate the rear gearbox mounting and put in the larger floor hump. An EK Hydramatic will bolt in to your existing engine mountings, but because they only have a fluid flywheel you lose 25 % of your drive efficiency. There was a kit from the USA years ago to convert these boxes to run a torque converter, but I don't know if they are still available. The Hydramatic itself is a very good box and was the forerunner of the Turbohydramatics.
Probably the best box to go with for cost and parts availability is a Trimatic from a UC Torana or VC Commodore onwards, fitted with a shift kit and about a 1500 stall converter.
Cheers
Jock

[Paul Kelly]

You can fit a any of the red motor auto's behind a grey.
Did this conversion several times in the 70's.
The box's will bolt up to the grey motor block, I had centre discs cut and drilled them to the grey crank pattern. Had the local Auto trans specialists send the red auto flex plate and my disc to who ever did the ring gear replacement to weld it in.
Then all that had to be done was fit the standard converter bush and assemble everything.
Drilled the auto bellhousing for the side mounts and fabricated a new rear crossmember.A new tunnel had to be fitted for clearance.
Usually hooked up the selector to whatever column was in the car.
Sure surprised a few people who said it could not be done.

Paul.

[tmudie]

Thanks Jock/Paul, sounds like the tri-matic is the go....

[zulu]

Hi Jock, or anyone else, I would be interested to learn more about the Hydra-matic touque convertor conversion you spoke of from USA.
I am currently restoring an FC Wagon & I intend using a Hydra-matic behind a warm grey motor.
Any info or leads to parts would be appreciated.
Regards, Gary

[Jockster]

G'day Gary
I can't supply a lot of info about the torque converter conversion on the Hydramatic, but there was a local EK that had a fairly hot motor and auto back in 1963-64 and the local Holden Dealer carried out the conversion using factory parts which had to be imported from the US. Unfortunately the owner and the guys who worked on it are now deceased. I worked on this car as an apprentice in 1969 when it needed an engine rebuild and I know that it caused a lot of interest and speculation amonst the mechanics in the workshop. The Torque converter had General Motors and a part number stamped into it as did the drive plate. It used a standard holden starter motor, but the drive pinion was different. Thats about all I can tell you, maybe someone else out there has more info on it.
Cheers Jock