Engine and Transmission Tech

will a buick 350 tranny bolt up to my 215??

Nope.

what modern tranny's will?? Would prefer a simple automatic for the ease of installation but a manual is an option too....I know the T5 (found in most s10 pickups by chevy) and most tranny's out of Rover's will mate right up.

any others??

The 215 (and Rover relatives) has a unique bellhousing bolt pattern. Rover transmissions are the only modern ones that bolt up. The T5 (or any GM manual trans) bolts up if you get a 215 bellhousing (original or D&D repro). D&D also sells adapter plates to mate the 215 to Chevy or BOP transmissions like the TH350 or 200-4R.

IMHO, The Ford C4 or Asian-Warner 30-40,(4spd od.) are better suited automatics for these engines. Lighter and more compact,(easier to fit), and adequate for Rover power, unless your Mr. Blackwood, and running a 8 spd., Formula 1 auto, with nano-second shift capabilities,lol. "Most" sports car types, find shifting a good 5/6 speed-FUN ! Good Luck,roverman.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2011 11:20AM by roverman.

So... what are you building that a 350 transmission was under consideration?

For a sports car, you'll probably prefer Camaro gear ratios over S10 ratios. Lots of T5s to choose from, with various lengths and shifter positions, and you can mix and match components.

Toyota 5-speeds bolt-up with Australian-sourced bellhousings. Check the article archive for details if interested.

There are several Toyota autos that use a removable bellhousing, so they could be mated up with a bit of machining work. Nice and narrow too.

JB

Toyota R154 and Aisan M5(Colorado/Canyon) 5 speeds can be adapted to GM with Novak adapter also. Much cheaper than Dellow bellhousing if you already have the wide 4/5 speed pattern on the Buick bellhousing.

ok all, here is the situation. The buick 350 came into consideration cause of the cost, free!! My favorite price.... What I am in search of is any common tranny that I can acquire easily and on a very tight budget. I am not into machining anything at this point in time. I just am looking for a bolt up tranny. Yes, I already have an original bell housing that should bolt up to a T5 I was told. According to Joe above, any GM tranny will bolt up to this bell housing also....??

My application? Unknown, want to get drivetrain functional and probably stuff it all in the smallest rear wheel drive frame/body I can find. :)

For a limited budget I wouldn't recommend trying to stuff it into anything smaller than a MGB or similar size car. Way too much fabrication to go into something smaller like a Midget or Spitfire and you wind up losing valuable interior room which is limited in these cars as well.
Using the manual trans with a HTOB makes the installation probalby easier than with an automatic as you don't need a trans cooler or linkage to the throttle for kick down and pressure regulators.

On a budget, go with the T5. Or consider a different engine. You didn't say how you happen to have the 215, but a 300 Buick allows you to use any commonly available GM automatic (with a 1/8" thick adapter plate for Chevy pattern such as 700r4) You didn't say what your automatic is, but probably a 2004r. A very good 4 speed lock-up transmission with excellent gear ratios but it will require bulges in the transmission tunnel due to the width of the pan and other protuberances. It will bolt right up to the 300. If it comes with the engine also, that engine can be made to fit in the MGB but requires lowering the steering rack and modifying the lower control arms, as well as a hood scoop and custom headers. Not insurmountable if you can weld, and with that big of an engine a log style exhaust would work fine. A big radiator would be a must.

Building at minimum cost implies making things rather than buying them. Can you do this? It isn't hard, and the path has been well paved ahead of you.

Check out the MG-Roadmaster thread and the 340 thread in the MG section for valuable information on Buick engines. Building the car as cheaply as you can is an admirable goal, but pause to look to the future. Most of us get hooked on these cars and eventually want more power. The Buick line has a terrific upgrade path, but stepping up from the 215 to the 300 initially gives you some great options and cost savings benefits. Particularly regarding transmission and or bellhousing options. The 350 is only about 100 lbs heavier than the 215. It's a pretty sweet trade off, and aluminum heads will eventually be available, perhaps by the time you can afford them.

JB

Jeremiah, since you like "free", how-bout in for sale section of this forum, FREE Borg Warner auto for Rover V8 ? Good Luck, roverman.

Hi,
I used Toyota FJ Cruiser is really comfortable and fast its my fast car....
thanks.......

Another option is the ZF4hp22 automatic trans.
It was used extensively in the Range Rovers and Discos. In this version it has a transfer case attached, but the bellhousing is removable.
This trans was used in many rear wheel drive vehicles. BMW, VOLVO, FORD, AUSTIN, MASERATI, PEUGEOT, EURO CHEVY. etc.
Get the bellhousing, torque converter and flex plate from a wrecked Landrover. Put them onto your choice of rwd ZF trans and you have a light narrow 4 speed automatic trans that bolts on.
Cheers
Fred

Sounds like Fred has it figured out.

JB

"...The buick 350 came into consideration cause of the cost, free!! ..."

Unfortunately, people often spend WAAAY more to use a "free" part than the cost of just getting the correct part. Again, other than the specific automatics that came behind the 215 and Rover motors from the factory, there is NO bolt-up modern automatic. You'll need an aftermarket adapter.

If you have the wide pattern manual trans bellhousing (the early bellhousings had a unique narrow pattern) then yes, any manual trans with a "Chevy-style" bolt pattern and input shaft will work. Be aware that by the mid-1990s, even Chevy used the T5 with a Ford bolt pattern and this will not bolt to your bellhousing without an adapter plate.

By the way, does anyone make a C4 to 215 adapter plate? I know someone who's trying to replace the Rotohydramatic 5 in his 63 Cutlass and all the modern GM transmissions are too large.

Hey Joe,
Check out the ZF trans. It's a strong, light, narrow, modern, readily available 4speed automatic trans.
BMW used it for years ( since 1980 I think) so they are easy to find.
And it's still around in electronic form if you want to build a controller for it.
With the rover bell housing ( again cheap and easy to find) and converter it's a bolt on affair.
Parts are easy to get and as far as autos go it's pretty easy to work on.
Cheers
Fred

Scout Chrysler Torqueflite 727?

[www.pirate4x4.com]

Greg