Automatic Transmission

[1949P17BC]

All, I am assembling all the peices for my 47 P15 Sedan, Complete rebuld on the motor 30over, George Asche cam and manifolds. I am serioudly thinking about installing an automatic transmission vs, GA's three speed with OD. What is the best, easiest to install and who makes the adapters?

[Plymouthy Adams]

Unless you just don't want to shift, gonna be hard to beat the OD...as for cost of an auto, the adapter, and things like linkage, kickdown cables and driveshafts, cross members and alternate method of applying the emergency brake..dollar for dollar and time involved..the OD looks prime in my book..especially with a flat head.

[james curl]

Wilcox makes an adapter to adapt any Cheverlot automatic transmission to flat head MoPar engine, it comes with a flex plate and costs $475.00. The same adapter to use Cheverlot bellhousing and GM standard transmissions comes with a flywheel and costs $725.00. I think it is John Burke who had thje MoPar flathead powered roadster with the Wilcox adapter and I think a GM 350 transmission. If you go with an automatic you can probably use a higher rearend ratio because of the gearing of the automatic transmission.

[Lou Earle]

For ease of installation the 3 speed overdrive from george is bay far and away the best bet. I installed mine in about 4 hours total - taking old out and new in- dead center bolt in. i have it onstock engien and it is teriffice- best investement I have ever done on a plym to make it very drivable- I drive it all the time to Macon 55 to 60 miles away and go 65-75 and get 23-24 mpg and not a lot of motor noise.

[James_Douglas]

I would consider the 3-speed. If you really want to do something interesting, you can do what I did on the Desoto which is to use a fluid coupling and the 3-speed like the Dodges did in some cases.

I used George's fast 2nd gear and I take off and drive around San Francisco all day up to about 45 MPH just using 2nd and 2nd OD.

George grumbled a bit when I told him that in that in not using 3rd gear around town that I was turning all the internal gears and thus would have a little more resistance (parasitic drag) which would affect the mileage some small amount.

I love the thing. That said, I am still having some problems getting the revers-1st rail shift linkage to work perfectly every time. But if you go with WilCap (http://www.wilcap.com/) adapter, you will have a number of issues to deal with.

In the end, the factory 3-speed with OD is a nice way to go as it remains somewhat faithful to the original. Ask me a couple of months of driving it and I will be able to tell you more.

Best, James

[claybill]

are you serious ?!!!

bill

[Norm's Coupe]

I would consider the 3-speed. If you really want to do something interesting, you can do what I did on the Desoto which is to use a fluid coupling and the 3-speed like the Dodges did in some cases.

I used George's fast 2nd gear and I take off and drive around San Francisco all day up to about 45 MPH just using 2nd and 2nd OD.

George grumbled a bit when I told him that in that in not using 3rd gear around town that I was turning all the internal gears and thus would have a little more resistance (parasitic drag) which would affect the mileage some small amount.

I love the thing. That said, I am still having some problems getting the revers-1st rail shift linkage to work perfectly every time. But if you go with WilCap (http://www.wilcap.com/) adapter, you will have a number of issues to deal with.

In the end, the factory 3-speed with OD is a nice way to go as it remains somewhat faithful to the original. Ask me a couple of months of driving it and I will be able to tell you more.

Best, James

I don't know James. I have a feeling that if you continue to drive 45 MPH in or out of OD in 2nd gear one of two things will soon happen, if not both. You will probably end up rebuilding the engine or transmission, or both. That's a lot of stress on an engine and transmission, even with OD.