1963 Pontiac Bonneville Transmittion

HIghway Man · Newbie

1963 Pontiac Bonneville Transmittion

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Giving this a bump for HIghway Man.

HIghway Man · Newbie

thanks ray i love your car i guess no one knows a transplant for that tranny

Ghost Post · Poncho Master!

Before you get to deep into this, is your 389 the original '63 engine or a later piece?.
I believe '64 may have been the first year w/ a provision for block mounted starters so you need to check this first?.
Also, being an American car is it a 1 pc. driveshaft?.
Check these and depending on what you've got there's a few options..

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

HIghway Man wrote:

thanks ray i love your car

HIghway Man · Newbie

thanks pete i,ll check that out and yes its 100 percent original 85 thousand mile care 4 door hardtop i just find that on the highway my revs are way too high
thanks shannon

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Another option would be to go to higher gears in the rear end. Can't imagine a 4 dr having really low gears though. Do you know the axle ratio you have?

HIghway Man · Newbie

no sorry i don,t right now but i will check it out again thanks i may just leave it alone it does work great just sounds like it needs another geR

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

HIghway Man wrote:

no sorry i don,t right now but i will check it out again thanks i may just leave it alone it does work great just sounds like it needs another geR

I have 2.73 gears, wink

and find them noisey in 3rd gear at 100 m.p.h.

grandam455 · Veteran Member

lol,good one

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Well another option is to try taller tires which effectively reduce the axle ratio, remember a lower numerical number is actually known as High gears. In theroy Carl's 2.73 is a good highway gear ratio for highway cruising but Carl's Big Block can over come the gearing.

-- Edited by 73SC on Tuesday 18th of August 2009 10:33:46 PM

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Your 63 Bonni should have a 4spd. Hydromatic trans, with 2 marks by the D with reverse at bottom. You can go to a Olds[ mid 70's rear whl drive] turbo 350 or 400 trans, but you will have to check block to see if it has the holes for late model starter. I think they started this in 64, as my 64 Catalina has the holes, but fear not, there is an adapter you can get to do this, also drive shaft will have to be modified, if you go 400 it's a shorter shaft, & pontiac flex plate [ i used a lemans 326] but you can get new at a tranny shop $60 should do it. Pete

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Agree with Pete. In my 64 2+2, the trans problem with the old slim jim was solved by retrofitting a later 389 with a Turbo 350. I'm going to buy an adapter to put a 200R4 from an 87 Monte Carlo SS in my 63 Catalina with original 389.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Wouldn't his car have the "Slim Jim" trans that proved to be a bit problematic?

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Bonneville had the 4 spd hydromatic, which seemed to work OK. The Catalina and Grand Prix had the 3 speed slim jim Rotohydramatic. Not so good.

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Aparis 7, yep your right, Bonni had 4sp Hydro, the slim jim's were a pain to set up & won't hold up to any H P addition. No parts available for slim jim & I don't think you'll find any one who can rebuild the "darn" thing, That's why I went to turbo 350 In my Catalina, also with Bonny, the floor tunnel is bigger, & you don't have to "pound" it out , to make it fit. Cats & G P's had a narrow tunnel, hence the SLIM JIM Pete

Duke · Newbie

To make a long story short, I have a brand new untouched, unused adapter, which will allow you to hook up a GM overdrive 200 or 700 R4. If interested email me. I am going to put a 454 in instead.

LX40 · Newbie

I know this is an old post, but I need some help! Wanting to put a 700-R4 automatic trans in a 1963 Bonneville with a 389/automatic. What will I need and where do I get the required parts?

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Ammes Pontiac might be able to help on that!!! I can't find their Catalogue at the moment!!! Found it !! 1 603 876 4514 Their 1 800 # is no good in Canada but here it is 1 800 421 2637