http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/pml/cto/3482859072.html

 i fix for you

american? has been for sale long time

1700 buks

dualquadpete wrote:

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has 8 lugs on frt anyway???

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 ... and back.

I like it ... just needs to be a little cheaper in $$$.

 

-- Edited by Pontiacanada on Monday 17th of December 2012 06:56:55 AM

no papers for this one

dualquadpete wrote:

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rebelrouser wrote:

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That's right,would have come with a 389. Wonder if it has the 4 speed auto? Also noticed the 8 lug wheels.

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 Catalina came with a "ROTO" Hydramatic or "Slim Jim" as it was called. Didn't have a torque converter, but had a heavy flywheel like a std. with a small drive plate in centre that had a splined hole & shock springs, just like the centre of a clutch disc. These were not a good trans, & failed quite early in life. were classed as a 4 spd. but seemed to only have 3 spds. Nothing at all like the 4spd. hydros that the Star Chief & Bonniville's had as well as the Big Olds too. The Olds StarFire ran the "slim jim's" too as they had the narrow trans tunnel in floor pan as well. My "Roto" was still working at 48000 m. but I changed it to T350 while I had the engine out for rebuild, shortly after buying car. It sat for 12 yrs. & broke the piston on start up.

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Agree. I've had two of the roto hydro cars. They are fine when they work but you have to get used to the fact that they feel and sound like a manual trans going in gear and they kind of slide from gear to gear rather than snap shift up and down. 

This particular car doesn't look too bad. 

George, they only used it, from 62 [when the G/Prix] came out till 64 due to the small trans. tunnel in the G/P & Catalina & Olds. StarFire.When I think back to the "punishment' I gave the 63 StarFire my dad had, & know what I know now, that one should have "Blow'd up" real good a lot sooner than it did!!!!! To-day, parts are super difficult to find for a "ROTO" & if you do, try & find someone that can fix it????? That blue 62 G/P that I posted here last yr. that came out from B.C. is going thru a trans. swap this spring to a 200R o/d transmission to avoid any failures.

gparis7 wrote:

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I know two older guys who can rebuild these roto hydramatic transmissions (one has a number of US Pontiacs) and I considered pulling mine just to get it refreshed while these guys are still in business; but mine actually works fine and doesn't leak like a lot of them do so I left it alone. If I was going to do a swap though I'd also go with the 200R with an aftermarket adapter plate. I bought one out of an 87 Monte Carlo SS a couple of years ago just in case.   

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 John, are you refering to the plate that goes on the back of engine to use the org. starter mtr.??? The Chevy 200R won't fit the US Pontiac bell hsg. pattern unless that trans is a multi- pattern!!!  I was lucky on my 64 Catalina as the late 64's had the block drilled to use the later starter that bolts vertically!!  Jim [owner of the 62 G/P] got the BOP patterned 200R & has had it all gone thru by trans. shop, & is waiting for adapter plate to be delivered from USA  I was going to "donate" my old starter that I replaced w/gear reduction, in case he wanted to drill out the block & tap it for late model starter.   Pete

gparis7 wrote:

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I'm aware of this starter adpater but what I'm talking about is different. It's a full adapter plate designed to mate the 200r housing to the old block and also integrates a starter mount. It's fairly new to the market. I can't remember the manufacturer now but I saw it in a magazine about 3 years ago; they were converting a 62 Cat to a 200r trans. It's probalbly the same part Jim is waiting for. 

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 The one he ordered only allows the org. starter to be used,on early 64 & down Ponchos for bell hsg. mt. starter, he had to get the BOP Trans [Buick Olds. Pontiac] pattern transmission. Unless somebodys come out with a plate to adapt the chevy one???? in the last 2 mths it wasn't available?????

Pete,

I couldn't find the article as I don't have time to search my magazines but I found a reference on the internet to a kit by Wilcap, which rings a bell from the article. I think this is it. Please see the link below:

http://www.wilcap.com/pontiac.html

http://www.wilcap.com/webdoc8.html

 

There is also another company which makes a kit:

http://www.transmissionadapters.com/early_pontiac.htm

 

Not sure if these are the same as Pete was referring to but they are the types of adapters I was thinking of and the ones I had in mind when I bought my 200 4R trans.