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'64 Olds Starfire Convertible

I’m not a guy who knows anything about transmissions but is there any chance the leak isn’t catastrophic? A leaking seal or something that can be replaced?

If I were to sell it I’d be tempted to get a used TH 350 or 400, swap and sell the original trans with it. I think selling it non operational, paying big bucks to have the original trans fixed, putting in a OD trans or even a premium, new/ fresh rebuild 400, you’d not recoup your investment.
 
Another option is LS, they’re pretty hot right now but again Expensive to do right, my work partner has a 63 Chevy II Nova vert with a crate 350 & T350 he also wants to go OD trans
 
JohnC said:
I’m not a guy who knows anything about transmissions but is there any chance the leak isn’t catastrophic? A leaking seal or something that can be replaced?

If I were to sell it I’d be tempted to get a used TH 350 or 400, swap and sell the original trans with it. I think selling it non operational, paying big bucks to have the original trans fixed, putting in a OD trans or even a premium, new/ fresh rebuild 400, you’d not recoup your investment.
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The problem is the trans in there now is garbage and only a handful can rebuild it properly. One of if not the worst trans they ever made. I just bought a new bushing and rear seal for it and after the front leak (at the bell housing) I figure either I take a hit or just make it nice and dependable and use it. The thing is huge, but it rides like a dream (like all the old long wheelbase cars did). Since a purist won't want the 200r4 and putting in a TH350 or 400 is just as bad, I'd never make my money back, so why not build it to enjoy it and call it a day.

Fixing it would most likely cost $4k and it'll still be a shitty transmission, so we'll just keep it in our collection of cars. I'm the second owner (bought it off my old neighbor who's father bought it for her brand new), so I have the history and the interior and convertible top is 99.5% perfect.
 
Chevelle_Nut said:
Try to find a Grand National 200R4, they are beefier.
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Yep, $2,800 beefier (already researched). I think a TH350 will do just fine. Not going to be a long distance cruiser. Mostly backroads and we'll probably only go a max of 2 hours away. I'm thinking I'll drop one of the 327's I have in there ('65 with double hump heads putting out 275hp).

Saving the '67 327 complete motor for Lisa's next ride, and that will get a 200r4.
 
200-4r's aren't cheap to get built, seem like most reputable builders are over 3K to do one.
I see Extreme automatics does one for 2500.
I probably have almost that in mine doing it myself since it took several tries to get it good.
 
77cruiser said:
200-4r's aren't cheap to get built, seem like most reputable builders are over 3K to do one.
I see Extreme automatics does one for 2500.
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Yeah, but if you're building a DD it'd be worth it (like for Lisa's car), but for the Starfire.... no. I'm not going to piss any more money than needed to make a dependable cruiser.
 
I remember trying to sell our '77 Olds Cutlass, and I hate selling cars to just about anybody...such a pain! Our Cutlass was perfect and a gorgeous 2 door coupe triple white with freezing A/C (in Florida too!). I had a hell of a time selling it because the transmission had a small fluid leak at one of the fittings...likely a seal because it ran and drove super nice! Anything transmission related will likely scare away just about every potential buyer, honestly. So, I hope you get it to work out so it doesn't turn into a money pit for you! Starfires are nice though...my Brother-In-Law back in the day had a '62 Starfire in white over blue interior that was a fabulous looking car. At night when opening the door all the lights in the interior would make you say "WOW"! At least is did me when I was about 13 at the time...I'll never forget that car...really cool! Good luck figuring this dilemma out and with the sale.
 
Worst tranny was that TH250 or metric version. Weak and self-destructive. I believe they were only produced for a few years in the late '70s-early '80s behind weak engines, but my folks had one in a '79 Olds Calais with a 305 and it didn't last long.
 
Late 80's I had a T350 behind a 1970 467 putting out around 525? hp and no problems, never really got traction though, 327 & T350 sounds like a great combo for the Starfire just save the original parts for the next Guy/Gal,,,,,I didn't mean that in a Liberal way, Guy OR Gal :unsure: :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
 
Shovelrick said:
Late 80's I had a T350 behind a 1970 467 putting out around 525? hp and no problems, never really got traction though, 327 & T350 sounds like a great combo for the Starfire just save the original parts for the next Guy/Gal,,,,,I didn't mean that in a Liberal way, Guy OR Gal :unsure: :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
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Yeah, I'll sell the 394 and slim jim to someone who wants to keep theirs completely stock, but if I have to swap out the trans, might as well make it easier to service and enjoy. We'll keep the car and pass it down to one of the kids (whomever wants to keep and use it).

The original intention was just to fix it and flip it, but a purist won't want it with a swapped transmission and bone stock is where all the value was for this car. Sucks, but it is what it is.
 
There are many people that want a cruiser. Look at Chevelles, I don't mind THM350s. I converted a Powerglide car to a an overdrive once, did not like it, rear gearing was all wrong. I should have done it to a 200R4 but didn't, I forget what it was but I had to have the driveshaft cut, what a nightmare.
 
Problem is I am $9k into the car and stock in good shape would have yielded me a $30k sale, but with a bad trans I wouldn't get anymore than $7,500, and not being stock, maybe $15k, so to get my money out of it, I'll just keep it and enjoy cruising with the top down when we want. Lisa enjoys going for a cruise later afternoon / early evening and likes going out for an ice cream like we used to do with the kids when they were young in the '68 Lincoln.
 
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