Hi Guys (and gals) Okay, I just added to my collection of Buick Muscle with the purchase of a '68 Skylark Custom 4 Door Hardtop. (Try saying that 10 times fast!) I'm drivin' it, and drivin' it...and I can't for the life of me hear or feel the second shift into 3rd gear. I know it's a 350-4bbl, could Buick have put the 'ol Powerglide behind it, instead of a TH350? I haven't had a chance to get underneath it and identify the transmission pan, so really I was wondering if anyone knew by chance whether or not I've got the smoothest shifting TH350 in the world, or if it's a Powerglide transmitting the power... Thanks for the help, you guys have always come through for me. Nathan
The TH350 was not available until the 69 model year. What you have is a Super Turbine 300 transmission, which is a 2 speed. Though similar, it is not a powerglide. To identify the trans, look for an electric switch at the gas pedal which control the kickdown and an electrical connector on the drivers side of the trans. A TH350 would have a kickdown cable that attaches to the passenger side of the trans. So, I am 99.99% certain you have the ST300 unless someone did some switching during the past 41 years! o No: Scott
GAHHHHH! Grrrrrr! Okay...ST300, two-speed slushbox. (sighing) Seems to me, that a swap to a TH350 ought to be fairly straightforward, IF I get all the parts from a similar (69-72) A-Body, eh? TH350, driveshaft and transmission crossmember...and the column and linkage? Comments? Anyone? Don't worry, for the purists, I'll keep the old parts...I believe the car is numbers matching. Nathan
I think it will work if you get the one with the short tailshaft TH350 with a multi-fit case. I don't think you need a new drive shaft as the transmissions are the same length. You might not need a new crossmember, I don't know if the mount and bolt holes match up exactly on a TH-350/ST300 but if they don't they are pretty close.
The TH350 will fit just fine if it is the short tail shaft. You won't need a multi-bell as the BOP bell is correct for a Buick 350. Driveshaft, crossmember, shift linkage, speedo cable and coolings lines will all work. You will need the TH350 dipstick and tube. The issue will be how do you hook up the kickdown cable. The 69+ "A" body cars have a square hole in the firewall and a different gas pedal setup to connect the cable from the trans. A 68 will not have that square hole. Options are some type of connection to the carb, or cut a hole in the firewall and get a later gas pedal setup. Actually, for a driver, the ST300 is a decent trans and should give you plenty of trouble free miles. All 64-68 and some 69 2 speed Buick/Olds/Pontiac used it and it was fine. Just some food for thought here. Scott
