Transmission Swap

[Anne F. Goodman]

We have a 1960 Lark V8, automatic.transmission is bad. We have a 1962 Lark 6 cylinder with automatic transmission. The question is, is it okay to put a 6 cylinder transmission in a V8 car besides the 1st gear start. Will it work what do we have to do. Asking this for one of our Members Thank you

[mbstude]

Hey Anne, they're two completely different transmissions. A 6 cylinder auto won't fit behind a V8 even if you wanted it to.

[r1lark]

Hey Anne, they're two completely different transmissions. A 6 cylinder auto won't fit behind a V8 even if you wanted it to.

Matt, don't believe that was true for the '62, they are basically the same transmission. However, Studebaker did go to the Borg Warner Model 35 on the 1963/1964 six cylinders which was a totally different aluminum case tranny.

Anne, one thing to check in the parts manual is the number of clutch plates in the six cylinder tranny. I believe the 6 cylinder cast iron trannys may have had less clutch plates. Also not sure if the input shaft was the same, would be something else to check in the parts manual.

[jackb]

I'm fairly certain the input shafts were different. I have a 6 cyl. input shaft (NOS-For Sale) that I was hoping to use as a pilot for clutch aligning that doesn't work for V8's.

[gordr]

I'm pretty sure the transmissions will interchange, although the six-cylinder tranny should be overhauled, and more clutches installed, if the driver plans to really drive it hard. If the converter on the old tranny is OK, you should be able to just undo the 4 big bolts that hold the tranny main case to the converter housing, slide out the tranny and slip in the new one, making sure, of course to clock the pump drive tangs the same way. About as easy as it can get.

[mbstude]

Matt, don't believe that was true for the '62, they are basically the same transmission. However, Studebaker did go to the Borg Warner Model 35 on the 1963/1964 six cylinders which was a totally different aluminum case tranny.

Thanks, Paul. I was thinking '62's used the little Type 35 trans, too.

[r1lark]

My curiosity got the best of me, so I checked the parts manual. The stator hub and input shaft should be the same based on the parts manual. The '60 had a different part number for the stator hub, but the parts manual indicates it was no longer available and to use the '62 part number. The input shaft carries the same p/n.

[StudeRich]

One or Several Australians have bought up many or all of SASCO's Complete NOS '62 Lark 6 Flight-O-Matics for use in V8 Studebakers, so it definitely HAS been done and can be, to get a New Low Gear Start Automatic.
So doing a USED one would require the same minor changes, plus checking for wear.

[Anne F. Goodman]

WOW Thank You I will Let them know.

[LarkTruck]

In 71, at the age of 16 my 1st ride was a 62 Lark 6 cyl automatic I bought from my sister for one hundred bucks. I replaced the six with a full flow 289 and one of the $19.95 R1-R2 cams from Newman & Altman.
I enjoyed the first gear start at stop lights showing my Brand X Buddies what the Stude Dude could do with his little Lark, with no adverse trans performance issues at all. The engine lives on in my Champ P/U, and I think the trans is still around here somewhere????
JS