<VV> Turbo 350 Hydromatic was Slated for Corvair Application

[jwcorvair at aol.com]

How really difficult would it be to adapt a Turbohydromatic 350 to a Corvair differential. Forgive me if this is a naive question, but I am unfamiliar with automatics (except for the most basic concepts). If we can mate a 5-speed to a Corvair differential, why not a turo 350?

Joe White (62 sedan [with PG], 66 Porvair)
CORSA, RMC


-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Corbin <airvair at earthlink.net>
To: Mikeamauro at aol.com <Mikeamauro at aol.com>; virtualvairs at corvair.org; fastvair at yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, 11 Sep 2007 9:46 pm
Subject: RE: <VV> Turbo 350 Hydromatic was Slated for Corvair Application



I'm really getting to hate wikipedia....:o(

Anyway, GM DID have a turbohydro tranny built in the very early '60's, but
it was an "experimental" transaxle. Only a handful were ever built, but one
DID make it into a Corvair. The car was affectionately called Pinky,
because it was an all-pink convertable. Trick was, it was a "show" car
built by the tech center off one of the first '60 model coupes, and that
probably lead to its eventual scrappage. The whole story was written up by
Dave Newell in a CC cover story some years ago (would have to look to find
out).

But to make a long story short, while it was a full 3speed automatic, with
a park gear, the car was last seen in very rusted condition. The owner had
bought it to salvage the top (which was remarkably in good condition) for
his own Corvair convertable. But because it was custom made, nothing fit on
a production car. The car disappeared, probably hauled to the crusher, and
never seen again.

I'd kill for that tranny (and so would a lot of other Corvair people.) So
good luck with the project. Let us know when we can buy an adapter kit. :o)

-Mark


> [Original Message]
> Subject: <VV> Turbo 350 Hydromatic was Slated for Corvair Application
>
> Following is a link to a Wikipedia entry, which makes an argument the 350

> tranny, had the Corvair line continued into the 70s, would have made its
way  
> into the Corvair.
>  
>  "...One important difference in the THM 350 compared to the THM 400  is 
> there is no fixed center support midway through the gear train, this 
important 
> difference in layout permitted THM 350 to be adapted to the Corvair 
where the 
> drive and driven ends are the same. This feature was not exploited but 
Corvair 
> may have eventually used the THM 350 had it remained in  production..." 
>  
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbo-Hydramatic
>  
> Has anyone explored the possibility of using a 350 tranny in a Corvair  
> application. Is the direction of rotation correct. Size issues? Other 
hurtles to 
> overcome? Later 350s came with a lock up converter... that would  be
nice, as 
> would the extra gear.
>  
> I'm not just dreaming here; I've been know to invest considerable 
dollars 
> into my Vairs to effect useful modernization and improve reliability; 
I'm 
> hoping for serious answers from those knowledgeable in this area of 
discussion. 
> What are the chances a 350 hydro could be made to work in a  late model?
>  
> Mike Mauro


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