Hi Jim! The answer to most of your questions reguarding instalation of a later dyna in your 49 or any other str8 buick is, yes. The early dynas, pre 52, were kinda pokey. It stems from two causes; the 248, bone stock, just does not make a lot of power; 2, the early dyna only has one main reaction turbine. Your observations on the 56 dyna is right on. It is a way better trans, and yes, it has a sort of "passing gear", it has a variable pitch turbine which more or less does the same thing. The 56 is the best dyna you can get your hands on.
Now, will it all go into your 49? Yup. With a few changes and a few parts. Your biggest problem is the crank in your engine. Stick trans engines have a different crank than dyna equiped engines. So, you gotta have the dyna crank in the engine to use a dyna, any dyna. You also gotta have the right bell housing. In 53 dyna desighn changed. The converter was enlarged to accept the "twin trubine" desighn. As a result the bell housing had to be bigger, but V8 and str8 have a different bolt pattern. So, this is what'ch do:
Get a 56 trans, the same trans can be found in some 57's, it will have a cast aluminum converter housing.
Get a 53 str8 dyna. On the bottom of the bell housing it will say "twin turbine" in raised cast in lettering.
Pull the converters out of both trans, put the 53 bell housing on the 56, it will bolt right up. You may have to change the tailshaft as well since buick changed that around to accomidate wheelbase changes. Your 49 may be longer or shorter so you most likely will have to have all 3 trans on the floor, lined up, to make the call. At this point, it may be just as easy to go through the trans and do a clean up, freshin up just to be sure.
Your last problem; the crank. Get a dyna crank and put it in. However, when finding the correct 53 str8 dyna, you may find it attached to a 53 str8. This is a way better engine than the 248. This engine has more power and the potiential for way more power. It will pull AC, power steering and still move that 49 down the road at a smart clip! Hope this helps! Alleycat
Bookmarks