DID IT HAVE A TRANS. IN THE REAR ? WAS IT DEPENDABLE ?
5 Answers
littlehorn answered 16 years ago
A transmission in the rear? It had a differential, these were decent cars.
Nope. Trans is right behind the motor, where it should be. It can be dependable, as long as it's properly maintained.
lemans_guy answered 16 years ago
Sorry to correct you but the Tempest Lemans have rear trans axles (2 speed power glide on v-8 models with very limited manual trans models being built. The slant 4 are more common to have a standard trans). It is a independent-suspensionm trans-axle driveline. They have a spring steel torque tube that is know to break quite easily, not a drive shaft. Its also not a common 326 CI V-8, its a 336 CI V-8 with .060 larger cylinders and pistons from the factory. In short, a 326 has a 3 23/32" bore, while the 1963 Lemans v-8 has a 3 25/32" bore, (Doing the simple math with the crank stroke) its 336.9 cubic inches. I found a complete 63 lemans convertible with 28,000 miles, and a virgin engine and machined it in my shop. I discovered the original rings, pistons, rod bearing, main bearings and so on. Thats when I noticed the .060 larger pistons. I know 3 other people that own a 1963 lemans and they all have the same engine/transmission/suspension packages. Its a fun vehicle that took me 5 years to restore, but its worth it. Its not a car worth 6 digits, but they are very hard to find. After all, its a baby GTO!!
I own a 1963 LeMans Conv. with the 326 V8, 4 Speed Man Transaxle (located on the Independent rear end) Not a Transmission like some models that are bolted to the Engine Block. It is for sale, for best offer. If interested I can post a photo along with any information desired. Like many vehicles of that era, it does need some TLC (Interior and Top) Email me at ton80don80@hotmail.com
correction on the 63 LeMans Trans, it is a 3 sp. Syncromesh not 4 speed