37 replies to this topic

[Bigfella237]

Sounds like a Trimatic, K O would be out of a 4.2L VB Commodore according to this website.

 

Pictures are always the best way to get an answer to such a question.

[Bigfella237]

It may physically bolt up and drive, but there were a few differences between the transmissions for different models and motors.

 

The 5.0L trans would have beefed-up clutch packs and some other changes in the valve body too, but the biggest problem is, I believe, that a series 3 Trimatic from a Commodore would have the selector shaft on the wrong side of the box for use in a Torana (which had series 2 Trimatics from the factory).

 

There may be some way you could bodgey-up a Commodore shifter but for my money it's just not worth the hassle, surely 5.0L Trimatics aren't too hard to find, most would have ripped them out to fit a real man's gearbox...

[Bigfella237]

Actually I may have to take that back, looking at that website again, series 2 Trimatics were only fitted behind 308's in HQ Holdens and LH / LX Toranas.

 

All the other Holdens (HJ onward) had TH400's behind the bigger motors.

 

After that, WB Holdens, Statesmans and all Commodores got the series 3 Trimatic.

Edited by Bigfella237, 26 May 2015 - 06:49 AM.

[76lxhatch]

Assuming it is a Trimatic then yes VB 253. It will bolt up but if it is still standard then it won't have as many clutch plates as a 308 version, but who knows what has been done to it over the years

There may be some way you could bodgey-up a Commodore shifter

You can just disassemble and reverse the factory shifter if you want to keep it

[Bigfella237]

While we're at it, that website is missing the codes for 308 Torana Trimatics, anyone happen to know what they were?

 

Just a guess but the "HP" trans may have been carried over into the LH 5.0L (all the other HQ Holden codes were), but the LX would almost certainly be different?

[76lxhatch]

HP is the correct code for 308 Torana according to my book. The codes change when the trans is revised, not for different model cars - no reason for the LX to be different from LH

[Bigfella237]

The reason I assume they changed is because all the other codes changed from LH to LX:

 

Eng    LH code    LX code

173        HN            KH

202        HT            KJ

253        HO            KK

308        HP            ??

 

The LH codes appear to be the same as HQ & HJ Holdens

 

The LX codes appear to be the same as HX & HZ Holdens, except these had TH400's behind the 308

 

There was an extra code for the LX which was "KX", apparently only used behind a 4.2L with a 2.6:1 diff ratio, this may well be the same transmission used behind an LX 308 but I'd be interested to confirm?

[76lxhatch]

Not sure about that, the K codes should be Commodore ones (you could be right though). As far as I know lots of HX/HZ 308s had Trimatics (even Statesman sadly), seems to be mostly commercials that got the TH

[UCgazman]

You can just disassemble and reverse the factory shifter if you want to keep it

 

Nope you cant, the lever is not centered on the shifter so if you flip it over it doesnt reach far enough to the left to clear the box. You need to cut and modify it or use a late UC / WB left side shifter (I think the TH400 shifters were lefties too but I'm not sure if they are the same)

[76lxhatch]

Guess the last one I did was either a different shifter (maybe HQ) or I don't remember modifying it... oops

[UCgazman]

Maybe, I'm not as familiar with the earlier types. Was just talking about this a week or so ago here - http://www.gmh-toran...hk-2sp-shifter/ , some good info there.

[76lxhatch]

Ah I see, yeah you don't just flip the lever over, you rearrange all the pieces so the lever is completely on the other side like yel327 says in that thread

[yel327]

Not sure about that, the K codes should be Commodore ones (you could be right though). As far as I know lots of HX/HZ 308s had Trimatics (even Statesman sadly), seems to be mostly commercials that got the TH

 

There were K coded trimatics in HJ and HX, all series3 trimatics.

 

Only V8 Holdens built for Aussie sale to get a trimatic were:

 

HT-HG 253 and 308 (only very late HT).

HQ 253 and 308.

HJ-WB 4.2L.

 

Only V8 Statesmans to get a trimatic were:

 

HQ Statesman 253 or 308.

HQ Deville.

late 1982 onwards WB Deville or Caprice. 

 

TH400 was standard fitment when auto specified or standard in all of the following 5.0L Holden and Statesman HJ-about 5/79 HZ.

TH350 was standard fitment when auto specified or standard from about 5/79 through to late 1982 for 5.0L Holden and Statesman.

 

Commodore essentially followed Holden and Statesman.

[yel327]

The reason I assume they changed is because all the other codes changed from LH to LX:

 

Eng    LH code    LX code

173        HN            KH

202        HT            KJ

253        HO            KK

308        HP            ??

 

The LH codes appear to be the same as HQ & HJ Holdens

 

The LX codes appear to be the same as HX & HZ Holdens, except these had TH400's behind the 308

 

There was an extra code for the LX which was "KX", apparently only used behind a 4.2L with a 2.6:1 diff ratio, this may well be the same transmission used behind an LX 308 but I'd be interested to confirm?

 

 

You'll find the change isn't LH to LX but LX to LX ADR27A (dud engines). Early LX should be series II trimatics like LH, although 4cyl LH/:X used the KA transmission. The series3 transmissions came in with ADR27A.

 

You won't find a 2.6:1 diff in an auto LX, that KX trimatic will probably only be in a HX with 2.6:1 rear axle (2.6 replaced 2.78 in roughly 1976 from memory, possibly earlier in Statesman but no trimatic in HJ Statesman except export).

 

Unfortunately the later LX parts catalogues don't update for the seriesIII transmissions so the code for the 5.0L ADR27A trimatic doesn't appear, there is an updated part number listed in section 4.003U for the ADR27A 5.0L trimatic, so it is a different box to the earlier one however the change may simply be confined to the pollution switch.
 

[Ando]

I've got a CLX...., '77 SS L31, M40, GU7 car.

 

It's pretty much original with the HT motor removed at some stage but put aside thankfully.

 

Installed is a VK black motor for the moment.

 

I'm wondering if the Trimatic is the original & correct to this car..

 

I can't seem to find any information about the KL code. 

 

Could this be the correct series 3 Trimatic for this car?

 

 IMG_1034.jpg   126.21K   5 downloads

[yel327]

Dr Terry would be one of your best to answer this.

If no-one does I’ll check the serial number in the Holden records and see roughly where it falls MM/YY in Holdens. Not many cars have the serial number recorded though.

[yel327]

I also just remembered that a VK Trimatic would be normal/traditional style shift (passenger side) whereas your original LX one would have the internal crossover shift stuff originally for RHD column shift (driver’s side). So if it is a RH shift and an obscure code it is most likely an LX ADR27A 5.0L box. Fairly rare box, afaik unique to that application.

[Shiney005]

The only automatic cars I have ever owned were the Adventra, (manual not available), 100 Series, (manual very rare) and a Camira for a few weeks when I broke my left femur. I really don't like them, so I have never studied any aspect of them, however this thread is a very interesting read, and after having a bit of a look through the site, it seems that there hasn't been a thread on Trimatic I.D. before. Maybe change the title to Trimatic Identification and make it a sticky in the driveline section Neil?

[Dr Terry]

I've got KL as 5.0 LH & early LX. It's a series 2 (pre-ADR27A) transmission.

 

Dr Terry

[Ando]

I tried to crawl under the car to see if this Trimatic had a spark control switch or at least a port.

 

I couldn't see it so maybe it doesn't. I reckon Dr Terry is correct.

 

This car is a bit of an Anomaly: It was ordered within the GMH factory (possibly an employee). 

 

There's a couple things that vary from conventional belief.

 

Engine & Drive-train.. The motor casting date (23G6) is 10 months earlier than the chassis build date (5/77), including the radiator date (H6). 

The engine has the original factory font stamping. The numbers have been confirmed by Ben of HHS as correct. The (602) Rochester carby is of a similar period date to the HT.....R (repeat number) motor..

 

Any other parts attached the the body seems to match the Chassis & ADR build date. 

 

Seems to be that variations from standard build sequence time-frames could've occurred.

 

Thanks guys! Very much appreciated.

[yel327]

10 months isn’t out of the question. The block would have had a problem, fixed later and built into an engine. This is one of the reasons why date code chasing is a fool’s errand.

[Bigfella237]

I've got KL as 5.0 LH & early LX. It's a series 2 (pre-ADR27A) transmission.

I'm not 100% sure but my list has "HP" as the code for series 2 pre-ADR27A 5.0L M40 and "KL" as series 3 post-ADR27A trans.

 

Unfortunately I don't have enough M40 serial numbers recorded to make a guess, but the closest one I have listed is an "FB" code from a HZ Holden with the number 068xxxx

 

i would imagine Trimatics were leaving the factory by the thousands back in the late 70's so I guess the 0500221 serial could be right for an LX?

[yel327]

As I said, transmission serial numbers are scarce in records. Here are a few:

 

L351135 had Trimatic 490985, completed 5/7/76.

L355045 had Trimatic 493065, completed 18/8/76.

L355578 had Trimatic 496462, completed 24/8/76.

L356160 had Trimatic 502657, completed 20/8/76.

L356460 had Trimatic 503434, completed 30/8/76.

 

I checked Dandenong but they were only building commercials at this time so not many transmissions ever recorded, probably lots of Fleet vehicles that never returned to dealers.

 

By the above it would be safe to say that KL transmission with serial 500221 would be from a 6-9/76 car so will be from an ADR27A vehicle unless it was an export car.