Repair-It

Unfortunately for loyal Oldsmobile customers, GM management on Woodward Avenue in Detroit were focusing on cost savings per vehicle by this time, a philosophy later called "less car for more money" by the 1970s.[who?] One drawback of this thinking was that the 1961 through 1964 Oldsmobiles lost their dependable (but expensive to build) Jetaway Hydramatic transmissions. Replacing those time-tested four speed units was a much cheaper to build three speed unit, the Roto Hydramatic. This transmission had no front fluid coupling at all, and utilized a single "fill-and-dump" coupling to perform double duty as both a fluid coupling in third speed while having a third reaction member, which Olds called an "Accel-O-Rotor," which was actually a small stator, thus giving some limited torque multiplication in first. In theory, the "Accel-O-Rotor" would provide the same multiplication range in first as both the first and second gears of the four speed unit without all the hardware...and cost. It was also unique at that time, in that second speed was pure mechanical connection from engine to rear end...no fluid coupling involved. The big problem with this unit in the Oldsmobiles (and lower line Pontiacs of the same era) was engine speed would race wildly in first, and then hit a "brick wall" of a very steep RPM decline in second, which was equivalent to third gear in the four speed Jetaway Hydramatic.[citation needed] This unit was very trouble prone and unreliable, and cost a great deal of performance otherwise obtainable from the Rocket.[citation needed] It would linger for only these three years, when it was replaced by the much more reliable, but less efficient, Turbo Hydramatic in 1965. Customer complaints caused many dealers and independent transmission shops to wholesale replace the Roto Hydramatic in these cars with older (or contemporary, from a Pontiac Star Chief or Bonneville) HM315 four speed Hydramatic.[citation needed]

Sky Rocket[edit]

The 1961 through 1963 Sky Rocket (and 1964 Rocket) was a 394 cu in (6.5 L) engine. The 10:1 compression 1961 model produced 325 hp (242 kW) and 435 lb·ft (590 N·m), while the 10.25:1 1962-1964 version upped power to 330 hp (250 kW) and 440 lb·ft (600 N·m). A special 1963 10.5:1 version was also produced with 345 hp (257 kW).

Applications:
1961–1963 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 (option)
1961–1964 Oldsmobile Super 88 (standard)
1961–1964 Oldsmobile 98 (standard)

Starfire[edit]

The 1964 Starfire produced 345 hp (257 kW) and 440 lb·ft (600 N·m) for the 1963-4 Starfire and 98 Custom-Sports Coupe. It was optional on 1964 98s and Super 88s.

Adam wrote:The old 394 is a pre-BOP engine design with a > 90 degree V. Pretty powerful, though.

kevm14 wrote:

Adam wrote:The old 394 is a pre-BOP engine design with a > 90 degree V. Pretty powerful, though.

Wiki says it is 90 degrees.