In the late 60s/early 70s there was a way to swap a clutch for the torque converter in a TH350 or TH400 transmission. I think it was called a clutch-o-matic (Chrysler TorqueFlite automatic transmissions that had this done to them were called ClutchFlites).

There was a good thread on this topic at camaros.net, but it got deleted during their recent housekeeping.

Do any of you know what other names were used for the converted TH400s? I've tried Google and eBay (there was an auction about a year ago for a TH400 set up with a clutch and adapted for an early Mustang) without success, so I think there must have been another name besides clutch-o-matic used.

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Fairbanks used to sell those. It was basically an automatic tranny with the bellhousing machined off and ears welded on so it could be bolted to a standard 4 speed bellhousing. There was also an adapter that somehow connected to the pressure plate and turned the front pump on the tranny.

They called the GM ones Clutch-Turbos and the Chrysler ones Clutch-Flites. They were also known as the poor man's Lenco.

thanks tesmith66! I'll try the keyword "Clutch-Turbo" and see if anything comes up. I read somewhere that B&M had held the patent for the adapter that operated the front pump, but I didn't know about the bellhousing being machined off and ears welded on so it could be bolted to a standard 4 speed bellhousing--thanks for that info.

Sounds like the poor man's Lenco. I remember reading about it several years back in one of my Hot Rod magazines.