🔧 Adapter Compatibility Chart: What Works With What

Your Ultimate Guide to Engine & Transmission Swap Kits – 2025 Edition

Whether you’re working on a hot rod, vintage restoration, diesel conversion, or a wild custom project, finding the right transmission adapter is the first step toward making it all work. Below is a breakdown of our some of our popular adapter kits at TransmissionAdapters.com, including what engines and transmissions they connect—and what kinds of vehicles they’re commonly used in.

🔩 1. 

Chevy 216/235/261 to Chevy V8 Automatic Transmission

• Engine: Chevy 216 / 235 / 261 Inline-6
• Transmission: Pre 1997 Small Block Chevy V8 Automatics (TH350, TH400, 200R4, 700R4, 4L60E, 4L80E)
• Kit #: CH301
• Ideal For: 1940s–1962 Chevrolet cars and trucks

💬 About This Kit:

Our 2024 top seller and a great way to keep your inline 6 on the road, the CH301 adapter allows classic Chevy owners to upgrade to a modern automatic transmission without ditching the original engine. It’s popular with builders restoring early Advance Design trucks (’47–’55), Task Force models (’55–’59), and pre-1962 cars like the Bel Air and Fleetline. The upgrade improves drivability, highway cruising, and parts availability—without sacrificing vintage style.

🔩 2. 

Ford Y-Block to Ford Small Block Automatic Transmission

• Engine: Ford Y-Block 239 / 272 / 292 / 312
• Transmission: Ford AOD / C4  / C5 / C6 --- just changed order
• Kit #: FO301
• Ideal For: 1954–1964 Ford cars, pickups, and hotrods

💬 About This Kit:

If you’re keeping a Y-Block in your classic Ford but want the reliability, availability and gearing of a modern automatic, the FO301 is your solution. Perfect for Thunderbirds, Customlines, Rancheros, and F-series trucks, this kit allows easy mating to Ford small block automatics like the AOD—enabling overdrive or simply pairing up a more available 3 speed.

🔩 3. 

Buick Straight-8 to Chevy V8 Automatic Transmission

• Engine: Buick Straight-8 233 / 248 / 263
• Transmission: Pre 1997 Small Block Chevy V8 Automatics (TH350, TH400, 200R4, 700R4, 4L60E, 4L80E)
• Kit #: BU101
• Ideal For: 1930s–1953 Buick cars

💬 About This Kit:

This unique kit breathes new life into pre-‘53 Buicks powered by the legendary Fireball Straight-8. Whether you’re restoring a Roadmaster, Super, or Special, the BU101 allows you to ditch the Dynaflow in favor of a more reliable and rebuildable TH350 or 700R4. It’s a game-changer for street use and reliability without sacrificing the vintage heart of your car. While this kit is great to breathe new life into your old Buick, it does come with some added work. The torque tube from these cars must be replaced and a drive shaft added. The rear end can either be adapted to with an open rear end conversion or replaced all together to complement the new transmission. This kit will require more on the customization and fabrication side but is a great way to keep the old Fireball 8 on the road. 

--add the same speedway link for the banjo rear end conversion that is on the listing page for the kit

🔩 4. 

Mercedes OM616/OM617 to Chevy V8 Automatic Transmission

• Engine: Mercedes Diesel OM616 (2.4L) / OM617 (3.0L)
• Transmission: Pre 1997 Small Block Chevy V8 Automatics (TH350, TH400, 200R4, 700R4, 4L60E, 4L80E)
• Kit #: ME101
• Ideal For: Off-road vehicles, diesel swaps in Land Cruisers, Jeeps, and classic 4x4s

💬 About This Kit:

One of our most popular diesel kits, the ME101 enables durable, torque-rich Mercedes diesel engines to pair with widely available GM automatic transmissions. Perfect for overland rigs and utility builds like Toyota Land Cruisers, Jeep CJs, Suzuki Samurais, or vintage pickups where reliability and fuel economy are key. Builders love it for its trail-readiness and ease of servicing.

🔩 5. 

GM 3800 Series V6 to Chevy V8 Automatic Transmission

• Engine: GM 3800 Series II/III (Normally Aspirated or Supercharged)
• Transmission: Pre 1997 Small Block Chevy V8 Automatics (TH350, TH400, 200R4, 700R4, 4L60E, 4L80E)
• Kit #: GM401
• Ideal For: Custom cars, or hot rods

💬 About This Kit:

The GM401 is a cult favorite among builders modifying Fieros, kit cars, and lightweight street rods. The 3800 V6—especially the supercharged L67—has become a beloved budget powerhouse. This adapter lets you unlock its potential by pairing it with proven, high-performance Chevy automatics. This kit is a great one to get your transverse 3800 supercharged converted into a vehicle of your choice to have some rear wheel drive fun.

🧰 Browse All Kits or Get Help

Need something more specific? We offer dozens of adapter kits for Ford, GM, Mopar, Mercedes, and vintage applications. Check out our full catalog:

👉 Explore All Transmission Adapters

Or contact our experts—we’ll help match your engine and transmission for a reliable, well-aligned build.

📧 sales@transmissionadapters.com

📞 (763) 767-4480