Hydramatic Rebuild Question

harry54

I'm looking for a lead on a Transmission Rebuild shop that does good work. My 54 Hornet Hydramatic needs help. It has trouble shifting out of first and slips untill it's been running for 20 minutes. The Car is in Holbrook Long Island . I can drive it anywhere in the tri state area if I have to . Besides the slipping and the trouble shifting after it warms up it bangs back into first when you come to a stop light. Any Leads would be helpful. Thanks.

Jon B

Assuming you live in Holbrook, have you asked Charlie Salvato, long-time H-E-T member and resident of Holbrook? Seems he would have some idea of whom to take it to. Or maybe some of the other Long Island Seashore (H-E-T) Chapter members (of which Charlie is one) can answer the question. You can't be the first Hudsonite to have transmission problems on Long Island!

harry54

Thanks Jon, Actually Charlie's guy that did his rebuilds is no longer. Charlie recommended that I check with the club forum just to here of any other good possibilities. He had some other idea's but before moving forward with those we thought we'd kick the tires.

Unknown

Harry: The Dual Range Hydramatic is the same in General Motors cars and other independants. I would use this forum and search the internet for a Hydra specialist. There are folks whose claim to fame lies in the ...other... makes. But all is the same.



Good Luck

harry54

Thanks Ken,

P.S. I luv your website. It gives so many fellow club members the ability to get things done.

SuperDave

Heart Of Texas wrote:

Harry: The Dual Range Hydramatic is the same in General Motors cars and other independants. I would use this forum and search the internet for a Hydra specialist. There are folks whose claim to fame lies in the ...other... makes. But all is the same.



Good Luck

Funny note about that...

I sad but true story about a GM guy rebuilding a Hudson Hydramatic...

Many years ago my 54 Hornet Spl. Bro, had a problem with hanging up in reverse. Linkage internally I think.. been way too long to remember... I DROVE it to the local independant auto trans shop. The older fellow there said he had "cut his teeth" on the GM Hydro and could rebuild one blindfolded. I gave him the job .A couple months later, it was still there. Seems it got "rebuilt" but would not move either forward or reverse. he was not willing to go through it again and had no idea why it wouldn't work. He SAID he had been into it three times with no good result. ( I doubt that)I towed it away with a rope! Needless to say we had "words".I suggested he try it one more time WITHOUT the blindfold. I don't think he had a sense of humor. I paid for all the parts and fluid. I later found another local general repair shop that had hired a transmission specialist. He assured me that this young fellow would fix it or no charge! He removed the transmission in the morning. I checked with him on my lunch break and he had it apart on the bench. That evening after work it was ready to test drive. it shifted better than ever!. he told me that because Hudson had so much torque compared to the GM engines, that the Hydro for Hudson had more clutch parts. The GM guy just counted clutch pieces as he took them out of the parts cleaner and installed them. With at least two ( as I can remember)clutch discs missing it was Never going to hook up! It's funny now ,but was a real pain back then!

I wonder if the first guy ever found the extras parts in his cleaner?

I wish I still had had that Tudor ..

Dave w. Fl.

harry54

Thanks Super Dave, This is what makes being involved in the HET club so wonderful. It's invaluable to me to get this type of feedback. I could go to anyone to get a rebuild but I don't want to go to anybody. I want to make sure that it gets done right and have no worries about driving to Het club events. SInce I've owned this car ( 2 yrs I've brought it back to life and driven the pants out of it ( 7500 miles)).I live in Ct and have driven it to work in Jersey City about 2 dozen times. I've also drivin up to Benninington Vt, Front Royal Va,Smithtown NY, McCungie Pa and Glenrock Pa. I've receivied so much enjoyment that I want to spread the word. That's why I"m so appreceiattive of the advice that will help me get it right. THanks again.