50 Commodore transmission question

50sled

I recently bought my 50 Hudson and can't wait to get it on the road. I have only driven it from the side yard and into the garage to get the brakes working correctly. From what I understand you use the clutch to get in forward or reverse gear but the trans automatically shifts gears. In the manual it sounds like you can override the "automatic and shift it manually. Is this correct? Some of the linkage, wires and vacuum lines for the "auto" don't look to healthy.

Thanks in advance for any information.

Park_W

Sounds like you've got a "Drive-Master" car.  The mechanism and electricals  on those critters are indeed pretty complex, and thus subject to malfunction.  But you're correct, you can select OFF and pretend the automatic stuff isn't there.

With full automatic drive selected, you put the gear lever in 3rd gear position and leave it there.  The clutch works automatically, so you just press on the accelerator pedal and away you go in 1st gear; when you release the accelerator it will shift into high gear.  When you slow down for a stop, the clutch disengages and the gears go back to 1st.

50sled

Park_W

Thanks for the info. What a crazy set up. Sounds like a engineer with an overly active imagination got carried away.

lostmind

Park_W said:

Sounds like you've got a "Drive-Master" car.  The mechanism and electricals  on those critters are indeed pretty complex, and thus subject to malfunction.  But you're correct, you can select OFF and pretend the automatic stuff isn't there.

With full automatic drive selected, you put the gear lever in 3rd gear position and leave it there.  The clutch works automatically, so you just press on the accelerator pedal and away you go in 1st gear; when you release the accelerator it will shift into high gear.  When you slow down for a stop, the clutch disengages and the gears go back to 1st.

Park , I thought they started in second gear and shifted to high. Most I've seen with drivemaster have 4:55 rear gear ratio to have a smooth take of in second. The low rear gear is why they later switched to overdrive as part of the package. This is from memory , and can surely be all wrong.

Park_W

It's always been my understanding that they start in 2d gear, but the terminology in the Drive-Master service manual uses the term "low gear."  Maybe that terminology is being used a little loosely there, e.g., it's the lower gear of the two that are used!

50C8DAN

Low gear in Supermatic is 2nd gear.  Supermatic equipped cars have extra low first gear that is a stump puller.  I think it is 4:56 or something like that.  My supermatic equipped car I start normally in 2nd gear.

Uncle Josh

Super-matic  has a 3-position switch.  Normal, Clutch only and Clutch/shift

Instructions w/OD and the normal 4.56 rear end in Clutch/shift position is

Depress clutch

Put selector in 2nd gear

Release clutch

When you're ready, press accelerator.  Clutch will engage automatically

When ready for next gear, let up on accelerator.  Tranny will shift into 3rd

When ready for next gear, let up on accelerator.  Overdrive will engage (Over 20 mph)

When stopping depress brake.  OD will drop out at 20, and tranny will shift into 2nd and clutch will disengage.

Too many adjustments for me.  I removed it and sold it.

50C8DAN

Uncle Josh, Drive master equipped cars had the three position switch.  Supermatic only has "Supermatic", On or Off, there is no selection for vacuum clutch.  I still have mine on and will work on it later this year to get it working.  The problem I have is my seals need some neats foot oil to not leak.