Hydra-matic needs overhaul?

SuperDave

I have searched all over the Hudson sites and cannot find the member that overhauls the old Hydros. Parts I can find, but not the name or location of the rebuilder. I recall he offered to bring transmissions to the National for exchange. We need his services. Mac has his 54 Hornet in South Central Tennessee and has a problem. Tranny doesn't want to shift up upon startup. Needs to warm up..like 3 miles! All the obvious things have been checked. Fluid changes etc. It's now time to take drastic measures. I think he can get someone to remove and replace the unit, but no one has the specific knowledge to do the repairs. He could ship the transmission on a small palet and wait for a replacement. Who does this kind of work?

Unknown

Would definately contact Gus Souza in Chicago. He's in the roster.



Russell

SuperDave

That's the fellow! Thanks much, Dave

JasonNC

You might want to look up the guy that was recommended to me on the Kaiser website. Look at the "transmission adapter" thread below. Randy K recommends a guy in Charlotte, NC (since you're in TN) that repairs hydramatic transmissions. (P.S. I bought the adapter anyway.)

Jason

Unknown

When Hydramatics do not upshift until they get warmed up, generally the problem is internal leakage. They will shift from first to second, then from second into like neutral. After driving for a few miles it will begin to shift normally. Don't think it's a catastrophic problem (seals) but does have to come out of the car.

Jay_G

I found a shop buy doing a lot of calling around as to who works on old cars. The guy that rebuilt mine told me the hydros rebuild kits were all the same only the gears are different. He also told me they used these trans on tanks which is where he got his kits. Now I don't believe everything but he did a good job and I have had no problems. I think you just need to find someone who has been in the business a while.



Jay

Unknown

Ah but Jay, they did use them in tanks. I'm not a military guy but I know that 40's and 50's tanks had Cadillac engines in them with Hydramatics.

Unknown

There's a guy in Woodstock VA who is pretty good on old transmissions, off I-81 in Woodstock. He might be interested in rebuilding it. I know he's conversant with Jetaway Olds trannies.



Bill Gardner

Bill's Transmission & Auto Repair

540-459-3292

[Deleted User]

Do you know if they make a rebuilding kit for the hydramatics? If so where?

Unknown

backtohudsons wrote:

Ah but Jay, they did use them in tanks. I'm not a military guy but I know that 40's and 50's tanks had Cadillac engines in them with Hydramatics.

Yep, when I was in the Army at a missile test range we had a tank to pull the targets with twin Caddy flathead V8s & hydros (M24?). The mufflers had blown out and it sounded like two dragsters going down the road, as the engines were always slightly out of sync and shifted slightly apart.

bobbydamit

Now guys, its not rocket science time. That Tranny is a simple standard GM Hydro. Most transmission shops can rebuild them, especially if you buy a kit from our WTN guy in the parts listing. Call around locally and tell them the year and model. If they don't have a guy that does them normally, they will have the old books to look them up in. Now if it was the Borg Warner, your in deep doo doo. I had to rebuild mine with the help of a 45 year veteran rebuilder, retired, and an old motor mate manual. No one wanted to even look at it. I will Never again own one, but it was the smoothest Auto tranny I ever drove in a stepdown. Only used in part of 1954 models. Its the one with a Park Position, really.