Or you can add oil through the "fill hole on the right/passenger top-side of the tranny" to about 1/2" below the hole (when gear oil is cold). I think this is described in the Shop Manual.

Tim
1954Advance-Design.com
1954 3106 Carryall Suburban
1954 3104 5-window pickup w/Hydra-Matic
The 216 and early 235 engines are not "splash oilers" -- this is a splash oiler.