I wanted a 1954 3100 hydramatic for many years. When I finally bought my 1954 3100 hydramatic, I was surprised by how quickly it shifted up through gears 1-3 and into 4th gear. I read the 1954 shop manual and learned the hydramatic was operating as it was designed to operate. The manual recommended leaving the hydramatic in 1-3 range in town to prevent shifting in to 4th gear too quickly for in town driving. I drive the hydramatic as recommended and sometimes drive in 1-2 range when driving slow. The hydramatic shifts up and down so smoothly, using the column shift lever, I believe it was intended to operate in the manner of using the shift lever as a shift controler, under varying conditions. I think the 1954 hydramatic was not designed to operate like later automatic transmissions and should be enjoyed as originally designed. I sure have fun driving it.
That hasn't been my experience at all. I put mine in 1-4 and go until I need reverse or get where I am going. There aws a little playing with the pressure lever adjustment until I found my happy medium between good upshifts and proper downshifting when turning a corner.
