A 1954 Chevy pick up with a Hydra-Matic is actually one of the best "daily driver" AD trucks. There are many places that still work on the Hydra-Matics and the cost isn't bad when compared to quality work on a modern automatic transmission. 1954 was the first year an automatic transmission was offered in the Chevy pick up truck. Another reason to leave a 1954 truck with a Hydra-Matic transmission in its original condition is the Hydra-Matic is very different to drive and a whole bunch of fun. The Hydra-Matic will shift through the gears really fast unless you have the gas pedal pushed way down for acceleration. The Chevy manual recommends leaving the shift selector in third gear so it will not shift into fourth gear, while driving around town. The shift selector doesn't have detents (clicks) when shifting between gears so it is real smooth to shift up and down as you drive. It is like driving a stick shift and an automatic all in one and the fast shifting adds to the fun. I know some will say you can shift any automatic trans up and down with the gear selector but the Hydra-Matic was designed to have more driver participation, especially around town. You still have the choice to let the shifting be fully automatic. I put Patrick's 3.55 rear end gears in my 1954 1/2 ton Chevy with Hydra-Matic and it will run 70 mph without straining. You do have to use a pre 54 carrier to put a Patricks ring and pinion in a 54. The Hydra-Matic gear selector on the steering column is also quite different in the way the gears are numbered and without any "P" or parking gear. Reverse gear "R" is the parking gear. A unique transmission in the history of automatics and Stovebolts and well worth preserving.
Last edited by truckcamper43; 01/11/2012 5:26 PM.
