The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Drive line on '54 trucks with a hydramatic transmission

Is the driveline "open" or "enclosed" on a 1954 truck with a hydramatic transmission? Either way, are any of these transmissions available anywhere, and at what cost? Or are car transmissions adaptable? Thanks for the help. TO

The 1954 Hydra-Matic transmission was a enclosed driveshaft truck transmission.

With respect to installation-configuration, it was basically a one-year transmission (although the 1953 GMC Hydra-Matic transmission was very similar to the 1954 GMC/Chevrolet Hydra-Matic).

Do you want to transplant a Hydra-Matic into a non-hydramatic truck?

If yes, what year and size truck?

There are many parts besides the H-M transmission itself that you would need to correctly/safely install it (and shift it) in a non-H-M truck.

You might want to put an ad in the Swap Meet for a 1954 3100 H-M frame, engine, torque-tube/rear-end, cab, and shift-linkage. I think one was recently listed here or at oldGMCtrucks.com.

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1159858/1954_frame.html#Post1159858

Thanks for the info. It might be too rare and complicated to try. TO

All tonage 1955 1st series trucks with HM or manual trans, the drive line was open.
All 1954 3100 1/2 ton trucks with HM or manual trans, the drive line closed.
All 1954 3600 3/4 ton and up trucks, the drive line was open.
Note: The 1941-42, 1946-47, 1948-53 Chevy 3600 3/4 ton truck had a short closed dive line then transitioned to a open drive line. PICTURE

The 1955 1st series trucks and 1954 trucks look virtually the same.

The availability of a new HM trans is non-existent.
Your best bet is to find a used one and have it rebuilt.
Rebuild cost are around $2,800 dollars.

The 1954 passenger car used a Powerglide trans. and would not be a direct bolt in option on the 54, 55 1st truck chassis.

1954 Hydramatic Truck Specifications