The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Transmission identification

Hi bolter’s
A friend of mine bought a 3100 deluxe 56
It’s an hydra matic 4 gears and reverse do you think it’s an original type?
He asked me if this kind of transmission got the kick and down if yes it doesn’t operate
Can we find easily such transmission ?at what price ? Where ?
Merci
Alain

Yes, the 4 speed Hydramatic was an option in 56. The kickdown is controlled by a mechanical linkage from the carburetor to the transmission, which also controls shift points. There is a small lever at the top of the driver's side of the transmission near the shift linkage which moves as the throttle is opened and closed. Near full throttle, the lever should reach its full travel and cause a downshift from 4th. to 3rd speed. The linkage is adjustable for length, so you can experiment with lengthening or shortening it.

A Hydramatic is a fairly complex transmission which is difficult to repair, and repair parts are somewhat expensive. One company that deals in obsolete transmission parts is Fatsco in New Jersey. I've done business with them for over 30 years.

https://www.fatsco.net/

Finding someone in France with experience repairing that transmission will probably be more difficult than finding the parts! Good luck!
Jerry

What would be the best solution for a new transmission ?
The engine is 265ci v8
Alain

I'm trying to add pictures to Jerry's excellent response.
Second page top shows the hard to find Kent Moore gauge used for initial setting of the throttle lever (throttle pressure).
Third page is a basic description from the old B&M company.

Hy Alainfrenchie54, that transmission was an excellent piece of engineering, it was used by many manufacturers even Rolls Royce used it for years. In my opinion it is the best transmission that was offered for your friends truck. I would do a lot of research trying to find someone with the experience and equipment to work on and or setup that transmission before I would even consider replacing it.

Excellent advice! My father was the first man in Nashville Tennessee to work on automatic transmissions back in the late 1940's. A few years later a former US Army tank mechanic opened a transmission shop. One of the light tanks the army used in WW II (the M5 Stuart) was powered by two Cadillac flathead V8 engines, and used two Hydramatic transmissions!
Jerry