The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Is this an original hydramatic truck?

Sorry for the bad photos but ran across this 1954 3100 hydramatic.   Does this look like it is original?   
Are they less desirable or something to stay away from on a 3100?   Body is great but a little Leary of the hydramatic.   Did they make many?

Looks like a factory H-M truck to me. Someone has added turn signals but the floor and start switch appear factory. 54 was first year for Chevy to have H-M in half ton trucks. GMC had them in 53. If complete, a good deal to build. Chevy and GMC used different linkage as well as shifters so parts will not really interchange. If trans is healthy, they are pretty bulletproof. They shift and operate different than a modern automatic but still a very neat piece.

[Greg is the 1954 H-M expert]

Yes - "Looks like a factory H-M truck to me. . ' '
Yes - " . . If trans is healthy, they are pretty bulletproof."

Presumably, the truck is not now drivable/testable?

Here are photos of a 1954 3104 Hydra-Matic rebuild.

If the transmission in unhealthy, good luck finding a H-M mechanic and good luck paying for their services.

hum this song as you try to decide . . .

Caulkade Here let me have that htdro will dispose of it for you !! Seriously service it and take care of it not many left,had one that idiots nearly demolished doing fish hooks,got it fixed-up worked fine. She came out said wheres the key for that truck--took it straight to the flower bed to move stuff, loved that little 54 3100.

Thanks for the information. This truck is a 3 window. Shouldn’t the HM be in a deluxe 5 window?

Also. Is there anything that should be on the exterior that says hydramatic? This one doesn’t that I can see. Just 3100. The gmc version does I see.

"Shouldn’t the HM be in a deluxe 5 window?" - not necessarily - H-M and 5-window cab were different options.

"Is there anything that should be on the exterior that says hydramatic?" - I do not think so (maybe Greg Hill and/or others can confirm/correct)?

Are there bolted-on/removable frame cross-members at the rear of the block and at the rear of the Hydra-Matic transmission?

(Is that correct, Greg?)

Correct on the heavier bolt in crossmember designed to remove transmission from under truck by unbolting it. Brake line are routed differently for the same reason.
The emblem will say 3100 only. As you mentioned, GMC chose to indicate hydramatic on their emblems but Chevy did not.
Solenoid pushbutton starter instead of foot starter.

I noticed the seat is split also. ??

Can you post a few more photos of the seat?

Can you remove the cushions and post photos of the seat bases?

You might have a rare and valuable Unison seat assembly?

If Greg Hill sees this - what do you think Greg? Do you remember the magazine and issue that had Walter's beautiful restoration.

I am restoring a 1954 3104 5-window 2-tone cab with Hydra-Matic transmission and Unison seats (and lots of original options/accessories). All the mechanicals have been restored to original condition.

However, the restoration is stalled - all sheet metal is repaired and are covered with epoxy primer.
I cannot not find a finish-painter who wants to take-on this good-paying job.

Caulkade My hydra had ruined torque springs (like the center of a clutch disc) couldn't find 5 springs that size,so put in 5 pieces of 1/2 blck pipe couldn't tell it. Youll find its a smooth shifter,great truck. We used to have a tranny ace who told me they mangled a lot of those drag racing in the fifties !

Looks like a truck that needs to be preserved ,what is the rusty ball with switch on the steering column?

How many unison seats were made? I can’t get any photo of the seat frame but I believe it is 2 pieces

This id definitely a truck worth investigating. I have no idea what the owner is asking but if like Tim says, it has the unison seats and they are complete, that is worth a chunk by itself. Get more pictures of the seats especially around and the back of the drivers seat if possible, the floor cover over the transmission and crossmember under transmission. Also the starter on passenger side of engine and the steering column under the hood with linkage.
This is the truck that Tim mentioned belonging to Walter. He has since passed and the truck is now in Europe I believe. Walter liked "all the bling" and spared no expense. His is also a 55 1st series.

Here is a video of when it went to auction after he passed. lots of detail pics

Caulkade Well today Ichecked on a hydramatic a friend had,it's still there but suffering out in the wearher attached 235 is rusted out but didn't take long to find one after all. NOT FOR SALE !

Those springs breaking are not uncommon but there are places that rebuild the torrus halves.Fastco, Areds, and others

You can find more on the unison seats in the assembly manual. A Chevy only item and only 54 and 55 1st series. The driver's seat back is floating and moves with the upper plane of the seat cushion so there is no "back rub" with the bounce.

The engine and transmission are supposed to be a mated set but it can be used easily with a different engine if a few runout checks are done that are described in the service manual.

Calkade, If that truck is for sale and you are not interested in it, please let others know as it definitely should not be allowed to rot away or be sent to a crusher. I have my own project but I am sure there are other interested here. The pics you have posted look like a very nice starting point for a very nice truck.

tclederman They used to tell me you wont learn any younger,get you a paint gun and "shoot it" like the 'gator hunter !!!LOL

The first painter that I spoke with 6 years ago is 1/3 mile from my “new” house in NC.

I went back to him last week - he said Yes - as soon as he finishes an almost finished truck.

It is a long story - about two puppies who jumped up on my lap, and, the owner is getting ready to retire (health issues) - his new, young partner will paint my truck.

And, insurance jobs are almost gone since COVID appeared.

I am a lucky guy.

By the way, I have an very nice Accuspray HVLP paint system, and, a “zoot-suit” fresh-air breathing system (to protect from foul vapors), and, excellent paint guns. I had my friend/painter use them in NY when painting my Suburban. I do not want to learn now.

I will be selling them later this year.

We picked it up today but have a few more questions. Thanks for the help we have received up to this point. It came from the Sandhills in Nebraska. It is pretty original that we can see minus the two rear rims. Under the hood it has brown written. Original?

The turn signal thing mounted on the steering column is Bakelite. Anyone seen one like that? I also posted a pic of the tail lights.

It needs cleaned up pretty bad but overall seems solid. Cab corners are really good.

Thanks for the help.

That was the only pic we took of the seat. Interestingly the cardboard glovebox has never had a mouse in it and is in great shape.

We are happy with it.

Here is one more pic of the engine area. Hopefully all hydramatic parts are there.

Prob should have posted on the other thread. Sorry. No one said we were smart.

Glad you got it looks like you can’t go wrong with this truck looks untouched and the hydromatic trucks are rare,would be interesting to see how many trucks from that year were autos .

Sure would be interesting to know.

Not sure who in their right mind would order a brown truck?

Here are cruddy pics of the transmission.

Check your Private Messages (the flashing envelope at the top of the page)

Do these look like unison seats?

If so does the lower driver seat just pop up? Does the passenger seat flip up or?

I am a long ways from the truck to try it.

Yes on unison seats and they look complete. The pass side seat bottom will lift up and out and the back cushion is bolted at the bottom and has clips it hangs from on the back of the cab.
H-M linkage appears to be all there and correct.
Brown is a factory marking showing truck color off the line. Mine says transport written the same way as it has a transport blue lower body color.
The switch to the left of steering column appears to be an accessory turn signal setup. My bet is the extra turn signal lights were part of the kit and simplified the installation.

I think that will make you a fun project and a great truck!

Thanks. You are a wealth of information. Appreciate the comments and help.

I have merged the two threads covering the same truck into one.

Thanks.

I think you should gather those pictures and start a thread in the project journals section.

We are theorizing that its special ordered by an elderly guy so he got automatic and the unison seats and he was also visually impaired and he got a brown truck. Was brown a common color?

You can imagine about any scenario you want. My mind thought about a delivery vehicle/ shop truck where the company was owned by someone named Brown and the seats and transmission were for long haul comfort.

The turn signals are not original,but that is a interesting set up that is on there.

Just a heads up, the turn signals will not be "self cancelling" like a modern vehicle. You have to get used to turning them off after you make the turn. There was a factory turn signal that is self cancelling but I suspect the reason you have the extra lights for turn signals is that the wiring gets a bit tricky when the same bulbs are used for brake and turn.

A few more pics of seat. Is that an oil filter by the distributor?