The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop How many Hydra-Matic's in 1954

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I asked the owner of a 1954 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup, for sale on Ebay the following Question And I like to know if this is true.

"Good morning, just wondering about your statement that 200 Pickup trucks had the Hydra-Matic transmission in 1954, makes it really unique. Were can I find that to substantiate. Nice Truck
His answer:
Hello. Merry Christmas The previous owner gave me the information and also people that own simmilar trucks have confirm the info. Thank you R
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Hydra Matic!? on a 54 truck?

Well maybe someone swapped in a power slide (ah... power glide ) but a hydra matic as a factory or dealer option? I don`t think so.

1966 was the first year for the optional 327 V8 engine and Turbo-hydromatic transmission.

As far as I know, but what do I know

Frank

In 1953, GMC trucks first had a Hydra-Matic transmission available.

In 1954, Chevrolet trucks (at least up to a 1-ton truck) had a 4-speed Hydra-Matic (not PowerGlide) automatic transmission available.

It would be nice to to hear from someone who has original documentation on production numbers. I have never seen any good information posted. 200 Hydra-Matic trucks in 1954 seems a low number (although, they are uncommon).

Tim

that may be right because most were in gmc iv never seen one in a chevy they also came with a 326 pontiac motor v-8 the valve covers even said pontiac

Hi,If I remember right the hydramatic plant burnt down in 1953,so they used powerglides and don't think they used hydra's again till early 55's have a good day Slim

There is a guy in town here with a '54 GMC w/ Hydra-Matic. I know the previous owner of that truck. I believe it is all original.

Buddy

Ok guys. This is my first posting to the forum and I thought it was about time to get my feet wet. I've been readin' this forum for a couple of years now, an it's been a wealth of info.
I own a 1954 Chevy 3100 pick'em up with a 4 speed Hydro-Matic tranny. The truck has been kept up well and is bone stock. Yup, they made the 4 speed Hydro-Matic for the Chevy's starting in 1954 and there are some differences between them and their manual transmission cousins. For instance, the cab has no provision for a hole for a clutch pedal in the floor (makes sence), the shifting pattern goes like this: N 1-4 1-3 1-2 R, and there is no floor starter button 'cause the ignition switch has the starter switch incorporated. There's also an extra hole in the floor over the tranny to access the automatic transmission fluid. As far as how rare these trucks are, I have no information that's verifiable, but they are considered pretty rare.

BobzHog,

Hope your post settles the matter of the existence of Chevrolet 4-speed Hydra-Matic transmissions.

If there is still doubt, I would be pleased to post photos of a 1954 Chevrolet 235 truck engine that was machined at the factory to match a 1954 truck Hydra-Matic transmission (photo available) and an enclosed driveshaft, with shorter shaft because the Hydra-matic is longer the 3-speed/4-speed (photo available).

In 1955, the truck Hydra-matic was made for an open drive shaft.

There are other subtle and not-so-subtle differences (as staterd by BobzHog) in the 1/2 ton Hydra-matic equipped trucks: frame cross-bar for rear mount on the transmission (it is a big and heavy brute), solenoid starter, automatic choke, different brake master cylinder and brake line routing, and push-button start on the dash (check for a hole to the left of the guages).

We still do not know how many might have been made. However, if anyone wants posted sales/technical/shop-manual documents describing the Hydra-matic transmission "new in '54" (for Chevrolet trucks), I would be pleased to post a few items.

Tim

Dutch52,

Christmas travel has kept me away from checking out eBay. I just now saw the '54 Chevy truck with one of the 200 examples of a Hydra-Matic transmission.

That truck looks nice but it is hard to keep reading a listing with statements like:

"If you are looking for a 100% original truck as from the factory don't look any further. Anything has been modified in this truck."

No telling what 100% original means to this seller (especially if "anything has been modified").

I wonder if he might have a Chevy car Powerglide in the truck. Does it even have an enclosed driveshaft? These things do not really matter, except that "100% original" seems a gross overstatement based on what can be seen from the pictures.

Tim

Here I go. I have a 54 Chevy 3100 235 with a hydramatic that is original, so I agree with the earlier comments about shift selector and the works...except that your key ignition switch is aftermarket. The 54 had a push button starter switch located to the upper left of the left gauge cluster. The key switch was originally just an on-off switch.

We'll here's another newbie checking in on the Hydra-matic topic. I have a 55 1st series with hydra-matic in an original truck. The option was first available in 54. The trucks are pretty unusual but I can not provide any further information on the numbers produced but am curious if any one has the numbers. The truck assembly manual I got from Chevy Duty has pictures of the linkage and all the setup. The 54 shop manual has a very lenghty section on the Hydra-matic. My wife says I'm as shiftless as my old truck!