The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay dash push button start

I have a 54 1\2 ton 5 window deluxe cab that I purchased for $100.00. The cab must have came from a 54 that was a automatic because it has no clutch pedaloor hole for one and it has a push button start on the upper right dash by the headlight switch. Has anyone heard of such a truck and if so can they point me in the right direction to find out more about it?


thanks, marlo
Valley Cruisers Car Club Central cal.

You are on the right track , I have a 54 3100 that came with a hydramatic and is as you described. I have changed the drive train to a stick , you will also find that the floor panels are different from the trucks with a stick

The starter on a Hydramatic Truck had a solenoid, hence the pushbutton switch over the headlight. The floor panel should have a small hinged door on the passenger side to allow for pulling the dipstick to check the tranny fluid.

thanks guys ! were many of these made and if so do they have a certain model number? I found out the hard way about the floor pan ...cut it up and welded it shut added a tranny cover from the 53 I had . put in a genie automatic swan stick shifter that looks and works well. I'm having problems with the gas pedal linkage. Running a 250 with 2004r tranny,500cfm elderbrock carb,clifford 4 barrel alum. manifold and stovebolt cast iron headers.
you guys seem like pro's any suggestions as far as junkyard linkage that I may use or should I just but one from lokar?

Marlo,

The Hydramatic trucks are fairly rare; they also usually came w/ 5-window cabs and the deluxe trim package: fabric seat cover w/mathcing door panels, two tone paint inside & out, stainless window trim, and other niceties.

Hydros were available in 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ton trucks: GMC in '53, Chevy in '54.

I would have traded you a 5-window 54 cab/chassis (set up for a stock 4-speed) for your 5-window '54 set up for a stock automatic. I have the '54 Hydra-Matic drive train (and all other parts unique to this set-up) but not the cab/chassis. Anyone know where to find a '54 Hydra-Matic without a drivetrain?

Here are some other things that are different on a Hydra-Matic 1/2 ton in '54:

- different brake system master cylinder
- different routing for brake lines
- engine and transmission were a matched pair (until death)
- the enclosed driveshaft rear-end has a shorter torque tube
- there is a a very heavy cross-frame brace for the rear of the hydramatic
- higher output generator
- I am not certain if the shift indicator mounting holes on the steering column are the same as for the three-speed.

There were no special model numbers indicated in the vehicle serial number (on the left front door hinge pillar) for trucks with Hydra-Matics but the engine IDs for Hydra-Matics were something like F54M, F54MA, F54B (1/2, 3/4, and 1 tons built at Flint) or T54M, T54MA, T54MB (1/2, 3/4, and 1 tons built at Tonawanda).

Tim

I pulled the engine which had been dead a few years and traded it with the complete running gear to a friend who had a 54 that he wanted to re build with a old automatic setup. Only beacuse he knew I had one. thanks for the info and keep in touch...let me ask you do you have a grille that is in good condition for sale or can you find one?


thank you,marlo