trany

[MilesP]

Need to get the automatic transmission on my 55 rebuilt  wont shift properly . No one in Sioux City will touch it  does any one have any ideas the unit is out of the car so can be driven or shipped  any ideas?

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

It's good to hear that the transmission shops in Sioux City (including places like AMMCO if you have it there) are so busy they can turn down working on the same automatic transmission used in 1954 Oldsmobiles, Pontiacs and Cadillacs (if a K-54 on the serial number tag) or 1955 model year versions of those GM makes if the tag shows K-55.   

[Doc]

More and more the trend of NOT being able to find shops to work on the cars with inevitably the result being parked cars fading into oblivion....I have one like that, another with very little driving because of the inability to find anyone to fix it. We cannot all be home mechanics able to fix everything.

[vt2000driver]

i have a phone # but it is in southern calif
alex the trans guy 909 235 8921

[boatingbill]

Doc, Amen to that. I think repair of our cars is a major issue. I had mine at a repair shop that
works on old cars (saw a '56 t-Bird being worked on) to have them put it on a hoist to look
for a cracked manifold. When they took off the air cleaner they spilled oil all over, not knowing
about oil bath style air cleaners. The tractor repair shop will not longer work on 226 engines
(they have all the valve grinding tools) because the owner is to old for that kind of work. At 68
myself, I understand his reluctance.

[MilesP]

Found a man 25 miles away who will look at it after Nov 2 hope the election doesn't get in the way thanks to all for the help. Sure agree it is getting harder to find people to work on our old cars. one tray expert just suggested bolting on a modern unit he was a real help

[retired wrench]

 I doubt that they are too busy to work on it. They probably have never seen one before and have no idea where to get parts. Nor will they have any tools required for this trans. Now if they go thru the learning curve, spend hours hunting parts,and maybe acquire tools,they may never see one again for years. I have turned down jobs on odd stuff for this reason. After all the kids got to eat.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

These days it is very important to advise any shop that the item needing attention (the automatic transmission in this case) is interchangeable with some more popular (Ford, Oldsmobile, DeSoto, etc) make.  In the case of transmissions, the Kaiser Hydra-Matic is the same as a Pontiac, Cadillac or Oldsmobile of same series.  Series is determined by the prefix code on the tranny.  The alphabet character identifies a unit built to fill a customer order (K for Kaiser, L for Lincoln, P for Pontiac, etc) and the number (-50, -51, -52, etc) identifies the "model year" of the unit.  That part is important as there were design changes from year to year.   Parts, service manual, etc are identical.  Only differences may be in how the box is mounted and linkage from the box to the column shift.

[dusty]

Transmissions by Gene    235 Front st Unit H Salinas Ca. 03901    phone #  831-320-2726 encouraging shipped units with a 11-14 day turn around  Richard #3719 (Dusty)

[retired wrench]

  I knpw about all the vehicles hydramatics were used in hell I was there. At a dealership where I worked they had a 53 chev shop truck with one in it ( and no it was not a retro fit)  My point is mpst shops are not going to spend several days trying to figure out a trans that hasn't been used in over 50 years when they can do a current one in a day and make the register ring. I loved the old four bangers I had one in a Ford service truck for my shop, but Aamco is probably not going to tackle one.

[MilesP]

Dusty thanks for the info Gene seems a little pricey to me

[dusty]

Miles, there is a older fellow in Corning Ca. where i live , did mine for $500.00+ Parts turn around was 3 weeks, Phone # 530-824-2331

[MilesP]

Was able to convince local Amoco shop to do my trsny don't have a clue what it will cost but at least I should have the vehicle on the road this year hope it will be by my birthday Dec 16 so I can early celebrate

[Fid]

Best of luck Miles. Hope it works good and lasts a long time.

[Gordie]

We have an advertiser in our Bulletin every month who specializes in Hydramatics.  He sent me the proper seals for my '54 Willys and he is very knowledgable and dependable.