Hot Rods DRAGSTER BUICK DYNAFLOW TRANSMISSION?

Did the early racers use 2 SPEED, BUICK DYNAFLOW TRANSMISSIONS? I am wondering if there is a better option than my powerglide.

 

I'm sure somebody else can add the real details but Bill Coburn had a 34 (pic here in CompCoupe thread) that
I remember in 50's had tried a dynaflow

 

I think most used a standard trans. Most believed a standard trans was faster and more dependable.

 

Hello,

All of the racers that used the original B&M, the C&O, and Cal Hydro stick shift transmissions had advantages over the standard manual set ups. In highly modified race cars, steering and quickness went hand in hand. Sure, there were plenty of standard transmissions, but in competition coupes, there is not a lot of room. The stick is in the middle or if somehow you can move it over to the side, it is still going to be awkward.

If you have set up your Powerglide, that space should be fine for the automatic transmissions the remaining current shops can provide. Some of the well known custom transmission companies are Original Art Carr in Huntington Beach, CA, and the ones most mentioned in builds, Gearstar and Bowler. They are all knowledgeable and ship to your door. The choice is yours, but talk to those companies for your options.

Jnaki

Back then, the Hydramatic Transmissions from GM were the ones most modified. The Powerglides, not so much. As far as we were given information, the Dynaflow Transmissions were rarely used. But we did have one in every huge Buick sedan our dad had owned from 49 to the last one in 84.


Having once owned a C&O Stick Hydro in my 58 Chevy Impala for 5 years of normal cruising, and some high speed encounters, it performed quite well and never faltered. It also had the best advantage at the starts of all races… out first at the light or dropped arm/flag. There is no going back to a stick shift car. Drop it in gear and take off is all that is necessary. Steering and handling to keep it straight and not have to worry about clutch/shift/clutch/shift, etc.

Note: In the 50s, there were automatic transmissions, but at the time, very few, if any were modified to competition coupes or even street legal gas coupes. But, as time and technology go, the advantages over a stick shift were evident.

 

I've got a 2 speed Buick Trans here at the shop that was in perfect shape out of a 63 Riviera, if you want it.