shift points on 61 Caddy

Can anyone tell me around what speed my 61 Caddy should shift from first to second? The shop manual only shows rpm's and I dont have anyway of checking it that way. I'm trying to adjust the shifting linkage at the carb and I'm having trouble getting it perfect. Thanks in advance,

Ted

 

Does this car have the switch-pitch hydro tranny in it? They're an odd duck, the shifting feels so funny on them even when they're working properly.

 

Should have a dual-range Hydramatic in it. If I had my '60 Pontiac owner's manual it told you speed ranges for the shifts (same transmission), but I think you can be in first up to 30 MPH with these.

Why not just grab a swap meet Sun tach, hook it up and use a little extra wire and tape to rig it up on the cowl, outside the windshield, where you can see it?

 

yeah, dual range hydro I'd guess. I'm thinkin you'll prolly think it's a 3 speed just like everybody else.. unless you really stand on it and feel the first to second shift. Problem is, most people baby these old tanks, and it shifts from first to second about 10 times back and forth real quick when you start, and then shifts into third, at about 25 or 30mph, and then into fourth at about 40 or 45. By the time you hit 75 or 80 your engine better be built right, or your gonna over rev and tear some shit up, even though the owners manual says these suckers can cruise at about 110.

My best suggestion, replace the tranny Go for a chevy 400, or 700, something with a nice overdrive. There's a place in wisconsin that makes em, and a few others too I'm sure. The hydro is a good tranny.. but not too great for highway use. (and I'm sure plenty of folks will argue about it).

 

Shoot, I had mine up to 95-100 one night and never had a problem, that car would do the 3-4 shift at 65 or 70 MPH and cruise all day at 65 at around 1800 RPM with like 3.08 gears in it. Worst thing that happened was a detent spring broke and you couldn't feel the positions on the shifter, like a $70 repaiir and that at a shop that was getting $50 an hour labor.


In fact the owners manual tells you you can leave it in the second drive position to get that 65 MPH shift to 4th on purpose, for passing or whatnot. Car would fly up highway onramps with hardly any pedal, between the torque of the 389 and the gear ratios, to date it's been the most fun driving car I've ever had with an automatic transmission in it.

 

yah i have a hyrdomatic in a 55 caddy and havent had a damn bit of problem great on the highway i do 80 alll day long just dont break torque it my buddy snapped his input shaft clean off in his 61 caddy

 

Those Hydramatics can be either a real pain to drive, or an absolute blast! I've got the first year of the same transmission that you have in my '56 Coupe DeVille.

You are going about getting the first to second shift point correctly by adjusting that transmission rod at the carb. Don't worry about what the manual says, adjust that rod until it shifts at the point YOU want it too, at the engine speed that sounds best to your ears and seat-of-the-pants butt-dyno. The shift point will vary, dependant on how hard you are acclerating the car. Set the shift point under a moderate accelerator pressure. That way, when you really stand on the pedal (like when leaving the local cruise night) you will get the 1 - 2 shift higher in the rpm range. But, you have to keep adjusting that linkage until you get it to the point that you like. I kept the wrench in my car for a couple of weeks, adjusting and readjusting until it felt right.

Under a light accelerator pressure, you may not notice the shift at all, for two reasons. The first is that GM did too good of a job smoothing out the 1 - 2 shift on this model; the pre '56 units had complaints of very hard/rough 1 - 2 shifts. Very unbecoming for these luxury cars. The second reason that you may not notice the 1 - 2 shift is that under light accelerator pressure, the transmission may only momentarily shift into second on its way to third gear. That's is just the nature of these transmissions, so try to set it up for your typical accelerating style.

Now, here is the best thing about these transmissions: You have 4 forward gears and if you manually shift with the gear selector as you accelerate, these transmissions become an absolute blast to drive. Set your shift point up as I described above first, though. I've found that I can have complete control over the shift points if I manually shift the car, under almost all accelerator pressures. And I typically start in L, low gear, which ;et the transmission automatically shift from first gear to second gear as I have set it up to do (as above). Then I manually shift into the first D position when I want third gear. When the engine hits the rpm range that I want, I shift into the final D position. These transmissions WILL performance shift, and make you smile!

Try to avoid the temptation to toss this transmission in favor of some newer transmission. I nearly went that route myself, and I am so glad that I took the time to set this transmission's shift points up correctly. And it is sooo easy to set the shift points. If you are going to toss something, toss the shop manual. It made this procedure out to be brain surgery when in reality it is a very subjective setting that you do have control over by means of a simple adjustment on that transmission linkage at the carb.

Good luck and have fun!

 

thanks for everyones input, yeah the shop manual doesnt explain it too well. It confused the hell out of me until I figured it out myself. I was almost on my last nerve until I figured it out and then it made me smile. I drove around a lil bit and adjusted but it seems like the 1-2 shift is almost unnoticeable but still too early (around 10 mph or so with light throttle). I'll try to adjust to around 20-25 mph and see what that does. It seems like it slips a lil from 2-3, not sure what that is but hopefully I can figure it all out without having to take it somewhere. Thanks again...

 

....another satisfied customer!

I've got mine shifting into second gear around 15 to 20 mph under nirmal throttle pressure. These engines were made to tug in the lower rpm ranges, so take advantage of that. Trying to get this engine/transmission combo to shift at 25 to 30mph is asking it to behave like a later model Chevy small block/3-speed transmission combo.

Keep smiling!

 

ive got the same problem with the slip into third but i only notice it when i forget to manual shift also we have different hyrdomatics but who knows i believe i have 154k on my tranny and shes still goin fine same with the old 331

hope ya get it right

 

I did a little reading when I had my 62 last year---it's technically called a Jet-away.
10-15 for the 1-2 shift is about normal.
I think I recall that fluid level is super important---too much will kill it just like too little....and linkage adjustment is likewise REAL important.

If you kill it, it's expensive to rebuild(kit'slike, 3-400 bucks--then ya gotta find somebody who knows how)....and NOTHING else bolts to a 61 bock without an adapter.
Good luck with it!

 

thanks, I'm gonna adjust it a lil more and try and get it right. I hope I wont have to rebuild it. Wish me luck...