Hi ALL, I’m wondering if anybody knows what I need to do to attach my 55 hydramatic to my 56 324? I’m in Australia so I’m going to be flat out finding somebody down here.. Are there adapter kits? Thanks, Danny
It will bolt up but check the bush in the rear of the crank is correct. From memory there were different size bushings for the 2 types of trans.
This is a '56 324 an a '54 Hydro.... You will need the Hydramatic flywheel and a pilot bearing/bushing like this. Also, the gasket and the torus cover bolts. And the cast iron bellhousing like the one on the front of this transmission.
Ok so i have the 55 slant pan hydro already. All I need is the correct pilot bearing/bushing is that right and it will work? Would you have sizing? I’m getting a 56 rebuilt in CA and will let my engine builder know
Better make sure that hydramatic is in perfect working condition as we never got them here in Oz and you'll have trouble finding an auto bloke who knows anything about them. Son bought the tools to adjust his and eventually swapped out the 324 and hydro for a 455 and 200 4R.
I’ve got a fatsco tranny kit and a manual.. I’m gonna try and rebuild mine, see how I go.. shouldn’t be rocket science with a little help from the manual but pictures will help
Yeah I have the linkage. My other concern is I have the 55 gauge cluster with no P position. I don’t know if that’s going to matter or not
@swifty were there no Rolls Royce dealers? An old Rolls Royce mechanic should be familiar with them. They used them from 1953-1978.
Remember the pressure control rod to the carb pulls back like the throttle rod …. NOT forward like an early PG or other late model transmissions. The R is park with the engine off in a 55 Oldsmobile.
I know of 1 tranny mechanic in Sydney, but he wants a fortune to re build it and the time.. He is an older gentleman and will be retiring soon if he hasn’t already. Anybody else, forget it, they won’t go near this old stuff. Apart from the fact that they don’t have the knowledge, they say they are not tooled up for it..
R is Park correct for 55 but 56 has its own P on the quadrant. I’ll keep the linkage in mind and double check how it works now before I split the engine and tranny.. Pics and videos
If the trans in the car was a dual range hydro, then no P on the quadrant. If trans in car was a dual coupling, then there will be a P on the quadrant, fyi.
Ok my current car is a 55 98 with no P on the quadrant. The 324 with jetaway I’m having rebuilt came out of a 56 98 and I confirmed that quadrant had a P..
Joe, there are only one Rolls Royce dealers in each of the capital cities (probably none in Darwin as they only buy Hilux and Landcruiser up there) and as the OP says, anyone who has knowledge of hydros, jetaway, and dynaflow charge the Earth for any work. I've heard terrifying stories of the cost to rebuild any of these trans. Didn't realise that Rolls used these but then I haven't bought a new Roller recently LOL The OP doesn't say where he is also and that could be another problem.
I’m just outside Sydney.. I’ve seen John Dodd on YouTube rebuild Rolls hydros and watched another guy in the US rebuild a 55.. My main concern is using the 55 hydro with the 56 324..
Thanks for the info on RR, didn't know they used hydros. Not being a smartass, but would it be reasonably possible to acquire the tools/tooling/fixtures & maybe knowledge from this RR guy *after* he retires? Esp if a deal can be worked out prior to the retirement, so's things don't get scrapped? IDK... Then you could be the go-to guy for rebuilds on the old hydros... . (Read; very part-time sideline?). Marcus... & then there was this just a couple of lines down, w/useful info: : https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/hydramatic-hydro-stick-builder-in-houston.781146/
Check out the Mild Custom ‘51 Pontiac Chieftain thread by Phil A. He rebuilt his Hydro and posted lots of good photos and info. He’s a very meticulous guy who researched and understands how they work. It doesn’t look difficult if you approach it subsystem by subsystem. You may have to make a few tools as you go. There is also a great YouTube series of videos by a professional. Someone posted the link here but I don’t remember where it is.
you shouldn’t be concerned about mounting that hydro to the 324. In 1956 88’s came with dual range hydros behind the 324. 98’s had the new dual coupling jetaway hydro. The carrect torus wheel and the correct pilot bushing should be the key here
Ok so it’s a straight swap then your saying? I’ve read and heard opposite, I can’t confirm as my current car is running so I’m still driving it and the 56 324 is in CA getting built. So I definitely don’t need to do anything? I know what your saying is true because Only the 98’s and Starfire came out with the Jetaway, and I think it was towards the end of the year of half way through it.. My last 56 98 had a slant pan hydro so I think it was built early on but never sure it was modified or stock.. Thanks for your reply
The only dual range equipped '56 Olds was the "DeLuxe 88" - the cheapest cars in the line, and only until the Jetaway production caught up to demand. I've read that some early '56 Pontiacs still used a dual range, but never saw one. There's two '56 Olds owner's manuals, one for DeLuxe 88; one for the rest of the line.
If the engine is indeed from a 56 98 then you will need to have a pilot bushing installed in the crankshaft. As mentioned already, you will need the HydraMatic flywheel and torus related parts such as bolts, gasket and pliobond 30 sealer. Since 303 and 324 are internally balanced, the flywheel should not need to be balanced.
That’s perfect then that’s what I’ve told my builder. It’s definitely out of a 56 98. I have everything else, 32 bolts, torus cover gasket just need the engine and I’m good to roll.. Thanks
Use the Pliobond 30 on the crankshaft face and on the crankshaft bolts. Let it tack up, then install the flywheel. Coat the bolt threads, install bolts and torque.
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