Technical Forgive my ignorance, I need B&M hydro help and advice

I’m not very tech savvy so I haven’t been able to find much information on this ( I’m still trying the search function) I’ve read a bit on the b&m hydro stick trans. But I’m really wondering what it would take to put a hydramatic behind my extended bell hemi. Really just thinking about all kind of transmission options in my head. What’s the difference between my fluid drive from the hydramatic? Do both use a clutch and fluid coupling? Obviously the hydramatic is superior and I’m wondering why? Again forgive my ignorance I’m only 33

 

Hey @Manostihl83
I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination, but as a former owner of a 47 Dodge D-24 business coupe, that had a fluid drive transmission, I can give you a few hints about that.

First of all, the fluid drive transmission wasn't anything to get excited about, and they were also known as
the "slush-o-matic"
It was very doggy and it was MOPARS attempt at a semi automatic transmission, they discontinued them after a while, because it just wasn't practical.

The Hydramatic, is a very heavy unit, and it has over 4 thousand parts to it, so again, its not a practical transmission, plus now a days, it would be hard to find anybody that is well versed in them, and just as hard to find any shop that would work on one.

You have worked hard for your money, so spend it wisely when it comes to parts for your project!

So proceed with caution as you make your choice on what to put behind your
"Extended Bellhouseing Hemi"

"Everyone's results may vary greatly"
Good luck from Dennis.

 

I can't be of much help, but it's good to see a young guy like yourself on here and enjoying the hobby.

 

The hydramatic was a great transmission in it's day, but autos have come a long way since then. I'd use something much more modern and available. I don't know what is the simplest to adapt but I'm sure that info is out there.

 

I think the story to why the fluid drive existed in the first place is GM held the patent for the hydramatic transmission, and it was a do something vs do nothing approach. They ran it for quite a while considering. The fluid drive existed as a hydraulic coupler behind the clutch in a 3spd transmission. The gyromatic was a 2spd transmission with the same setup and it had 2 ranges that selected when the accelerator pedal is blipped. An early Dodge hemi probably has a gyromatic.. the PowerFlite 2spd was Mopars first automatic transmission. Available in 1954. A 3spd manual is probably the most durable, but also early hemis have been adapted to GM automatics as well so you have options

 

Google is your friend, that is the only way I search for stuff, I, like many here, don't use the HAMB search function.
If I'm looking for something specific here the first thing I type (on Google) is for instance "The HAMB vintage wheel thread", takes only a quick scroll and I usually find it.

 

But this is the HAMB!!! If we/he wanted something more modern and available, would we/he be here? This is about doing it the old hard way. And putting a B&M HydroStick behind a long bell early hemi is about as hard as it gets. Earn that man card.

jack vines

 

There are clutch turbo's as well as clutch hydro's. Just to add to the confusion. I have never driven either so no real help from me.

 

Hydros were great in their day. The 1-2 shift of a beefed hydro was something to behold. Today, however, they are a pain in the butt compared to many other automatics. Just the R&R factor is enough to discourage most guys.

 

To answer your question, the hardest hurdle would be to find an adapter that goes from early Chrysler hemi to Hydro. I'm sure B&M and possibly others....Drag Machine? made adapters. Finding one today might be difficult as they were probably only bought by serious racers..not the casual hot rodder. The time window in which they were sold was short.. like late 50s to mid 60s. The period adapters are most likely for slant pan Hydros..like used in the early Oldsmobiles. I recently sold a NOS B&M slant pan hydro, that might make it into the Uncertain T restoration. They are out there..you just have to be patient.

 

2022 ad here on the HAMB.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...tic-hydrostick-adapter-extended-bell.1260421/
A HAMB discussion from 2011
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/drag-machine-transmission-adapter-for-331-hemi.647911/
Another HAMB discussion
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/best-trans-behind-early-hemi.722046/

 

They were the original performance automatic, a mite on the heavy side. I've rebuilt and used a few over the last 50 years. They're really not as complex and hard to work on as some folks are saying, actually easier than some more "modern" automatics. My roadster had been running a Cad hydro since the early 60's and now has an Olds hydro installed.

 

Thank you! Sorry I posted in the wrong area

 

I thought they might’ve been as easy as adapting a stick to an extended bell hemi because some of the pictures I see of them show that the bell was removable like a stick shift trans so it wouldn’t require much more than a flat plate of steel with the correct holes in it to bolt it to the extended bell

 

I’ve torn apart and built some modern auto transmissions so there’s no doubt in my mind that I could build one myself. I don’t care how heavy they are my hemi is too heavy for it’s size according to some people anyway . I don’t care about practical and modern. I care about traditional and coolness

 

If you're going to work on one find the band adjustment tools. Just about all the other tools required can be home-made. A good manual is also a plus, though I just used a 1950 Motors Manual to rebuild my first one.

 

When you find the adapter, it will look something like this:

 

Funny you are trying to do what I have designed. My idea uses a hydramatic with the rear Oldsmobile bellhousing. Then an adapter plate adapts the Olds bellhousing to the Extended bell of the hemi. A simple crankshaft adapter goes between the Hemi flywheel and the hydramatic flywheel. Starter and lower bell housing is from the Hemi. I believe that it will be relatively simple to do.

 

This thread is so interesting to me. So many Oldsmobile owners buy expensive adapter kits to run later model transmissions to replace the Hydramatic while others are trying to adapt the Hydramatic to their application. Funny.

 

I wish I had the stuff in front of me so I could physically see how to make it work

 

Why would anyone do that? What are the downfalls to this transmission that would make someone want to have a modern trans?

 

Probably because not too many people know how to work on them anymore.
I have one in my car and it works fine. Weighs a ton and attaching the torus to the flywheel with it’s 30 bolts is a pain in the ass.

 

When I was a high school kid in 1958 I was working in a wrecking yard. Stuck a 303 with hydro in my '40 Ford. Of course, the hydro didn't work. Did it 3 times then quit. Found out why people junked Oldsmobiles out. Wouldn't do that again for any amount of money.

 

Yes, after much trying to get the original Hydramatic I bought to work I finally gave up and just bought another one that did work. Cheaper than having the one I had rebuilt.

 

I have a 1955 slant pan hydro out of an Oldsmobile that is sitting on a dolly. Do you need any measurements from it?

 

I built the 51 olds hydro that is going in my '40. Its chronicled in my build thread in my signature. It was not all that hard to do but finding parts was a bit of a struggle and expense. Biggest issue I had was the lack of availability of bronze bushings of which I needed every one. Gaskets, seals and frictions and steel clutch discs are made and can be bought new but I had to get nearly all my hard parts NOS on ebay. I had three different manuals plus the indispensable dealer parts requisition form (mechanics would use these to mark off what parts needed to be ordered) that had exploded diagrams and part numbers that could be run on eBay. Of the many special tools one can get all but two for me I came up with work arounds. The internal band adjuster tool and the oil delivery sleeve ring compressor tool were essential to have.

 

I put a '54 Willys Hydro behind my '52 hemi. Hemis in Willys MUST run hydros!! Got the adaptor from B&M as my HS graduation present in '67. It is a Drag Machine brand, came with the flywheel too. I have actually seen a couple pop up on ebaY over the years.

Yes they made a hydro for Willys! I lucked into getting this one for my Willys. Had to beef it up a bit w/more clutches but otherwise it's a hydro.


Here is the Drag Machine adaptor. Came with flywheel too.


In my chassis

 

Lincoln used hydros on the '49 -'51 flatheads and ohv thru 1954. There may be some useful factory parts from these cars. Also Hudson, Nash, and Kaiser.

 

And Chevy pickups to '62 and Austin, Bentley, and Rolls Royce to '68!