Bought a '54 Olds 88 2dr off ebay last month. I finally got it to the point I could drive it today, and all I have is 1st and reverse. All the linkages look like they haven't been tampered with or butchered, and the ****** is full of fluid. 1st and reverse are strong, but it won't shift out of 1st even when I stand on it. It's a 324 4v if that helps. Is there a modulator valve on this ******? Any ideas??? I searched and couldn't find anything that helped. Thanks
I don't know quite enough to help you diagnose it. The best advice I can give you is to hop on ebay and buy a 54 olds shop manual. Loads of info on it on the Hydramatic.
the powerglide had a governor that controlled the 1-2 shift with a nylon gear on it. Mine wouldnt shift out of first cause the teeth on that nylon gear chewed up. Look into something like that.... This governor was under a round cover with 4 bolts holdin it. Pull the cover and the govner pulls right out. I've also heard / read that these could get dirty and needed to be cleaned. Hope this helps, good luck!
the tv rod may be out of adjustment...yeah im serious about that get a manual and see what it says about that or a hyrdomatic guy should be able to walk ya throuhg it on here
if its a hydromatic it has 2 band adjustments. theres a special tool to do this. if your band is broken or way out of adjustment that might be a problem????? not sure. there will be a plate on the floor near the gas pedal that will unscrew and you will see the 2 bolts with an inner and outer adjustment on each. looking at my hydromatic book it looks like your rear band might be not engaging. theres also a front and rear servo/pump. one of them could be locked up.
Front clutch discs worn excessively due to defective piston seal or 1-2 shift valve in valve body is stuck.
I met an old guy at one of the nostalgia races at tulsa last year that was a hydro expert! His name is Dan Griffin out of arkansas, 479-973-4331. Races an olds with a 371 dual 4's and a hydro, told me to call any time i had a question! Hope that helps...
PONCHO...man those old hydramatics are some of the very best trany's. find a older trany man, and he can fix that badboy for you. O and it won't cost as much as these new JUNK'S!...POP.
I'm going to change all the fluid in the taurus (sp?) and clean all the grime off the detent and see if that helps. Dump some transx in it too. Please keep the info coming, I really need to fix this ****** soon.
Please forgive my ignorance, but is the governer external like a th350? The car is at my uncles and I can only work on it on weekends. Thanks
before changing the fluid put in some Chemtool brand cleaner&drive around >did this before every trans rebuild amazing how easy cleanup was during rebuild was the car undriven for a long time? what did fluid look like? more imfo please.............
No, the govenor is internal, and accessed through the large rectangular side cover. Be careful with the shift arm sealing method, and get the parts before taking it off. That auction site we all know and love always has hydro parts listed. You can find books and service manuals there also to help with your transmission. Butch/56sedandelivery.
Update. I had 30 minutes to **** with the car today. I got it fired up and went to put it in reverse and I had nothing. No reverse, no forward gears at all. Totally thought I done burned up the ******. I did notice that when in neutral, that if I revved the engine real good, the car would creep forward. So I crawled under it and manipulated the rod between the ****** and the carb. Fired it back up and BAM had reverse again and it would pull forward again in low. So I backed it out of the shop put it in drive and nothing again. No reverse of forward gears. So I think the ****** might be ok, but that my linkage is stripped or hooked up wrong. Had to get back to work so that's all I could do. I'll put it on the rack Friday and check more into that. Thanks for the advice so far and I'll keep posting until I figure it out.
Avoid any additives / cleaners / seal swellers / snake oil when you change that fluid, unless you get with someone in the know on these transmissions......... My experience: they usually work worse, or quit completely after these additives.
Had simular problem whith my hydra . (Olds 54) It turned out to be the seals that was very hard of age almost like bakelite. If i had it stand and idle 30 min to warm up oil , to get the seals soft enough it would shift out of 1st gear and work just fine . Try that and see .. If that is the problem (common & most probably) you must take the whole thing apart and change them . If you have a good manual to guide you in the job and average skills in mechanic you will be ok whith the job .. Dont be afraid to tear it down as its no (rocketscience) just take your time and put out the parts on the bench in line and you be fine.. Cleanliness is everything ! Dont forget to put in new discs both steel/fiber Mine worked like charm after i rebuilt it Good luck ! Kenneth - Sweden
olds hydromatics are either rock solid or a pain in the ***. a friend of mine has one and evry year it breaks down, even though his car is pristine and he spends big bucks on it.
I had the same problem as rocketsweed65. Mine would not shift out of low until it was warmed up, then would skip second gear, shift to and stay in third for awhile, finally shifting into high. The lip seals were hardened so much if you flexed them they would break.
OK, I'm back on this **** box. I pulled the pan and cleaned @ least 3" of sludge out of it. Lots of fresh shavings, but mostly grime. I cleaned the filter and slid it back on, filter fits loose, seems like it should have a grommet or seal?? I found remnants of an old seal in the pan, I'm sure thats prolly important. Drained the taurus, worst automotive smell I ever smelt. All new fluid and I adjusted the tv cable. I got 1st, 2nd, and reverse. I'm ****in stupid and never bought a manual. Old time ****** guy in my town says ****** is shot. It still acts like it wants to pull forward when you twist the guts out of it in neutral, didn't have 2nd until I adjusted the kickdown linkage from the car. Suggestions?????
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