' 55 Caddy Automatic Trans...

...were these things 4 speeds?
...how do they compare to the Olds 4 speed autos?

 

'55 caddy had a dual-range hydra-matic 4 speed,the good one with the closer ratio,an excellent tranny to start with,put it behind anything if it's built right.check out www.rodnkustom.com/rocketeers/hydramatic/index.html

 

thanks yorgy...

 

would you think one of the said Caddy Hydros would fit behind a Pontiac or Olds v8 of the same year? I don't see why not, is the caddy beefier than an olds or poncho Hydro?
just wondering...

 

i got the origional hydro in my 55 caddy never been rebuilt and i drive the fuck out of it one hell of a tranny if you ask me

 

Didn't know there was a difference between Cad,Olds,and Pontiac hydros but I have one in my 55 and I just replaced it this past year because the original was leaking and I got a great deal on another one.
I'm going to have the original rebuilt as a backup or possibly to install in my 57 if the 4-speed doesn't work out. A friend gave me the number of a guy in Eaton Rapids that rebuilds them;very knowledgeable.Parts are a bit pricey but hardly anything ever goes wrong with them unless you thrash them unmercifully and run them out of oil.Don't try and lift one by yourself unless you want your testicles to wind up in your socks.I believe Northwestern Auto Supply in Grand Rapids carries parts for them;I got a torus cover gasket set last year for mine.
Ray

 

There are a few differences between the Cad and the Olds and Pont etc. units. For instance the Cad trannies (and Lincolns too) have a very long tail shaft and housing and are the heaviest of the hydros because of that.

There's lots and lots of differences in the early hydros. Even the '55 Cad hydro's had differences between the ones in standard cars and the ones in 2x4-equipped cars.

 

There's a 55 Cad Hydro behind my 55 Cad motor...I love it! It is indeeed a very large, heavy trans. Yorg adjusted the bands on it for me and it shifts like a champ!!! I can bark the tires in first and second gear with no real effort. We ditched the TV rod and set it up to shift manually or auto- I highly recommend that. Also installed a NOS "Hydroshift" floor shifter- Note, its not a B&M Hydrostick conversion- Just a stock trans.

Here's a pic of how much room it takes up in my Model A:

jay

 

Wow....cool! A good buddy of mine just gave it to me, says it was running and working fine when the motor let go in his Caddy, REALLY let go...2 rods thru the block! I think I'll just run it behind my motor instead of spendin' the big bucks for an adapter and late model trans !

 

i don't know if not using the TV rod is a good idea unless like Jive-Bomber you have a light-weight car with a sturdy differential,i think it would be kinda tough on clutch packs and U-joints-george

 

Does the '54 Caddy have the same tranny as the '55 (4-speed Hydramatic)?

 

And how 'bout the 56 Caddy?

 

'54 cad has the same "good" tranny as the '55,but the ratios are a little wider spaced AFAIK,the '56 is a nightmare

 

Yorg--

I'll show you the set up next time. You open the arm about 1/4", and you can shift manually or let it do the job- It goes through the gears normally. No jerking or slipping.

jay