ok im new to the world of plymouths and i just bought a 53 plymouth cranbrook it still has the flathead six and hydrive trans. my question is does the hydrive have a electronic overdrive? i have been searching the world wide web and i cant find much info on it. i would appreciate any help.
No electronic overdrive. The engine, as I recall, shares it's oil supply with the "clutch" and isn't interchangeable with a stright stick. Do more of a search here on the HAMB as I recall seeing something not too long ago on the hydrive.
Hy-Drive was a semi automatic trans. in other words a stick shift with a torque converter. For more info check this link http://www.allpar.com/mopar/hydrive.html
We had a '51 Dodge with "Gyromatic" which I think was the same. You shifted it manually but could kick it into second from high by pressing the gas to the floor,like a p***ing gear. I was only six when we had it back in '56,so my memory is foggy, but ,like said above. The engine and ****** were one large sump holding 10 quarts of oil.
Hey there. I have a cranbrook as well and it has the hydrive transmission. There is no overdrive and it is called a semi automatic transmission. You can drive it like a manual, or drive it in 3rd right off the line. It has a torque converter in it so when you stop in 1st second or third, you don't need to press in the clutch. The converter does the work. Just hold down your brake at the stops like you were in a automatic. I just had mine rebuilt and the clutch house that did it were scratching their heads when he opened up th transmission and seen a clutch and a torque converter!! Let me know if you have any questions along the way cause I pretty much rebuilt everything on my cranbrook!!!
some misinformation above Read here http://www.allpar.com/mopar/hydrive.html When you get that read, use the site search function, and search fluid drive. The HyDrive was a late 53 early 54 deal, and was unique in several ways.
The Jalopy Journal
