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Hydra-Matic tranny history - READ ONLY

26 messages,  Last post on Jan 28, 2003 at 12:00 PM

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Messages Page 3 of 3

#17 of 26 by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 23, 2003 (10:37 pm)

I recall the speed was about 30 mph, maybe 35.
 
Oh, yeah, we would push 'em up to 40-50, wale is correct about that. Or tow them 25 miles on a piece of short rope. Roads were not so crowded in the 70s, and the few cops that were around were fairly blase, since nobody was carrying guns around. Also, no compulsory insurance, and the cars were pretty tough, if crude, back then. It was car lovers paradise on the cheap.

#18 of 26 by dgraves1

Jan 23, 2003 (11:17 pm)

Are you describing the '70s or the '20s? Doesn't sound like the '70s I remember. Where were you then, Shifty? In Montana?

#19 of 26 by wq59b

Jan 24, 2003 (6:02 am)

All HydraMatics built after 1958 cannot be push-started because of -yes- no rear pump. But '58 and earlier HMs can be. For the Dual-Range HM, you turn on the ignition & shift into D between 30-35. For the earlier single coupling HM you turn the ignition on at 18-20 MPH and shift into D at 25.
 
So how can I go about getting a copy of your trans history, Argent?

#21 of 26 by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 24, 2003 (8:56 am)

No, not Montana....New York City! No, really, you could get away with murder then when it came to messing with old cars anyway. Age of Benign Neglect.
 
Being able to push an automatic trans. for a start in freezing winter weather was definitely a plus...although I'm amazed we didn't break something, doing that to a basically frozen driveline.

#22 of 26 by dgraves1

Jan 24, 2003 (10:07 am)

No compulsory insurance in New York City in the '70s? That's where I was then, Shifty and you couldn't register your car until you proved you had insurance. And if you missed an insurance payment, the cops would show up at your house and take your plates. Believe me, I know this to be true.
And the cops were anything but lackadaisical. But maybe a 17 year old kid in a hopped up Camaro with headers and glass packs gets a little more attention then he wants.

#23 of 26 by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 24, 2003 (12:58 pm)

No, I don't remember NYC being tough at all. Chicago cops were a LOT meaner. You may be right about the insurance though, but it was very easy to get around every rule, even that one, at least the neighborhood I lived in. I used to drive without license plates a lot of the time, park on the sidewalk, fix cars in the street, and of course the notorious 40 mph automatic trans push--lol! We did a lot of street racing. There just weren't enough cops around to watch you all the time.
 
 Being such a gigantic place, I'm sure it was different everywhere you went. Like they say-- "Anything you say about New York is true".
 
We were bad boys, but never hurt anybody (much).

#24 of 26 Hydra-Matic history by argent

Jan 27, 2003 (5:54 pm)

I've been revising the history (now up to 3800 words - ack!), and I'd be happy to e-mail it to anybody who wants to take a look. There may be errors, because info on the old HM is sketchy these days and often contradictory -- that's part of what inspired this in the first place -- so corrections would be graciously appreciated. wq59b, thanks for the info on push-starting, which was more specific than I'd found before (I actually quoted you, if that's ok).

#25 of 26 by wq59b

Jan 27, 2003 (6:47 pm)

No problem. I would be interested and more than willing to contribute wherever I could; I'd return my comments & my sources of info and let you judge whether or not to use them. If you post your e-mail I'll contact you off-line with mine, if that's OK with you.

#26 of 26 Hydra-Matic history by argent

Jan 28, 2003 (12:00 pm)

Anyone who would like a copy of the document in its current form can contact me at aaronplatinumstudios.com and I will forward it. It's still missing reference and bibliographic information, which I still have to compile.

Messages Page 3 of 3

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