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fire in GM plant in 50's

9 messages,  Last post on Aug 13, 2008 at 8:59 AM

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Messages Page 2 of 2

#2 of 9 I vaguely recall... by bumpy

Jun 13, 2008 (7:32 pm)

reading somewhere that a Pontiac engine plant burned up in 1957 or so, and they had to source Buick and Oldsmobile V8s for a while until it was rebuilt.

#3 of 9 Re: fire in GM plant in 50's [sron48] by omarman

Jun 13, 2008 (8:58 pm)

Replying to: sron48 (Jun 13, 2008 7:17 pm)
Google search for: The Great Hydra-Matic Fire
 
Brings up a link to a brief article with a few pics regarding the 1953 fire at the Hydra-Matic plant in Livonia, Michigan.

#4 of 9 Re: fire in GM plant in 50's [omarman] by andre1969

Jun 14, 2008 (4:32 am)

Replying to: omarman (Jun 13, 2008 8:58 pm)
Google search for: The Great Hydra-Matic Fire
 
Yeah, that was the one I seemed to remember. Well, not personally since I wasn't born yet and my mother was only 4 years old! But I remember it being mentioned in one of my automotive history books

#5 of 9 Hydramatic Plant Fire by isellhondas

Jun 14, 2008 (4:00 pm)

It just about destroyed the entire factory.
 
As a result, some Powerglides ended up in some Pontiacs and some Cadillacs had dynaflows installed. I can't remember what they put in Oldsmobiles.
 
I heard this when I was in high school from a guy who had witnessed the fire. I guess it was pretty bad.

#6 of 9 LINK AND PICS by otto8

Jun 14, 2008 (7:04 pm)

">http://www.autotran.us/TheGreatHydraMaticFire.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydramatic

#7 of 9 Re: LINK AND PICS [otto8] by isellhondas

Jun 14, 2008 (7:54 pm)

Replying to: otto8 (Jun 14, 2008 7:04 pm)
Interesting link.
 
Now I know, Oldsmobile installed some Dynaflows. They must have really had to scramble to keep things going.

#8 of 9 Dynaflow Olds by hpmctorque

Aug 13, 2008 (5:55 am)

Assuming there's even one remaining, how would the value of a Dynaflow equipped '50s Olds compare with one with Hydramatic?

#9 of 9 Re: Dynaflow Olds [hpmctorque] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Aug 13, 2008 (8:59 am)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Aug 13, 2008 5:55 am)
I'd imagine the Hydra would be worth more as it is so much better for driving around. The Dynaflow just eats HP.

Messages Page 2 of 2

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