Oldsmobile Hydromatic Question! Texas Help

[Hellbilly_Buzzard]

Well I took my '56 out tonight and the freaking tranny sprung another leak. 3rd time in a year after the rebuild. I know now this place sucks but I am going to use up my freaking waranty. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Does anyone know a place in Texas (preferable SA, Austin, Dallas or Houston in that order) that can properly fix such a beast?

I thought about doing the Tanson tranny swap but I am not sure they modify for the hydromatic since the bellhousing is on the engine block. I still might just give them a call anyways.

[yorgatron]

which trans do you have,the dual-range or the jetaway? if you have a jetaway you should chuck it and get the slant pan style. www.rodnkustom.com/rocketeers/hydramatic/index.html (http://www.rodnkustom.com/rocketeers/hydramatic/index.html)

[Crease]

David Colbath near the airport. He is expensive, but good.

[daveydeuce]

You mentioned that Colbath is expensive, what are the "Ball Park" prices for a dual range 4 spd rebuild? Thanx, Dave http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif <font color="red"> </font>

[daveydeuce]

Tanson tranny swap, have not heard of it, please explain a little please. Thanx, Dave http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif <font color="red"> </font>

[Hellbilly_Buzzard]

Here is an old post (http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&amp;Board=UBB1&amp;Number=423322&amp;fpart=1 &amp;PHPSESSID=) I posted asking about Tanson Enterprises. (http://www.forwhatyouneed.com)

He basiclly mods the bellhousings for a th350, th400, 700r4 and your fly wheel to make one of those trannies work on a rocket motor. I found out thme for a guy that had a 700r4 bolted moded to his 324. He seemed to swear by them.

[Hellbilly_Buzzard]

yorgatron,

It is the one with the two tranny pans. Looks like this one.

[crush1776]

I bought a seal kit from FATSCO on the east coast. I took the tranny down to the main body and replaced all the seals and gaskets. No leaks yet after about 800 miles. It's pretty simple with hand tools and gasket glue. The snap rings are a bit of a pain. You can do it! I thing the seal kit was under $100.

[leadsleadolds]

I dont know if this will help you but it took my a while to get it loaded so you better use it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v378/leadsleadolds/SundayOctober102004.jpg

[yorgatron]

OK fuck that tanson shit,you already have the good trans.where is it leaking?

[Blownolds]

The one with the two pans is the early hydro, and would be the dual-range slant pan if original to your '56 (most '56's had Controlled Coupling hydro's though).

Most tranny shops that even touch these early ones want at least $1000 to do them. I have had a quote for $1500 before. That's with me dropping the tranny up and picking it up too, no R&amp;R fees or core charges, and did not included any "hard parts" replacemets if necessary.

Check with that referral you were given in TX.

However, before you do that, if the tranny actually operated nicely but just had a leak, then replace the pan gasket, side pan gasket, front seal, and rear seal, the o-rings that are likely to be on the shifter rods that stock out of the side pan, and seal up the back of the flywheel really good where it meets the crank (use something for high pressure), and see how it does.

[56olds-ERDY]

ive never had the chance to have a car with a hyda-matic yet.from what ive read they where prone to leaking.this just comes from common sence.if you look at the trans there is several spots that can be trouble areas.with todays modern sealants,and gaskets they really shouldnt have a problem keeping them from leaking though.so long as the surfaces are clean and level,and they where installed right.
i also think you could do it yourself,and it may be a wiser choice concidering the shops failiers.if you need a manual to do the work i would sugest getting a 54 or 55 oldsmobile shop manual.the 56 has the jetaway in it.also id recommend picking up the kent-moore on the car adjustment service manual.it has alot of usefull information.including possible leaks,and there sources,adjustment procedures,etc.
where is it leaking anyway?
eric

[safariknut]

My Safari has the same trans and I've replaced it once because of leakage.On the original one,the front pump seal was leaking and you have to disassemble the entire trans to fix it.Usually the surface where the seal rides is worn and if excessive,the pump has to be replaced.
More commonly they leak between the flex plate and the converter.I would recommend replacing the gasket there and using a good sealer on it and torque all 32(?) of the bolts in sequence.DON'T rely on just sealer as it is a critical area!

[2Hep]

I did the Tanson Tranny Swap (heh! sounds like a bad country dance) wasn't impressed with the 700r4's lack of power, same size as the hydro, but didn't perform like it....was really lacking, infact you'd think it would have been a real power horse as they use that trans in trucks and camaro's etc. but it lacked, lacked so much that my buddy's 56 buick dynaflow kept up with it...eeer...When driving from Cali back to Detroit, I got on it on the 101 North of LA and the tranny (700r4 tanson swap) shift at Torque and sheared the rear mounting stud causing the driveshaft to smash into the center xmember....For the tanson...its a bad set-up as the 700r4 is not a floating trans like the hyrdo, (they set up that way, or recommend and provide the hardware to set it up that way) I with the help of an after hours muffler shop out there in Cali (who's name I can't recall at the moment ...great couple, lots of help) we welded a angle bracket top support the rear of the trans to get me home back to Detroit. Long involded story, I should post it...anyway, for a power trans to swap to I'd look into what WILCAP offers, as far as adapters go, and locate a 400 turbo...meanwhle I've sinced put back in the Dual range Hydro...and am too looking for a shop here in S.E.Michigan for a rebuild....PM for more info about the Tanson....I'll make a post later.

[smokindave]

I had to take my Olds back to the shop 6 times before they fixed the leak. Hydros are a pain in the ass

[skunk victim]

how hard are these do work on yourself. ive heard not to even think about it unless youre a trans guru...but im talking seals and what not. too hard to take some serious time and tackle the project with the right paper work and knowledge. i mean...im getting told mine will be a minimum of 700 just to do a basic repair kit. 1500 with hard parts too.

not meaning to hijack but this seems like a good threat to post this question in