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The 1954 Oldsmobile that I acquired from my father-in-law (who acquired it from his father...I'm the 3rd owner) had an information wrapper on the driver's side visor with information on using the Hydra-matic transmission. I've attached the files in .jpg and .pdf if anyone is interested. The printed size is 12 1/8" x 15"(wide). 1954 Hydra-matic Operation Info
Last edited by justacog; November 29th, 2023 at 06:23 AM.
Reason: Correction on text regarding "...my wife's father-in-law.."
Thanks rocketraider! I'm embarrassed to say I don't know what Nationals are . I just like taking old stuff and making them work and look like they did new..
Can you tell me a bit more about Nationals? Feel free to send me a private message with more info. I'm intrigued :-)
Can mean either the Oldsmobile Club of America or the National Antique Olds Club national show and swap meet. All Oldsmobile, from 1897 thru 2004, from all over the USA. Show classes that include all years.
Your HydraMatic instructions would be a nice addition to a 1954 Oldsmobile being shown at either club's National meet. Could probably be used on 1953 and 1955 cars too.
My 55 hydromatic works fine in all gears except it will not shift into fourth gear. Any suggestions on what to do first?
At the risk of you becoming (more) annoyed w/ my comments, if your transmission does not shift into fourth gear, the transmission does not work fine in all gears.
Chris - This is an example of hijacking a thread which is not pertinent to your issue. This thread is in regards to "literature" and speaks nothing to resolving any transmission issues. Create a separate thread for your issue.
As a member of the PRNDL generation, I would find that useful if not necessary in order to drive a '50s Hydramatic.
Word was the factory replaced a lot of parking lot fence in 1964. The new Jetaway ST300 appeared in 1964 Jetstar 88s and F85s with a PRNDL shift pattern. The 394 cars and everything that came before had PNDSLR HydraMatics.
Employees would come out and grab a motor pool car to go to lunch or a crosstown meeting and instinctively pull the shift lever all the way down to where R had been since HydraMatics were HydraMatics.
Jetaways didn't work like that and the motor pool car would often climb the fence to the occupants' surprise. Needless to say Jetaways weren't very popular with the Administration Building folks at the start. Helen Earley herself told that story.
Buick switched from PNDLR Twin Turbine Dynaflows to PRNDL ST300s in their 1964 B body cars. Pontiac didn't switch to Turbo HydraMatics until 1965, but it's a pretty safe guess the Buick and Pontiac office workers might have taken out their share of fencing too.
November 27th, 2023, 08:23 PM
. I just like taking old stuff and making them work and look like they did new..
