[Jack Gifford]

Glad to hear good news! You'd better keep that mechanic...

[Bill Hanlon]

Originally Posted by pontiacpark

Can you recommend anyone in America that is experianced with these transmissions.

Dave:

Steve would be my first recommendation. If I remember right he likes to have the whole vehicle to work with so he can get the linkage set correctly. The GMC Maintenance Manual has a very good section on setting the throttle linkage.

There is also a shop in Los Angeles that comes highly recommended that I could find the name of if necessary.

Does your mechanic have the necessary band setting tools? If so, have him do this adjustment. A guy can do the band adjustments externally without the tools if he is really sharp.

Now that you are (sort of) back on the road I'd like to claim the option to buy back the valve body I just shipped to you if I ever need it and it is still unused. I was holding it in case I needed it, but I'm always willing to give up a spare to someone who needs it.

- Bill

[stevep]

Dave,

I'm glad that you are up and running! Everything you described certainly pointed to a cross leak in the hydraulic system. I have never experienced your symptoms in any Hydramatic that we have rebuilt.

My shop rebuilds these transmissions on a regular basis. I do like to install the trans in the vehicle but I understand that I can't always do that. If you have an early Hydramatic manual, it explains the procedure to properly adjust the bands without using the gauges. You need to hook up a tachometer and follow the instructions. It is a pretty simple procedure.

I could find a correct core and rebuild it, but the shipping costs would be crazy!

[pontiacpark]

Hey guys. Bill the part is on its way to New Zealand as i type. I have your adress so i will send it back to you. no need to worry about sending the money back. buy yourself a steak dinner. thanks for your help.
Steve, thanks for your help and suggestions. I think the methodical way my mechanis worked through the issues on this transmissionm i would be confident that he could work out the bands adjustments. I will have to investigate the shipping costs etc. At least the pressure is off for a bit.
To all on this post that had suggestions to help me, Thank you. thank you.

[stevep]

Dave,

We are here to help. If you need 60 Pontiac parts, give me a shout. I still have pieces from my resto and I have been pretty lucky finding 60 parts.

[Bill Hanlon]

Originally Posted by pontiacpark

Bill the part is on its way to New Zealand as i type. I have your adress so i will send it back to you. no need to worry about sending the money back. buy yourself a steak dinner. thanks for your help.

Dave: I appreciate the offer, but you need to hold onto the valve, at least for a while.

The adjustment procedure Steve refers to is available in the "On-the-car" manual starting on page 27. http://www.pontiacsafari.com/L1Garag...ic_1946-55.pdf
It shows using a specialized wrench with a built-in counter, but can be performed without the special wrench. And the huge hole in the floorboard of the GMC truck makes it easier to do than on most cars.

If you get hung up on the band adjustments let me know. I have both the internal gauges and the servo band adjuster (special wrench mentioned above) listed on page 27 if you need to borrow them. I've never actually done the adjustments using the special wrench, but I have used the internal gauges. Easy to do.

[stevep]

Using that external procedure, you do not really need a special wrench, just a tach and tools that will turn the adjustment screw and locknut.

[Bill Hanlon]

Originally Posted by stevep

you do not really need a special wrench

And the ability to count to 7.7 (turns), which I have a hard time doing on Monday.

[stevep]

Originally Posted by Bill Hanlon

And the ability to count to 7.7 (turns), which I have a hard time doing on Monday.

By using the tach method, you don't really have to count turns.

[Bill Hanlon]

Originally Posted by stevep

By using the tach method, you don't really have to count turns.

Steve:
I don't understand. The "tach method" I've seen (and never done) involves running the engine at ~ 900 RPM in gear with a loose front band and slowly tightening the front band until the band grabs the drum (signified by RPM dropping to 700), then tightening the front band another 7.7 turns (or 6.5 depending on which Hydra-Matic). Then you do the same with the rear band although the additional turns = 2.2.

Is there yet another method?

[stevep]

Originally Posted by Bill Hanlon

Steve:
I don't understand. The "tach method" I've seen (and never done) involves running the engine at ~ 900 RPM in gear with a loose front band and slowly tightening the front band until the band grabs the drum (signified by RPM dropping to 700), then tightening the front band another 7.7 turns (or 6.5 depending on which Hydra-Matic). Then you do the same with the rear band although the additional turns = 2.2.

Is there yet another method?

Bill, I don't remember the exact procedure. I'll have to look it up. I do remember that you tighten the band and watch the tach and loosen it (a few times).

7.7 turns is about 7 3/4 turns. You could do that!

[pontiacpark]

valve body turned up on my porch today thanks Bill. just yell when you want it back or i will send as soon as i can get a transmission rebuilt. Looking at options for that now as Steve suggests, enquiring on shipping costs. thanks

[pontiacpark]

Hey Steve.Could you tell me roughly what does one of these transmissions cost to rebuild over there. I have made up my mind that i would like to keep this truck original so that means the rebuilding a hydra matic in the near future (funds available of course). There are very few people i know who would tackle this job here in new zealand.I even heard from a clubmate that he had his rebuilt over here and it didnt even go when he put it back in. He has gone the adapter plate and late model gearbox route. cheers

[stevep]

We start at around $1500.00 if the trans is brought to us and then it depends on what we find wrong with it.

There is a gentleman named Ron Laurence who owns a hotel (I think in New Zealand) that rebuilds Hydramatics. He has called me many times. I'll see if I can find his info.