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By 54Lincoln - 6 Years Ago
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I have a 54 Lincoln with the 317 & original transmission. The Y-Block is still going strong but transmission may need to some upgrading soon. Any suggestions? I have seen some adapters but not sure and am hoping someone on here has some experience with what would be a good swap.
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By miker - 6 Years Ago
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Just out of curiosity, what transmission is in it now?
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By 54Lincoln - 6 Years Ago
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Hello.
The transmission in it now is a GM Hydra-Matic automatic, it is the original. I read somewhere that GM supplied them to Lincoln. I was trying to dig up more info as far as a model number.
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By Lord Gaga - 6 Years Ago
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I'd keep the Hydra-Matic!
How do you use the car?
Except for no torque converter (has a fluid coupling) what more could you ask for?
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By 54Lincoln - 6 Years Ago
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Lord Gaga (1/17/2018)
I'd keep the Hydra-Matic! How do you use the car? Except for no torque converter (has a fluid coupling) what more could you ask for?
I use to mostly cruise around locally. I live SoCal so I do use the freeways and have made a couple of car shows that are 100 miles in each direction. I talked to a guy today that has rebuilt a few 52-54 Lincoln transmissions. He says to keep it or replace the whole drive train. It's $3985 to rebuild. 
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By Dobie - 6 Years Ago
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AOD swap out of the question? That would certainly improve the gas mileage if nothing else.
Wilcap has a 317 to Scrubby automatic kit for $695.
http://www.wilcap.com/wilcapstore.html#!/368-350-AT/p/54397300/category=14420225
The same kit from Bendtsen's is twice the price for some reason...or no reason.
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By 54Lincoln - 6 Years Ago
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That's what I was thinking. I think he was a little biased to adapting another transmission because he seemed more like a stock guy. He was really knowledgeable so he named all the cons of a swap. I have to keep doing the research..
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By miker - 6 Years Ago
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Given the odd ratios by today’s standards those transmissions used, a swap would be tough without doing the rear end too. I knew they were expensive to go thru, but for that number I might call around a bit. Drylakesracer had a recent post about a cruise o he had done by an old timer, might be worth reading that. IIRC it was Art Carr who did the work. He probably knows how to build a hydra.
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By tarheel - 6 Years Ago
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Interesting subject. Most people are unaware that Lincolns around that time used GMC Hydramatics, as did Jaguar and Rolls Royce. Jaguar and Rolls Royce used them for their smoothness and reliability. Lincoln used them to help them win the Carrera Panamericana Mexico border-to-border race and they did win in1954 (I think it was).
In my opinion the Hydramatics are not that complicated (I rebuilt a few a long time ago, so long ago that I may not remember all that well) and the Hydramatic' s performance is hard to beat. In the late 50s and early 60s I used to run a '55 Olds in the C Automatic class and very few cars could beat it, usually only other Hydramatic equipped cars. I drove that car on many 1,000 mile or more trips with no transmission problems. As I say, age has dimmed some memories and maybe brightened a few, but I still consider that Olds as probably the best pre-1980 car I ever owned.
Larry
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By Lord Gaga - 6 Years Ago
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A friend had a '52 Olds 88 with a Hydramatic and I rode in and drove it a good bit. I was impressed by the transmission. I think they are relatively simple to rebuild, might have a problem finding parts. It's possible yours just needs a good "tune up".
I guess most people know that the Hydramatic plant burned down (not sure when) and GM used Dynaflows (the original "Slush Box") across their line...maybe you could find one of those, it would be a bolt in! LOL
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By PF Arcand - 6 Years Ago
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54 Linc: your openiing post says the trans may need upgrading soon. Why?, if it's not broken maybe it could just use a drain & refill. That Hydramatic design goes back to a 1940 introduction in Oldsmobiles. While it's not the intention of this site to promote G.M.equipment, it was original equipment in that car & if it still works o.k. just keep driving it...
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By Pete 55Tbird - 6 Years Ago
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Back in the day, the 56 and 57 scrubys ran a 283/GM hydro combo in a courier body in a stock class and cleaned up. They beat everybody in their class.
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By RB - 6 Years Ago
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You have a couple options.. rebuilding the hydramatic would be the easiest, assuming there is something wrong with it..If it is not doing anything funny just leave it.. maybe have the bands adjusted.. These transmissions are nearly indestructible. Used in light tanks and army 6x6 trucks. The internals are massively beefy. Parts are available. all it would need most likely are clutches and seals.The price you were quoted tells me the guy does not want to do it. This guy can supply kits: http://www.autotran.us/
If you must go modern then a FMX or C4 would work.. I adapted a C4 to one of my race cars with a Lincoln Y Block.. Requires machining some simple parts and a lot of screwing around but can be done. To start you would need a automatic bell housing from a 56-57 Lincoln or 57 Mercury with a 368. Tom Drummond has the C4 set up in his blown 368 Ranchero.
Rick Martin in Oxford Ohio may be up to re-bulding one. He has done several for his own cars and others.
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By PF Arcand - 6 Years Ago
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Pete: those Hydro matics in Sedan deliveries should never have been legal! You couldn't buy one with that setup.. It was a flagrent bending of the rues that only got by because of the influence of G.M. with one or two people at the top of the NHRA... Just like the later use of 4 speeds, in stock class, in 1957 Chivys. You couldn't buy one with that transmission, only close ratio 3 speeds were factory.. Again the influence of G.M. with the racers got it by the rules..
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By DryLakesRacer - 6 Years Ago
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Thanks miker, Art Carr now owns California Performance Transmission in Huntington Beach. The 2 older gentlemen who rebuild the transmission definatly know the older ones. During my last visit the was an old flat pan hydro waiting to be rebuilt.
Even tho today they are known for their 200r GM's, I don't think they are stumped by anything.
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By Pete 55Tbird - 6 Years Ago
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[Pete: those Hydro matics in Sedan deliveries should never have been legal! You couldn't buy one with that setup.. It was a flagrent bending of the rues that only got by because of the influence of G.M. with one or two people at the top of the NHRA... Just like the later use of 4 speeds, in stock class, in 1957 Chivys. You couldn't buy one with that transmission, only close ratio 3 speeds were factory.. Again the influence of G.M. with the racers got it by the rules..
Paul, I did not bring up the Hydromatics racing history to argue old grievances. I wanted to say that the Hydro is a VERY VERY good 4 speed and since he won`t need any kind of adaptor he should just get his rebuilt. BUT NOT AT THE PRICE HE WAS QUOTED. Shop around. Pete
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