Hydra-Matic

[electra225]

I thought you guys might enjoy this. It mentions the fire in Livonia in 1953, but doesn't talk about Dynaflow or Powerglide bailing the old Hydro out with Cadillac and Pontiac.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7JD0gtHo3c

[stbasil]

Great story, thanks for sharing!

[William]

Is the hydro-matic in this story the same thing as a Dynaflow? If not, where does Dynaflow fit in?

Bill

[electra225]

Hydra-Matic and Dynaflow are not related, other than both being automatic transmissions built by divisions of General Motors. Dynaflow (and PowerGlide) used torque converters, Hydra-Matic used a fluid coupling. Dynaflow was smooth as Scotch whiskey, Hydra-Matic with its bolt-on bell housing, was versatile and could be put behind literally any engine in current production at the time.

When the Hydra-Matic plant at Livonia burned in 1953, Dynaflow and PowerGlide were used to replace the Hydro. Cadillac and Oldsmobile got Dynaflow and Pontiac got PowerGlide. Dynaflow used torque tube drive when installed in Buicks. Cadillac and Olds had open driveshafts. So Dynaflow was hastily converted (by changing the tail shaft housing) for use in open driveshaft models. This 1953 tooling was later utilized in 1961 in Buicks. The Turbo Hydramatic (Super Turbine 400) transmission was slated for introduction in 1961 Buicks. Buick sales had been so horrible from 1957 thru 1959 that Buick nearly went the way of DeSoto. Red Curtis put the kaibash to that notion, but the bean counters said "no Super Turbine drive", so Dynaflow was once again converted to open driveshaft, due to the "Cruciform" frames introduced in 1961. Super Turbine drive was introduced with the 1964 model Buicks.

[electra225]

The basic concept of Buick Dynaflow was not designed for an automatic car transmission. It was designed for the drive system for gun turrets. Most likely powered by a Cadillac flathead V-8, renowned for their relative compactness, long life and dependable power. The torque converter was the element of the drive system that piqued the interest of Buick engineers.

When the automotive divisions of GM, minus Chevrolet, were offered the Hydra-Matic transmission for their 1941 models, Buick vehemently declined. Their experience with the Self Shifter, offered as an option on the 1938 Special series only, so soured Buick on automatic transmissions, and since Hydra-Matic was a distant relative of the Self Shifter, Buick elected to come up with a transmission that was smoother and more suitable for Buick. Enter Dynaflow, as an option on the 1948 Roadmaster series only. Wildly popular, so much so that, by 1950, 80% of all Buicks built was equipped with Dynaflow. The first practical torque converter automatic transmission, the first CVT. It didn't shift like the Hydra-Matic. The torque converter did all the work. Dynaflow was so popular that Chevy introduced a smaller version they called PowerGlide, for the 1950 models. These were powered by the 235 cid truck engine with hydraulic valve lifters. Equally as popular as Dynaflow, the PowerGlide didn't shift until the 1955 models. Reverse on the bottom of the shift quadrant just like Dynaflow. That changed in 1958, the case was still cast iron until the 1963 model cars.

The video I linked said that the Hydra-Matic plant was back in business in nine weeks. I have heard that Cadillac and Olds used the Dynaflow for about three months in production. The video also said that GM started supplying other makes that used the transmission before they had built enough to use for GM production. I thought that was an interesting comment....

[William]

Interesting story and history of both transmissions. The 1962 Buick Electra that Paul owns has a Dynaflow, reverse is at the bottom. The 1965 Buick Electra that he has must be a Turbo 400 as the R is between the P and N. It is hard to go from one to the other and remember that the the "R" is in a different place.

Bill

[electra225]

My Electra has an additional detent in the shifter linkage not found on column shift models. I can park it with the front wheels against the curb and create the perfect anti theft device. Nobody can find reverse to steal the car.....

[William]

So no "R" showing?

Bill

[electra225]

The "R" is right where it should be. You have to stop in "L", pull slightly to the right, then back to the left, then pull back to engage reverse. Everybody forgets the second step so they can't find reverse. My car has a floor shift console. The detents in the shift quadrant are a bit bizarre.....All 1962 and 1963 Buicks with Dynaflow and floor shift are like that.

Another little tidbit of trivia. Starting in 1961, Buick referred to Dynaflow as "Turbine Drive" in preparation for the Super Turbine 400. It was still a Dynaflow and the "Buick guys" all refer to it as Dynaflow. Nobody uses the Turbine Drive nomenclature.

[Conelrad]

I'm not sure if this link will work:

https://www.steelsoldiers.com/threads/3 ... ld.219926/

If the pix won't enlarge, perhaps just join up, it's free and no spam ever from them.

D