Rebuild or Change

[Andyboy]

Ok my '62 gmc has a v6 305 with a hydramatic. The tranny is leaking pretty good from between the engine and tranny. I was wondering if it would be less expensive to change the tranny then to rebuild it. Is there another tranny I can mate with the v6 305? I'm at the point where I should have waited for a chevy. Any help will be appreciated. thanks.

[nbrfd007]

Is the transmission still working good? If it is, it could just be the front seal in the transmission. Easy fix.
Tim

[Andyboy]

It works but shifts hard, could be its low on fluids. Just don't like the trail of fluids.

[mud.man.rj]

Pull the trans back, pull torque convertor and change seal and you should be good, cheap fix.

[Andyboy]

Do you guys know where I can get a seal. The auto parts store here don't carry those. Thanks

[mud.man.rj]

That makes no sense, pretty much any auto parts store should carry a front pump shaft seal.

[markeb01]

Hopefully the front seal will fix your problem. I would suggest if you do have to rebuild the Hydramatic it will likely be far more expensive than to replace it with anything else, simply because it has now become very rare and is somewhat obsolete by conventional standards. Many shops will not be experienced in working on it. I’d do a lot of shopping around before committing to a rebuild. Just because a shop agrees to rebuild it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be happy with the result. Also parts may be rare, hard to find, and expensive. Here’s an article explaining the complexity of the design.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydramatic

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t rebuild it. The Hydramatic was an excellent transmission in its day, and bolted up to a GMC V6, the combination is rare, powerful, and unique if you can afford it.

Also - can you determine what type of fluid is leaking? The engine could be leaking from the rear main seal and drip from the same location.

If you don’t get enough answers on what transmissions will swap, I’d suggest trying the Jolly GMC website. Members are dedicated to restoration and preservation of the V6 engines and stock vehicles:

http://www.6066gmcguy.org/

You might want to try these guys for a seal:

http://www.autotran.us/hmparts1.html

[Andyboy]

Originally Posted by mud.man.rj

That makes no sense, pretty much any auto parts store should carry a front pump shaft seal.

Yeah, There's guys at these shops still telling me that I'm mistaken and that It's a v8 305.

[Andyboy]

Originally Posted by markeb01

Hopefully the front seal will fix your problem. I would suggest if you do have to rebuild the Hydramatic it will likely be far more expensive than to replace it with anything else, simply because it has now become very rare and is somewhat obsolete by conventional standards. Many shops will not be experienced in working on it. I’d do a lot of shopping around before committing to a rebuild. Just because a shop agrees to rebuild it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be happy with the result. Also parts may be rare, hard to find, and expensive. Here’s an article explaining the complexity of the design.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydramatic

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t rebuild it. The Hydramatic was an excellent transmission in its day, and bolted up to a GMC V6, the combination is rare, powerful, and unique if you can afford it.

Also - can you determine what type of fluid is leaking? The engine could be leaking from the rear main seal and drip from the same location.

If you don’t get enough answers on what transmissions will swap, I’d suggest trying the Jolly GMC website. Members are dedicated to restoration and preservation of the V6 engines and stock vehicles:

http://www.6066gmcguy.org/

You might want to try these guys for a seal:

http://www.autotran.us/hmparts1.html

It's leaking redish tranny fluid. Thanks I'll look around, maybe finding another used hydramatic also and just swapping it for now.

[padresag]

you can get any kit still that you want for the. you can get gskt and seal kits for them'
you don't just drop the convertor in one these. you have to split the convertor first. about 30 bolts around it in the area if the ring rear and there is an o'ring that goes in there. drop the trans and then pull the convertor apart for the frt pump sea.
a few questions for you. what colour is the a/t fluid red or brown. if brown does it have an acrid burnt smell to it. how long has this vehicle been sitting before you got it?
these trans are a fairly harsh shifting trans and the more throttle that you apply the harsher the shift, but they are a rugged trans
I would clean it up under there and then try and find where the leak is coming from first. before you do anything with it. there are still a few old guys out there that know how to work on them. check at your local gm dealer if there are still any on gm mechanics around that may be interested in checking it out. you don't want the dealership to do it though, beside I doubt if they would do it anyway. if it it just needs gskts and seals get it done.it should give you good service
ron

[Andyboy]

Thanks Ron, The fluid is clean redish fluid. I'll have to get under there and check where it's leaking from. Thanks again Andy

[slorio]

Andyboy:
I am unsure how close this is to you, but here is a tranny on Craigslist that claims to be rebuilt.

I hope this helps. Don't give up on your GMC. It is unique and worth the effort.
Regards,
Steve
New Orleans

http://redding.craigslist.org/pts/2775041661.html

[markeb01]

That sounds like a bargain for someone needing it, assuming the promises are true.

[jbgroby]

Andy,

I too have the hrdramatic and it is a keeper. The place to get ANY part for it is Fatso. You year and part may not be listed so call them, they got it.

http://www.fatsco.com/

They have every seal and part you migth need.