The guys down at the VW resto shop restored a 54 Chevy PU with the factory torque tube type Hydramatic and could not find a starter for it. I think they and the owner gave up and put a 250 with a later style automatic and open drive shaft into it (IIRC). Both the engine and trans have been gone through and are now laying on a trailer beside the building. They are wrapped in plastic but being outside is not a good deal for any engine. These starters are HARD to find but Joe may have one. My computer with it's "500 Server Error" message won't let me upload a picture but I could try to email a picture of it to someone willing to put it on the Forum. I think any reasonable offer would buy it. Be aware that the BIG cast iron transmission must weigh over 200#'s so shipping it and the engine would cost a bunch.
Wow For those who want /need a slushbox , this is THE deal ! . The GM ' Dual Hydromatic Drive Transmission ' is a four speed auomatic that is almost unburstable . It will get your otherwise original old truck up to 65 + MPH with no hassles and you'll be hard pressed to ever wear it out . Sadly , I wasn't aware the starters were hard to find so the two Hydromatic equipped AD's I saw lying in the crusher row , still had starters on them when crushed for scrap . I won't be making that mistake again .
This appears to be a deal for someone. That transmission is not easy to find. If I didn't already have a spare, I would be all over it. I have to fight my "parts hoarding habit" to talk myself out of a second pare every time I see this thread. I don't know what it would take to be considered a "reasonable offer" but as Nate mentioned, it is tempting.
He ended up taking $450 for the whole package so he could use his trailer again. I know what you mean by "parts hoarding habit", with me it's almost terminal so I tried to pass this on to others. When you have two storage buildings full and can't get within 6ft of the walls in the shop it's time to look the other way no matter how good the deal.
Cheap As Dirt Wow ~ Good thing I live 3,200 miles away as I'da grabbed it for that $ and I don't have anything it'd fit into . Considering all the junkpiles I rummage , sooner or later I'll find a Hyrdomatic starter .
