I have a 58 Olds Super 88 that I bought several months ago. I finally got it up and running: new brakes, carb, gas tank, fuel pump, etc. It was dormant for 30 years. Anyway, all is good except the trans. I drained the ATF from the trans and torque converter and added fresh fluid. The problem is that it upshifts at too high of an rpm and also freewheels when you let up on the gas. It does shift through all the gears and downshifts when you come to a stop. In Low it is fine. However, when it warms up after a good 20 minute drive it starts to hesitate and buck when shifting and even in Low and especially going up hills. The engine is a 1959 394 and the trans is a 58. The throttle rod to the transmission looks to be from a 59 and the bell crank at the intake is from a 59. In the trunk of the car there was a spare throttle rod from a 58(I'm assuming from the original 58 engine). So, my question is: would a wrong throttle valve adjustment(or the 59 engine and 58 trans combo) cause all the problems mentioned above? Also, do I follow the TV adjustment procedures for a 58 or a 59 Jetaway? Rebuild?

Any info greatly appreciated. Thanks, Nick

 

It might help if you posted where you are located. Somebody might know a transmission person that could help. They are few and far in between.

 

I'm in San Francisco

 

With such a combo of mixed years and parts if would be very hard to diagnosis you problem. It could very well be a TV rod adjustment or problems with the valve body.

I have a guy in Northern California that raced Oldsmobile's in the sixties and owns a transmission shop in Chico I recommend him highly if you can't find someone closer.

As for Mac, he is in his 80's but knows his stuff...http://transamaticinc.com/

 

i had help from Gene from : ( http://www.restorationhydramatics.com )
valve body parts for my 3-4 shift.... be prepare to have “time” w you call him, he loves to talk ( good stories).

 

I just talked with Gene from Restoration Hydramatics for 20 minutes! He's a real character with a ton of knowledge and very willing to share it. He said that my throttle rod could be adjusted better and is probably not correct but the freewheeling is a sign of something wrong inside the transmission as well as the bucking and hesitating when warm. He doesn't do r and r, just rebuilds the units. He charges just under $4000 for my trans, which seems pricey but probably worth it cuz he knows what he's doing. Anyway, that is too high for me, so I'm just going to live with it unless I could find a shop that does it for less, or find a good used trans for a reasonable price.

 

$4,000 is very high especially when it does not include R & R. I had a guy do my hydramatic in my 54 back in February. He is 77 and really knows these things and did a great job. It was going to be $$1,600 plus the $450 to the shop to R&R it. However it had to have a planetary gear set and wound up being $2,000. He did not use any Chinese parts. He is south of Fort Worth which unfortunately would not work for you. These guys that know these things are all old.

 

Great price!! I'm going to keep looking. Thanks to all so far.