Looking to buy 56 Oldsmobile 88 has the jetaway transmission I have never had a car with the jetaway, familiar with early Hydramatics . Any problems or opinions on this. Things to look for , how durable are these transmissions? appreciate any thoughts or comments , thanks

 

Never heard of a 56 that had a Jetaway trans unless there has been a transplant.

 

Edzolz, yes Oldsmobile came out in 56 with the new smoother shifting 4 speed hydramatic called the jetaway, can't get much info except people think their junk , some are ok most are bad and had problems with . You can rebuild them or replace them with a turbo 350 or 400 for around $2500 to $3500 . Don't want to spend that kind of money yet. It is a real nice looking olds but I don't want tranny problems, so I am lean towards not buying it.

 

Keep in mind that Olds used the name "Jetaway" at two different times on two completely different transmissions. The 1950s Jetaway has nothing in common with the two speed Jetaway offered from 1964-69.

 

I own a 57 olds which comes with the jetaway transmission and i have never had a problem

 

I wouldn't call them junk,they shift smoother than a slant pan hydro (54-55 and early 56) true they are not as strong but they held up under over 300 hp and gave good long service before needing major attention. I think the bad rap comes from the slant pan group (I'm one) who had a bullet proof transmission and couldn't understand why Olds changed to a weaker gear box just for the convenience of a smoother shift. The old slant pan's shift wasn't that bad if adjusted correctly and it would take a ton of abuse and keep on ticking. It was the basic transmission that B&M hydro built their drag racing reputation on in the late 50's and early 60's. So if the transmission is a runner I wouldn't worry about it, if it needs rebuilt find someone who knows these transmissions and get it rebuilt....Just my thoughts ...Tedd

 

Tedd you say slant pan , where can I see the 2 pans side by side? The early 56 had the hydramatic I believe , maybe I can get a pic and see the difference . Thanks
Steven

 

Like Tedd said. And the Jetaway had a Park position. I had my 56 Super 88 Jetaway rebuilt in 2013 by a known Jetaway expert, Steve Pelosi in West Roxbury MA. Steve told me that the early Jetaways, like mine, were prone to problems, so there was an Engineering Change Order (ECO) in 1959 and those that failed were repaired using the improved parts. Before the days of recalls. Anyhow, mine works great now.

 

Somewhere in my junk I have a comparison shot but the easy way to differentiate between the two transmissions the jetaway has two transmission coolant lines coming out the right side of the case where the slant pan has none. They are both hydramatics, just different systems...Tedd Try this link....http://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/s...pan+hydramatic and this link...http://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/s...way+hydramatic..

 

And this one....Tedd....http://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/s...way+hydramatic