I am having trouble with the transmission on my car. I was told the not shifting may be the governor (?) is stuck because it has been sitting for a while, like it will go into reverse and go into drive but it will not change gears in drive. Could this also cause pressure to build up in the trans when I try to drive it? because it is coming up out of the dipstick tube. This is on my 1960 Dynamic 88 I believe I was told I have the jetway transmission(?) the reverse is at the bottom on the shift indicator.

 

I can't drive it until I figure out what is happening the trans fluid catches on fire if I run it long enough for the exhaust to heat up. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks

 

By the fluid catching on fire are you implying that the transmission leaks or does it pump out of the filler tube. Just trying to understand a few things

 

I don't think it leaks it just pushes up out of the filler tube which is located right by the exhaust manifold. Engine is running good now just need to get the tranny taken care of so I can start to drive her

 

It could be the modulator or a vacuum leak to it that's causing it to not shift. Could be the governor sticking also. Not sure why fluid is coming out of the tube unless it was over filled. You checked it while it was running right?

 

I was thinking that overfull might be at least part of the problem

 

my dad did and said the level was fine but i didnt check it myself might try that in a few minutes just to double check. wasnt sure if the governor sticking might cause pressure to build up and cause it to push fluid out or not idk how they work

 

the jetways run off vacuum? my dad looked for a modulator while he was under the car but didn't see one. any links to picture of its location or anything like that?

 

Four-speed Jetaways do not have vacuum modulators. They work off a TV (throttle valve) rod that is part of the carb linkage. If the TV rod isn't adjusted correctly, your HydraMatic will do strange and hateful things.

Make sure all the TV linkage is there and connected. It runs from the carb down the back of the engine and under the left side floorpan to the transmission.

 

I believe it is a 3 speed it goes PNDSLR.. also it was not overfull :/ not sure what it is hopefully i can get it taken care of soon!

 

It's a four-speed. You'll see that once you get it shifting. From the 1960 Chassis Service Manual:

"TRANSMISSION OPERATION

The Jetaway transmission offers three selective drive ranges, "D", "S", and "L". In "D" range the transmission starts in first gear and shifts automatically to second, third and fourth gear.

With selector lever in "S" range the transmission starts in first gear and shifts to second, then to third and remains in third gear until approximately 65-70 mph regardless of throttle opening. When car speed reaches approximately 65-70 mph, the transmission automatically shifts to fourth gear. If car speed decreases to approximately 65-70 mph, the transmission will downshift to third gear.

With selector lever in "L" range the transmission will shift from first to second and remain in second gear until approximately 45-50 mph before shifting to third gear, and will then shift to fourth gear at approximately 65-70 mph. As car speed decreases the transmission will downshift fourth to third and third to second at approximately the same speed at which the upshift occurred."

So there's your HydraMatic 101 lesson. Didn't I tell you these cars are "different"?

Was your Ford a Cruise-O-Matic? Didja know that if you started off in the first "Drive" dot (not the green one) the transmission would start in second and stay in second until you put in in the green dot Drive position? Supposed to help get going in poor traction conditions. Ford automatics continue that design to this day. Put it in "2" and it starts in second and stays there till you put it in D or 1. Works great in snow, esp with 4WD.

 

i've never heard of any car doing that! i thought it started and stayed in whichever gear you selected unless you move the shift lever yourself i know when i accidentaly drop the shift lever a notch too low in my civic (yes i own a crappy foreign car and i hate it!) i can tell because it will stay in 3rd and rev too high when i try to accel. also, yes it was a cruise-o-matic or at least that's what it said on the shift column. I found a guy on craigslist who rebuilds transmissions said he would rebuild mine for about $600 but i'm not really sure if I should go that route since he is not a reputable shop but I can't afford to pay a decent shop to rebuild it right now i dont know what i should do see if that guy will rebuild it or hold off until i can pay a transmission shop to do it

 

No need to hate on yer Honda. They serve their purpose well, which is transportation and getting beat all to hell while you work on and enjoy your old car. Hondas etc are appliances- washing machines or toaster ovens if you will. They wear out or break, get another one. Their advantage is that they will go forever, but when they do start acting up, they're more trouble and expense to fix than they're worth.

But people used to say the same thing about cars like your Sixty when they were about ten years old, and about Model A's when they were ten years old... you get the idea.

Find out if that craigslist guy knows anything at all about older transmissions, and make sure he understands it is an older HydraMatic, not a Turbo HydraMatic, and that it is a Jetaway HydraMatic, not a Jetaway Super Turbine 300.

Next thing- is the $600 including parts, or just labor? Check out www.fatsco.com and see what they price a rebuild kit for 1956-60 Jetaway. You may see them refer to it as Controlled Coupling HydraMatic.

I know you're jonesing to drive this car, but I'm a firm believer in doing things right the first time. No point in shelling out cash to do a half-assed job and then have to shell out even more to do it over.

The AACA guys haven't found me a Richmond area shop yet. I need to bump that thread.

 

Oops. I didnt see the year 1960.