55 GMC Hydramatic - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

blue 72 gmc 4x4 · 08-04-2010, 09:31 PM

So I found this today. Its a 55 GMC Hydramaitc...its a 55 right? Its been sitting here since 1981 and it is in almost PERFECT condition. Dosen't have the original motor but almost everything else is there..except for the wheels. So the lot that it's on is for sale and I called the relator that is selling it..she said $100 for it!! I was like ok where do I meet you! But then she said she had to call the owner of the lot and make sure that was ok. Unfortunatley the owner of the lot told the relator to call their brother cause its his truck....DANG! So now Im waiting to hear from the relator. As it usually goes to the guy is probably going to want 5k for it or something...just thought I'd share some pics!

Davetopay · 08-04-2010, 10:21 PM

Awesome find. I hope you can get it!

blue 72 gmc 4x4 · 08-04-2010, 10:39 PM

whoops just realized I posted in the wrong forum...sorry.

mr48chev · 08-04-2010, 10:54 PM

Nice find if you can get it for that. The back window is worth more than 100 bucks.

raycow · 08-05-2010, 01:14 AM

Assuming the Hydramatic is still in the truck, and you want to use it, you will need a 55-60 Pontiac engine. Later ones will not work because the block bolt pattern was changed. You will also need a 55-early 56 Pontiac HM flywheel. Cars changed to a "dual coupling" HM in mid-56, and parts for the later transmission will not work. Naturally, you can use GMC V-8 parts (55-59) if you can find them.

Ray

63chevyll · 08-05-2010, 01:24 AM

arent the hydromatics 4 speeds?

and rare??

Walts_restoration · 08-05-2010, 01:30 AM

wowzers rare truck! makes me think of our 58 big back window 3/4 ton hydro and factory ac!

Also reminds me we need to get that spare hydromatic inside lol.

Dad would kill for this truck.

raycow · 08-05-2010, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 63chevyll

arent the hydromatics 4 speeds?

and rare??

Yes, 4 speed, and they are rare now. At one time they were quite common though, because they were the performance automatic of choice. You could get adapters to bolt them up to a lot of engines that they never came with from the factory.

Today they are of interest mainly to collectors or owners doing stock restos. Parts are still available, but it is getting harder and harder to find shops which can work on them.

Ray

63 & 64 Bowties · 08-05-2010, 07:11 AM

I moved it to the proper forum for ya.
I see you're from AZ, so you may have to look the word "rust" up in the dictionary, but in other parts of the country if I see a vehicle that's sunk that far in the ground, 99% of the time it pretty much means everything under it is shot. If you buy it, I'd get it out of the ground before you settle on a price.

63chevyll · 08-05-2010, 11:04 AM

Cool,

My dad has a 56 chevy with a hydromatic, all orig and driven almost everyday,

its a 235 and the trans works pretty good.....

So what you are saying, Dont cut it up

OrrieG · 08-05-2010, 01:51 PM

Alot of the early gassers and other racers used 4-speed hydros. It looks good but if its been sitting like that for 20+ years through snow in the winter (been to Flagstaff!) you are looking at lower fenders, doors and cab corners and maybe up into the cowl and floors. Frame could be compromised too, proceed with caution and good inspection if the guy wants more than a few hundred for it. Mine was an original Phoenix truck and I got off about as easy any anyone has and still have hundreds of hours of body work in on mine.

blue 72 gmc 4x4 · 08-05-2010, 09:02 PM

Frame and body look really good for sitting in the ground like that and for $100 I REALLY can't let this thing go...no matter what shape! Its not really in the mud though, the pineneedles have built up around it but thats still not good. It dosent have the original motor though...so it probably dosent have the original trans either.

blue 72 gmc 4x4 · 08-05-2010, 10:01 PM

Some more

blue 72 gmc 4x4 · 08-05-2010, 11:15 PM

so anyone know the year of this thing? I think its a 1955??

MrTucker · 08-07-2010, 11:17 PM

its definitely either a 55 or 56

raycow · 08-08-2010, 07:00 AM

Oh yes, definitely a Chevy SB. I guess you can kiss that Hydramatic good bye.

Ray

blue 72 gmc 4x4 · 08-08-2010, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raycow

Oh yes, definitely a Chevy SB. I guess you can kiss that Hydramatic good bye.

Ray

Thats ok. Now I wouldnt feel bad about hot rodding it! Dont know if the motor thats in it is any good though. I was able to turn it over by hand but all those years with that intake wide open....probably a bunch of crap in there.

Mr GMC · 08-18-2010, 01:02 AM

Did you get it? It is a 55 but it was sold as a 56. These were the trucks built at the end of the year. The way to tell this is by the painted fillers below the signals and the painted filler between the bumper guards. The 55s sold as 55s had chrome fillers. On the standard cab models the grill and fillers were white. The 55s that were sold as 56s had white grill and bumper with body color fillers. Also in the serial # there is a Y and that is a 55, a X is a 56, T 57 and S is for 58/9

blue 72 gmc 4x4 · 08-18-2010, 10:43 PM

Cool thanks for the info..no didnt get it yet..called the relator again today. Its kind of a mess because the lot that its on is for sale and there's no one living there and the relator that I've talked to says its really hard to get the lady that owns the lot to do anything...obvousily by the way this truck looks. It is KILLING me though!!!!!!

08-04-2010, 09:31 PM	#1
blue 72 gmc 4x4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Aladdin Wy Posts: 794	55 GMC Hydramatic So I found this today. Its a 55 GMC Hydramaitc...its a 55 right? Its been sitting here since 1981 and it is in almost PERFECT condition. Dosen't have the original motor but almost everything else is there..except for the wheels. So the lot that it's on is for sale and I called the relator that is selling it..she said $100 for it!! I was like ok where do I meet you! But then she said she had to call the owner of the lot and make sure that was ok. Unfortunatley the owner of the lot told the relator to call their brother cause its his truck....DANG! So now Im waiting to hear from the relator. As it usually goes to the guy is probably going to want 5k for it or something...just thought I'd share some pics! Attached Images

08-04-2010, 10:21 PM	#2
Davetopay Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Leesburg, VA Posts: 424	Re: 55 GMC Hydramatic Awesome find. I hope you can get it!

08-04-2010, 10:39 PM	#3
blue 72 gmc 4x4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Aladdin Wy Posts: 794	Re: 55 GMC Hydramatic whoops just realized I posted in the wrong forum...sorry.

08-04-2010, 10:54 PM	#4
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,306	Re: 55 GMC Hydramatic Nice find if you can get it for that. The back window is worth more than 100 bucks.

08-05-2010, 01:14 AM	#5
raycow Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 2,454	Re: 55 GMC Hydramatic Assuming the Hydramatic is still in the truck, and you want to use it, you will need a 55-60 Pontiac engine. Later ones will not work because the block bolt pattern was changed. You will also need a 55-early 56 Pontiac HM flywheel. Cars changed to a "dual coupling" HM in mid-56, and parts for the later transmission will not work. Naturally, you can use GMC V-8 parts (55-59) if you can find them. Ray

08-05-2010, 01:24 AM	#6
63chevyll gets board easy....... Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 717	Re: 55 GMC Hydramatic arent the hydromatics 4 speeds? and rare??

08-05-2010, 01:30 AM	#7
Walts_restoration Real Projects never die Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lawrence, kansas Posts: 1,508	Re: 55 GMC Hydramatic wowzers rare truck! makes me think of our 58 big back window 3/4 ton hydro and factory ac! Also reminds me we need to get that spare hydromatic inside lol. Dad would kill for this truck. __________________ Ill put it this way, ive got a few lawn ornaments My name tag says Ryan KansasTwister On other forums

08-05-2010, 07:11 AM	#9
63 & 64 Bowties and a few others Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of VA Posts: 5,638	Re: 55 GMC Hydramatic I moved it to the proper forum for ya. I see you're from AZ, so you may have to look the word "rust" up in the dictionary, but in other parts of the country if I see a vehicle that's sunk that far in the ground, 99% of the time it pretty much means everything under it is shot. If you buy it, I'd get it out of the ground before you settle on a price. __________________ Bill US Army Vet -193rd Infantry BlueRidgeMuscleCars.com “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” Gandhi Last edited by 63 & 64 Bowties; 08-05-2010 at 07:13 AM.

08-05-2010, 11:04 AM	#10
63chevyll gets board easy....... Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 717	Re: 55 GMC Hydramatic Cool, My dad has a 56 chevy with a hydromatic, all orig and driven almost everyday, its a 235 and the trans works pretty good..... So what you are saying, Dont cut it up

08-05-2010, 01:51 PM	#11
OrrieG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 8,800	Re: 55 GMC Hydramatic Alot of the early gassers and other racers used 4-speed hydros. It looks good but if its been sitting like that for 20+ years through snow in the winter (been to Flagstaff!) you are looking at lower fenders, doors and cab corners and maybe up into the cowl and floors. Frame could be compromised too, proceed with caution and good inspection if the guy wants more than a few hundred for it. Mine was an original Phoenix truck and I got off about as easy any anyone has and still have hundreds of hours of body work in on mine. __________________ 1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread 1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver) Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project Last edited by OrrieG; 08-05-2010 at 01:54 PM.

08-05-2010, 09:02 PM	#12
blue 72 gmc 4x4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Aladdin Wy Posts: 794	Re: 55 GMC Hydramatic Frame and body look really good for sitting in the ground like that and for $100 I REALLY can't let this thing go...no matter what shape! Its not really in the mud though, the pineneedles have built up around it but thats still not good. It dosent have the original motor though...so it probably dosent have the original trans either.

08-05-2010, 10:01 PM	#13
blue 72 gmc 4x4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Aladdin Wy Posts: 794	Re: 55 GMC Hydramatic Some more Attached Images

08-05-2010, 11:15 PM	#14
blue 72 gmc 4x4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Aladdin Wy Posts: 794	Re: 55 GMC Hydramatic so anyone know the year of this thing? I think its a 1955??

08-07-2010, 11:17 PM	#15
MrTucker Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 455	Re: 55 GMC Hydramatic its definitely either a 55 or 56 __________________ 1953 GMC 1/2 ton long bed Original 228 I6 with a Hydramatic Auto Tranny Project Pack Rat - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=3374649

08-08-2010, 07:00 AM	#16
raycow Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 2,454	Re: 55 GMC Hydramatic Oh yes, definitely a Chevy SB. I guess you can kiss that Hydramatic good bye. Ray Last edited by raycow; 08-08-2010 at 07:09 AM.



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08-18-2010, 01:02 AM	#18
Mr GMC Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: cameron park, ca. Posts: 89	Re: 55 GMC Hydramatic Did you get it? It is a 55 but it was sold as a 56. These were the trucks built at the end of the year. The way to tell this is by the painted fillers below the signals and the painted filler between the bumper guards. The 55s sold as 55s had chrome fillers. On the standard cab models the grill and fillers were white. The 55s that were sold as 56s had white grill and bumper with body color fillers. Also in the serial # there is a Y and that is a 55, a X is a 56, T 57 and S is for 58/9

08-18-2010, 10:43 PM	#19
blue 72 gmc 4x4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Aladdin Wy Posts: 794	Re: 55 GMC Hydramatic Cool thanks for the info..no didnt get it yet..called the relator again today. Its kind of a mess because the lot that its on is for sale and there's no one living there and the relator that I've talked to says its really hard to get the lady that owns the lot to do anything...obvousily by the way this truck looks. It is KILLING me though!!!!!!

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