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Hard to explain the Fluid-Drive transmission for "know-hows"


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Posted

Hi all Moparheads.....

is it just me who have difficulties explaining to people what kind of tranny Fluid-drive etc....
i mean, it is not Automatic and it is not Manual, it is Semi and are very hard to compare with any other transmission.

 

There are a lot of "know-how" people that just do not understand when i try to explain this things.... for example.

 

("know-how" guy... Khg)
- What kind of tranny is it in your Windsor man? is it a manual or automatic?
(me)
- Well it is a Semi-automatic

(khg)

- hmmm.... ok, semi automatic you say... but you have a clutch?
(me)

- yes, i have a clutch..

(khg)
- ok.... well you Little rascal, then you have a manual tranny....

(me)
- no, it is semi automatic....
(khg)
- ok, yeah right...... *blinking Eyes" and Thinks "this man doesnt know anything about this car"
(me)
- Well, let me explain..... you have  high and low, within high you have 1-2 gear automatic and in low you have 3-4 gear. you have to use the clutch when you take off, either in high or low, and if you need to change from high to low or vice versa you also need to use the clutch, but not "in between"..

(khg)
- ok, is there only two gears on you car ?

(me)
- no

"know how" guy tries to flee from the discussion and finishes with...
- Ok,well i Think you need to find yourself a Chevy 350 and a 700 and replace that thing you have under your hood.....

(me)
- No......

 

Alright, this were just something that came up to me.... that a lot of people have hard to understand theese old mopars with fluid-drive etc. So it is really a good thing that you could find a lot of info on this forum about it.

 

 

 

  • Like 1
Posted

I find it "humorous" explaining Fluid Drive to non-believers myself.  Even when you break it down like it is in the owner's manual; a fan facing another fan, no mechanical connection; they can't conceive that my big, boxy old Dodge has something that sexy. 

  • Like 1
Posted

Love it!  Yeah that is that best trying to explain the transmission.  I was honestly suprised how many people, say "OH yeah I remember those"! 

 

For the others I tell them its both:)  It has a clutch and basically a torque converter.  Gets them thinking at least.

Posted

Greg...  i know, i was one of them..... but there is a lot of disinformation out there that confuses the masses.... hehe. Actually it is almost like an own science with alot of theories about Fluid-drive, Fluid-matic, Gyro-matic, M6 gearbox, fluidcoupling etc.... but actually it is a lot of fun when diggin in to all information and get things to work.... i meen, Think of all the Chevy owners, they have a pretty easy task to complete when the are trying to "fix" their cars.. if something is not working they just "throw in" a 350 and 700 gearbox... and they will find it in therir neighbours garage... Well, here in Sweden it is almost that easy i dont know how it is in the states....

 

Even if you put the manual in the hands of an "know how" guy they do not belive that things work as it says......

 

//Peter, who is going home from work soon and replace the wheelcylinders with new ones.....
 

Posted

Chevy repair and speed products can be sourced at nearly every pharmacy in every town in the country, or at least it seems that way.  Just posted a wiring diagram to your other thread.

Posted

Love it!  Yeah that is that best trying to explain the transmission.  I was honestly suprised how many people, say "OH yeah I remember those"! 

 

For the others I tell them its both:)  It has a clutch and basically a torque converter.  Gets them thinking at least.

fluid drive is NOT a TORQUE CONVERTER...it is a coupler

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

Most are only fluid couplings not torque converters. They do not multiply torque! I wish they were torque converters as that would definitely improve performance. Some cars did have actual torque converters. Not fully sure which ones. I believe the 331 hemi m6 trans I have was attached to a torque converter.

Earl

Edited by mopar_earl
Posted (edited)

yes on the M6 and Plymouth's first true Torque converter was attached to the Hy-drive setup...the hy-drive has a lot of small changes in its driveline that places it so much ahead of the others in respect to power, top end and economy in operation...except for the oil changes that is...

 

bad part is some of the older manuals refer to the coupler in the same context as they refer to the torque convertor and group them together to the confusion of many who  read this source as gospel..

Edited by Plymouthy Adams
  • Like 1
Posted

Wolfy... nice ride, it is almost as it is my Little "rubys" twinsister....

I thought the same thing!  Love that Milk Chocolate Paint! 

IMG_0259_zps4cgnmvr3.jpgIMG_0263_zpseuosxmsv.jpgIMG_0260_zpspwb3makh.jpg

 

Have some more pics?;)

  • Like 1
Posted

fluid drive is NOT a TORQUE CONVERTER...it is a coupler

Yes you are correct!  But for the people that give me a deer in the headlights look, I tell them its basically like a torque converter. 

 

Thanks for clarifying that.  You are 100% correct, it is NOT a torque converter.  Like earl said I wish it was as well. 

Posted

Yes you are correct!  But for the people that give me a deer in the headlights look, I tell them its basically like a torque converter. 

 

Thanks for clarifying that.  You are 100% correct, it is NOT a torque converter.  Like earl said I wish it was as well. 

 

That's pretty much how I describe it to the "unknowing". "Its like a self contained torque converter, but it doesn't have a stator so it can't multiply torque like a true torque converter." Most of those people don't have a clue as to how a torque converter works either.

 

What I find amusing is when someone "in-the-know" sees the Fluid Drive badge on my truck and asks, "Does that really have Fluid Drive?" Then they go on about how they had one in an old Dodge/DeSoto/Chrysler when they were younger. That's when I really confuse them when I tell them that I don't have the semi-automatic transmission that they are talking about. I have a standard 4 speed transmission, without synchronized gears. So not only do I need to use the clutch to shift, I also had to learn the art of the "double-clutch".

Posted

I had a Ford with Nash badges on it. That used to start some discussions...  <_<

Posted

As I understand it......you have a fluid drive and a clutch.....You have a normal 3-speed tranny with first gear blocked out....So you have second and third and reverse......now, on the end of the tranny, in place of the tranny extension, you have a two-speed Borg- Warner overdrive transmission....This means that you have second and high, with hi and low OD in each gear.....To go in reverse gear, you must use the clutch, just like a real car.....the overdrive shifter rail locks out reverse unless you use the clutch.....so, if you move the shifter to low, or second, you start out in low second, after the governor kicks in, let off the gas and you're in high second....

if you shift into high range at any point, you have either third or forth, depending on the overdrive governor.....The fluid drive takes care of slippage......

Posted (edited)

No, I don't believe that's right at all.

 

How the devil is first gear "blocked out"?

 

I've only driven one of those, but it is essentially a 2-speed with reverse, and an overdrive is what makes it have 4 forward speeds.

 

(Totally different from either of my 3-speed OD transmissions.)

 

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/m6.html

Edited by Ulu
Posted (edited)

Harvey is speaking from the basic description of the 41/42 vacuum operated 3 speed tranny that is coupled with an OD and first gear IS blocked.  The Motors manual is the source I also gleaned the confirming information.   (Chrysler and Desloto)

 

as I said in another post....in these days, lots of funky stuff being done..

Edited by Plymouthy Adams
Posted

We were speaking with a fellow at one of the cruise ins who had just aquired a 41 Plymouth with the vacuum assist.  I thought the intent of those were to be sold to service veterans who had lost use of arms or legs.  He is looking for information on the whats and where for's of those vehicles. he and his frined have set up an account here but I haven't see a post regarding it yet.  I believe he said it was a Auxiliary Seat Business Coupe.

Posted

My buddy just calls my transmission a bastard tranny, or a clunkamatic. L.O.L.

It just clicks softly on the upshifts though. I have known him for 35 years and he is referring to my first 1948 Chrysler Royal, not the one I own now.

Tom

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