Re: [Chrysler300] FALL 2011 CLUB NEWS

[John Lazenby <french_fryguy@xxxxxxxxx>]

I learned to drive on a 1953 NYer sedan with this trans.  It is basically a 4 speed gear box and as Gary stated has two ranges in each selection of either (L) low or (D) drive.  The clutch is used to make the range selection only.  Once that is completed you can let the clutch out and it acts like an automatic in that it will creep forward.  
 
When you start out in either range let of on the accelerator and you will hear the "clunk".  What is occurring is the ignition is shut off for an instant allowing the up shift.  You don't feel it the engine stop as the car is moving forward.
 
Upon slowing down when the car reaches a low speed (I forget what the actual number is) the ignition will shut off once again but just for an instant allowing the transmission to drop to the next lower gear which would be "third" in the drive position or "first" in the low range.  If you really concentrate you can sometimes feel this in the drive range and always in the low range.
 
As I recall this system was introduced in the 1939 New Yorker and carried though the 1953 year with the Imperials receiving the first of the Powerflites.  By 1954 the "clunk" had been replaced by the two speed Powerflite.
 
On the Hemi engines that used the Fluid Drive type trans there was a long bell housing that was cast as part of the block.  In 1954 this was changed by removing that "snout" from the block, using an adapter that had "Mohawk" stumped in it and then a bolt on bell housing.
 
Some of the early Powerflite Imperials in 1953 retained the long snout block and it is quite rare to find one today.  Our '53 Imperial Newport (Gracie) has such a set up.
 
Everyone seems to have a negative opinion on the "clunk" type trans, but they were extremely reliable and trouble free.  They were not as responsive as the later transmissions, but if you had a good running car and knew how to deal with the "clunk" they would move right out.
 
John Lazenby

  

________________________________
 From: "c300c@xxxxxxx" <c300c@xxxxxxx>
To: 300country@xxxxxxx 
Cc: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2011 4:34 PM
Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] FALL 2011 CLUB NEWS
 

   
 
Hi Don and anyone interested:

In the mid-50s, I owned a 1951 Chrysler Saratoga. The transmission was an 
M6 Fluid Drive. The transmission had a torque-converter coupled to a 
mechanical  clutch. It was equipped with a reverse, low speed and high speed gears 
through a  two-speed gearing setup, giving a low and higher speed in each 
gear position,  including reverse.  Example: you could stop without changing 
the gear shift  lever, no clutch necessary, and when you started again, the 
transmission  started out in the lower gear of the selected position and 
after gaining speed,  you allowed the gas pedal to relax and the transmission 
would go "Clunk",  changing to the higher gear speed.

That was the reason we old timers called it a "Clunk-O-Matic". I think this 
setup was used until 1953.

300'ly, Gary Hagy
300-C conv.



In a message dated 12/12/2011 4:18:24 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, 
300country@xxxxxxx writes:

Paul and  all,

Chrysler used the same semi-automatic transmission in Dodge,  DeSoto and 
Chrysler.

I believe it was called GyroMatic in Dodge, Tip  Toe Hydraulic Shift in 
DeSoto, and Prestomatic in Chrysler.  Possibly  Fluid-Matic was also used for 
Chrysler.  Later Fluid-Torque was used  after a torque converter was added. 

Don Warnaar

----- Original Message ----- 
From:  paul<mailto:paulholm@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: Richard  Rowlands<mailto:close66@xxxxxxxxx> 
Cc: chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2011 4:57 PM
Subject: Re:  [Chrysler300] FALL 2011 CLUB NEWS

On  12/12/2011 1:44 PM, Richard Rowlands wrote:
> As an admirer of  Virgil Exner and collector of his (and Ghia's) work, I 
too
>  enjoyed the article in the club news. I have had the good fortune to 
drive
> the "Detroit" Imperial Phaeton, owned by the Petersen  Museum, on several
> occasions. I showed it at Chrysler  Performance West's Spring Fling at
> Woodley Park a few years  back and have also driven it in the Hollywood
> Christmas Parade.  The car is in very good condition and runs and drives
>  beautifully. When I drove it in the Hollywood Christmas Parade the  Mayor
> of Los Angeles was also in the parade in the Los Angeles  Imperial 
Phaeton.
> It was amazing to see the two together. The  Los Angeles car had a white
> interior at the time so the brown  interior must be relatively new. The
> Petersen car is in far  better condition and even still has the original 
top
> and  wheels.
>
> I have put together an album with some  of my photos of the car, including
> some shots from the parade  with glimpses of the two together. For anyone
> interested, the  photo album can be seen here:
>
> 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11401198@N04/sets/72157628376257227/<http://www.flickr.com/photos/11401198@N04/sets/72157628376257227/>
>
> Happy Holidays and Best Wishes.
>
> Richard Rowlands
> Los Angeles CA

oh yea, it  has that semi automatic fluid drive tranny, I seem the recall 
my 52  Desoto had that and didnt Desoto call it something like tip-toe 
something? what did Chrysler call theirs?

-- 
Paul  Holmgren
Mine: 2 57 300-C's in Indy
Hers: 05 PT GT R/T HO  Stage 1
Hoosier Corps L#6

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