57 Hydramatic 3 Speed shift indicator question

[sam512bb]

Good day all,

I was curious if anyone can direct me to where I might find a shift indicator "window" (i.e. clear plastic showing P, N, D, etc) for a 1957 Chev 3600 with factory 3spd (automatic) Hydramatic? I looked at several of the usual parts places, but none seem to have these. Is there a potential cross to another Chevy truck and/or car?

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

Sam

[OrrieG]

I found this on line, tells what they came in. I am guessing the cars had the indicator in the dash cluster. My dad had on in his 57 gmc bus/camper it was on the column. Looking at the first two pages of a google search did not turn up any obvious places that supplie them, I think you will probably need to start a deep search of the various manf. Start with Jim Carter's, he is one of the oldest and my have a used on in his graveyard.

Hydramatic Standard and Dual Range Also known as Single and Dual Path.
Used 1946-63 in various Olds, Pontiac Cadillac, Hudson, International, Nash, Kaiser and Lincoln models. Also used in GMC and Chevrolet trucks.
There were many versions of this transmission and many parts do not interchange among them.

[sam512bb]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

I found this on line, tells what they came in. I am guessing the cars had the indicator in the dash cluster. My dad had on in his 57 gmc bus/camper it was on the column. Looking at the first two pages of a google search did not turn up any obvious places that supplie them, I think you will probably need to start a deep search of the various manf. Start with Jim Carter's, he is one of the oldest and my have a used on in his graveyard.

Hydramatic Standard and Dual Range Also known as Single and Dual Path.
Used 1946-63 in various Olds, Pontiac Cadillac, Hudson, International, Nash, Kaiser and Lincoln models. Also used in GMC and Chevrolet trucks.
There were many versions of this transmission and many parts do not interchange among them.

Good day OrrieG,

Thanks for the reply and the information! Indeed, I looked for a few hours and could not find anything. If I had a good picture of one, I could probably make a suitable replacement. The one that I currently have is clear plastic and has pencil marks for the various shift positions and so I am not stuck... but I would like something that looks authentic.

Thanks for the background history. I never realized that they had auto transmissions that early. My '59 which I sold to get the '57 had a modern transmission (Turbo 350), but was originally standard... which I assumed was for all the older trucks... boy was I wrong!

Cheers,

Sam

[MrTucker]

Here's what my '53 has...no clue where to get them tho

It reads "N 1-4 1-3 1-2 R"

[sam512bb]

Originally Posted by MrTucker

Here's what my '53 has...no clue where to get them tho

It reads "N 1-4 1-3 1-2 R"

Good day MrTucker,

Thanks for the pic! Very cool! Again, I am surprised that they had autos in the early trucks! I guess one learns something everyday.

Interestingly, my shift pattern is more like a modern transmission. "P R N D 1 2". I just got the truck and have not gone underneath to check all of the casting numbers to find out if all is original.

Thanks again!

Cheers,

Sam

[MrTucker]

Originally Posted by sam512bb

Good day MrTucker,

Thanks for the pic! Very cool! Again, I am surprised that they had autos in the early trucks! I guess one learns something everyday.

Interestingly, my shift pattern is more like a modern transmission. "P R N D 1 2". I just got the truck and have not gone underneath to check all of the casting numbers to find out if all is original.

Thanks again!

Cheers,

Sam

I figured mine would be too early for you. They actually made auto's in trucks prior to '53, but they were in military trucks and large trucks. They made the Hydra-Matic as early as '38 is cars, but '53 was the first year for a truck (at least for GMC, Chevy didn't start till '54). A '53 with a Hydra-matic is pretty rare - I've been searching and searching for about a year now and I've only seen 2.

[chev3600]

Classicparts.com has the PRND style, two variations. 77-361 and 77-362 check them out.

[sam512bb]

Originally Posted by chev3600

Classicparts.com has the PRND style, two variations. 77-361 and 77-362 check them out.

Good day Chev3600,

That is awesome! Thanks a bunch! I never made it to this site, and indeed these look like the ones I need!

Very cool!

Thanks again!

Cheers,

Sam