Re: How odd -- not really

Posted by HH56 On 2013/7/28 21:46:28

With the Ultramatic, If the lever is in L then the car will start and stay in low until you move lever to H. It will get up to maybe 30-35 and direct drive should come in. The engine will be screaming because it will still be in low range.

The transmission was not designed to operate this way. Normal operation is place lever in H. It will be in high range & have what can only be described charitably as leisurely acceleration. At anywhere from 20-40 depending on throttle position, direct drive will come in. If the transmission is working properly you will not or at least will barely feel a "shift". About the only thing many notice or hear is a slight drop in engine rpm when direct drive comes in. You don't have an overdrive with an Ultramatic so at speeds below about 50 or so, pushing the pedal to the floor should drop out direct drive -- if the throttle linkage is adjusted properly. At higher speeds, nothing will happen.

Many do start in L for a faster acceleration and then shift to H. The transmission was not designed to work this way until the later 54 gearstarts and TwinUltramatics were introduced and then it was done automatically. There is no timing control in the clutches and bands between the ranges when shifting manually on yours. Doing this shift under load or serious acceleration can do damage. If you do want to drive this way, let up on the gas while you make the shift and wait until H fully engages before getting on the gas again.