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While running my 1954 Clipper on jack stands to listen for bearing noise and vibrations I came across a problem that continued repeatedly. While in gear(automatic) as I pressed on the brake to slow the tires down to a stop before going into neutral, the engine was dragged down to a stop and died. I tried several times and each time the motor was pulled down to a stop, if I let off the brake(standard brakes) before it died, the engine would respond to idle. The idle, from sound is about 800rpm, so I don't think the idle is too slow for the car. The engine sounds like it is being dragged to a halt. Could it be the govenor on the transmission?

If Ultramatic, it may be that your trans is not shifting back to Torque converter from direct drive.It is the same as if you stopped a stick shift car without putting in the clutch.Ross may be able to help ou with more info.

That is how it feels, just like the car is a standard transmission and you didn't put the clutch in when you stopped.

It takes a definite amount of time for the pressures in the Ultra to bleed down as the car comes to a stop. In normal stopping on the road, there is plenty of time for them to do that. Applying the brakes with the car on jackstands probably does not give the governor sufficient time to exhaust the pressure that controls the direct shift. This will especially be so with the engine idling at 800 as you will have to brake fairly hard to get the wheels to stop. Set it back to 500 tops.

I'm guessing you did not notice this while driving the car? With an 800 idle speed you will get a bucking downshift as you brake to a stop.

Ross:

I will set the idle back to 500. I have only driven the car about 10 blocks and was concerned about the noise and vibrations, so I put it on the stands to listen and check it out. A good point about rolling stops, when my gas tank is hooked up this week I should be ready for a good road test.