[GMCNUT]

I wanted to post this for those few of you who may be contemplating use of a Hydramatic Automatic transmission in your 1960-1962 GMC. Hydramatics are not like Powerglides and 350 / 400 Turbo Hydramatics and other popularly understood transmissions that you can have built by any shop anywhere. Hydramatic transmissions require very specialized tools and skills to be rebuilt correctly and there are only a tiny handful of old transmission men in the country who have these tools and skill set. There are no young men following their footsteps either. In his 80's now, but still building Hydramatics the right way is Malcolm Cannon, who has been rebuilding Hydramatic transmissions as his specialty since they were introduced in 1952. He is one of only a tiny handful of truly qualified experts on rebuilding these transmissions, and no one can build one more correctly, or any cheaper. Gene of "Transmissions by Gene" in Salinas CA is one of these small handful of guys, but he charges 3000 per trans for a Hydramatic rebuild, where Malcolm is about 850-925 all depending on what parts yours may need. I am quickly becoming a Hydramatic expert myself just by carrying mine all to him one after the other and learning interesting factoids about them every time I go - Malcolm just finished building Hydramatic #4 for me. The clutches are now being reproduced in Israel and the Israeli clutches are actually even better than NOS GM ones in that the GM half-cork facing is now fully synthetic, and they are being stamped to be "wavy" like a GM one would be vs the perfectly flat ones from recent manufacturing.
Anyway, I totally realize that shipping a transmission to Alabama via freight carrier is indeed going to cost you a few hundred bucks, but consider the value of having one rebuilt just once and lasting another lifetime vs a hack near you saying he can do it and not doing even half of it right inside just because he simply has no clue from no 1950's and 1960's era rebuilding experience. So, to help you guys out, I can accept the pallet with your transmission on it at my building and forklift unload it then carry your trans to Malcolm, then when he's done, drive and fetch it and bring it back and re-palletize and re-load on the freight carrier's truck for you. If anyone wants to use Malcolm to rebuild one, better do it sooner than later - Malcolm isn't getting any younger, and if you are keeping your prized GMC for many years and handing it down to future generations then this is the right path. Let me know how I can help - Steve