Automatic Transmission Maintenance

Borg Warner DG-200 Dipstick Change Bulletin

Hudson Automatic Transmissions Seal & Hard parts source:  Fatsco 

Part numbers for replacement parts Borg Warner DG200

Transmission Fluid to use in the Detroit Gear (DG-200) Borg Warner provided Automatic transmissions.  Originally Detroit Gear fluid service instructions stated 10-weight engine oil.  Later the transmission service recommended TYPE A Transmission Service. The current transmission fluid recommendation is a Dextron III  ( Dextron/Mercron) product. (2022)  

Transmission fluid service instructions are found on pages 87-88 paragraphs 6-9 of the Hudson Automatic Transmission Service Manual.

11 Quarts of fluid are required for a complete drain and refill service.

Borg Warner DG200 - Seals and rebuilding support

• Front seal (torque converter to trans) CR 21100 (Timken 470898)
• Rear seal GRS027   source: studebakerparts.com
• Pan gasket GSK322 source: studebakerparts.com

Torque converter repair source:

Consolidated Vehicle Converters

Phone: 937.443.0408

4991 Hempstead Station Dr.

Kettering, Ohio 45429

Thanks to Mike Madden - Restoring a 1954 SW Hollywood

Resealing my DG200 - Maxime Palandre Bedard

A Tip for Hydro Users. This Tip from Bill Albright

After Firing up a newly restored 1952 Coupe we had a profuse transmission fluid Leak from Front of transmission. We. had to pull it apart and discovered the front pump seal was fine. The leak was from between the 1955 crank spacer and flywheel. Jack Clifford previously provided a product for sealing the Hudson automatic transmissions flywheel to the crank. That sealer was made by Goodyear, and called Polybond. The sealer is no longer being made. A call to Hydro expert Gus Souza resulted in his recommendation to use number 1 Permatex Gasket Sealer. When using this sealer assure you use a heavy application in the alignment pin area. Do Not Add Fluid to your transmission for at least 8 hours This sealer type must harden before it will seal properly.

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Hudson Hydramatics

The 51 and early 52 Hydramatics used on Hudsons, like all other Hydramatics of that vintage were 4 speeds. 4th was direct drive, NOT overdrive. What is different on the late 52 through 54 hydramatics on Stepdowns is the later ones were set up so you could lock out 4th gear for hilly or around town driving, and this newer setup was called "Dual Range Hydramatic". The Dual range had a different shift quadrant with detents for "4" and "3" in addition to the "N" "Lo" and "R". In the Hydramatics, when engine is shut off, the "R" position is used to keep the car from rolling. You should always use the hand brake as a backup. On the early Hydramatics (1938-50), the Reverse pawl was more vulnerable to damage if the car was bumped while parked, or if one tried to engage reverse while car was still moving forward. The reverse pawl was redesigned with a cone clutch for 1951 to address this issue on the later Hydramatics. 

The shift points are controlled by a centrifugal governor, and the speeds of these shift points can be adjusted by adjusting the throttle rod that runs back to the transmission from the throttle bell crank at the left rear of block. Shortening this rod makes the shifts occur at higher speeds, lengthening makes the shift occur at lower speeds. In your case, the rod may be too long, but then you say it downshifts harshly. The harshness/ softness of the shifts can be adjusted by changing the bands/ clutches and hydraulic pressures, but the proper tools and know how are needed. Almost all these adjustments can be done outside of the transmission itself. I advise you to check the fluid level first! Low fluid level can cause harsh and erratic shifting. An indication of low fluid level is this: if when starting the car in neutral, the car "jumps" forward upon starting, this is often due to low fluid.

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Modern Transmission fluid designation for TYPE A is DEXTRON III (2023)

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George Schmidt - Hydramatic Hudsonnotes

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Hydramatic Rebuild  

Weber State University Videos

Part 1 - Introduction and History

Part 2 - Guts and Gears

Part 3 -Toros and Power Flow

Part 4 - Hydramatic Components and Control

Part 5- Final Assembly

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This diagram depicts a method of creating a rubber mounting for the Hudson Stepdown center bearing support that will not separate when the vehicle drive shaft is subjected to high torque. This tip is from Bernie Siegfried who used it in his race cars and personal Hudson 

1952- 53 Hydramatic Transmission Manual

1952- 53 Hydramatic Transmission Maintenance Manual Supplement

1951-56 Hudson 308 Hydramatic configurations

• Change your Hydramatic to a GM Automatic - Vorse Adapter
• Speed Gems_GM automatic Transmission Adapters 
• Converting 1954 Hudson automatic transmission.pdf

• Converting A Stepdown Hudson From A Standard Transmission To A Hydramatic-Thanks To Larry Kennedy And Todd Bracik

• T-85 Parts interchange information.pdf
• T-85/89 transmissions.pdf
• Overdrive operation and troubleshooting (Bill Brown)
• Rebuilding Over Drive Solenoids (BB)
• OD Part Numbers and Sizes
• Overdrive Solenoid Operation and Part Numbers
• Hemming Motor News OD Solenoids
• Kwirks and Fobles of the Warner OD
• Combining Dry and Wet Clutch Hudson Clutch components

Hudson Stepdown Drive shaft center bearing supports

This instruction also applies to 1953-54

The R-10 OD units solenoid measurements

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This page was updated on June 2024

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