GM Auto gearboxes 1943-48

[staghound]

Hi, I am rebuilding 2 Chevrolet Staghound armoured cars that were built for the Brits in 1943. Each vehicle has two 6 cyl in line 270 CID engines, each driving a four speed GM auto gearbox, a drop box and into a transfer box for final output to front and rear axles. I have rebuilt the boxes and many of the tools required are postwar civilian parts leading me to believe that the gearboxes were used post war on cars and maybe trucks. Each box has two oil pumps and an oil pressure switch which activates a warning light in the event the operating pressure falls below 55 PSI. Does anyone know if this switch is a post war part as at the present I need four and have only one.
Many thanks
Tobin

 

[patdaly]

Tobin, I would bet that the engine/trans combo was retrofitted at some point in the 50's Sounds suspiciously like a GMC 270/Hydromatic trans. Parts should be available for all.

 

[staghound]

Hi Pat, Thanks. I think that this is a standard 270 hyfromatic transmission and I think it was first used in the T17E1 Staghound, a slightly different form in the M5 Honey Tank and possibly similar form in the Chafee tank. As it was robust I think it was used in later cars but a lead on which cars would be a big help as I can then track parts for those vehicles. The setup is original as the vehicle was designed for this unit from scratch, so much so that although the engine is a GMC 270 it is very different from the truck engines, not least in having doubled up big ends as it was reved harder. There is more on this at

http://www.staghounds.org.uk.

Any help with later vehicles fitted with this unit would help me to find the oil pressure switches.
Many thanks
Tobin

 

[Fabrico]

Can you post a picture of the oil senders? The website shows a transmission that was definately based on automatics.

 

[staghound]

Hi,

The part number is A-297237.

 

[staghound]

Sorry, that did not work, hopefully this will.
T