49 dodge gryo-matic problem

[Guest 49coronet]

I bought a 49 dodge coronet which drove fine in town at 30 mph when I test drove it. Once I towed it home and started going through the car I found out it has a gyro matic trans. There are several problems so I'll start with no wires to the transmission or carb. It has a ball and ball carb which I cannot find anywhere to hook up wires to. Do I need a stromburg carb to make the gyro matic trans work like it should or can the ball and ball carb be altered somehow or do I have other oprions to make the trans work like it should ? Oh and the person I bought it from did a 12v conversion on the car!

Edited August 25, 2013 by 49coronet (see edit history)

[53Coronet]

Hi, I have a 53 Coronet with the gyromatic trans, your trans needs wires to the governor and shift solenoid down on the side of the trans or it will not shift at all. I do not know of any 12 volt replacement solenoids that will work in place of the original either. If my memory serves me correct the shift solenoid puts the trans into the lower gear and when you accelerate above (9 mph the governor contact opens) and then you back off the gas then the trans shifts into the next gear. You could drive it this way, just move the shifter to low range which will be 2nd gear, then manually clutch it and shift it to high range which would be 4th gear. I think there is a resistor in the circuit there somewhere too. The switch on the carb applies power back to the shift solenoid when you put your foot to the floor making the trans shift back down for faster acceleration. I have a wiring diagram somewhere and will look for it. Maybe I can post it here. Too bad someone converted your car to 12v. Hope this is helpful.

[Guest 49coronet]

Thanks 53 Coronet it is very helpful. I found the wiring diagram on another thread which will be helpful when I find the right carb for it. I think the previous owner had no idea what they were doing when they converted it to 12V. This is my first older Dodge so it is a learning process for me.