is the flight o matic worth any money?

[6hk71400]

Mason,

There is a solution to do an easy 1st gear start with your Flight-O-Matic. If you locate a 1961-62 valve body from a 6 cylinder Flight-O-Matic, install it in your transmission, you will have a 1st gear start. They used to be available from Studebaker International (Standard Surplus) years ago but I am sure they are not now. If you can find one, have it rebuilt and then install it. That would be simple and easy to do, not to mention not as expensive.

Sometimes the cobwebs in my mind need to be cleared to remember these things. I seem to recall in discussions that the shift from 1st to 2nd is not as smooth as the 2nd to 3rd shift, but I have not first hand knowledge. My current cars have 3 pedals

[mbstude]

Mason,

There is a solution to do an easy 1st gear start with your Flight-O-Matic. If you locate a 1961-62 valve body from a 6 cylinder Flight-O-Matic, install it in your transmission, you will have a 1st gear start.

Doing that will cause a really harsh 2 to 1 downshift. It’ll put your head through the windshield every time you slow down.

[mw2013]

Mason,

There is a solution to do an easy 1st gear start with your Flight-O-Matic. If you locate a 1961-62 valve body from a 6 cylinder Flight-O-Matic, install it in your transmission, you will have a 1st gear start. They used to be available from Studebaker International (Standard Surplus) years ago but I am sure they are not now. If you can find one, have it rebuilt and then install it. That would be simple and easy to do, not to mention not as expensive.

Sometimes the cobwebs in my mind need to be cleared to remember these things. I seem to recall in discussions that the shift from 1st to 2nd is not as smooth as the 2nd to 3rd shift, but I have not first hand knowledge. My current cars have 3 pedals

i read about this ad nauseam, and even considered it , i also read, it's harsh going up and down from first, coming from the factory , the reason they omitted 1st gear it from the start was a bug fix.

[mw2013]

Doing that will cause a really harsh 2 to 1 downshift. It’ll put your head through the windshield every time you slow down.

you could not be more clear, thank you....sure hate for someone to go through all the trouble and have to take it out , just to be able to survive a sunday drive in the stude