I'm hoping someone out here has some experience with rebuilding the old dynaflo transmissions. I pulled the transmission out of my 55 hardtop because it was just too slushy to tolerate any longer. Reading through the original shop manual I came to the conclusion that the high accumulator must be the source of the problem but I thought I might as well pull the whole thing out and go through it thoroughly. I found several things that made me glad I went this route and so far it's only cost me about $300. I'm nearly ready to put everything back together but before I do I need to decide if I should replace the clutch plates or not. The internally splined plates still have plenty of waffle on them and the majority of the steel plates are nice and clean. But there are a number of steel plates that show signs of getting very hot. Do I need to be concerned with the heated spots? If so, can these plates be repaired or do I need to shell out the cash and buy some new ones. I could snap some pix with the digital and post them here if that would help determine the appropriate course of action.
cant really be much help to ya myself dude...but i hear ya..my 55 roadie trans gave up the ghost bout 4wks back...and i'm gettin a new trans rebuilt by ken over at the buick bonery... i'd give him a holler..i dunno if theres any guys on here who are trans ppl.... and ken has been a diamond helpin me out with advice etc on keepin my roadie on the highway and not on blocks in my yard... its a bitch, cuz since i moved to the UK thers no availability of buick parts here... SBC/mopar heaven but hell i dont even see buicks at the rod n kustom meets.. i think ken is doin a set of clutches etc fer like 160 bucks...which aint bad at all... his number is 916 381 5271 good luck jay
thanks EVIL Thanks for sharing the info, i may have to give him a call if things take a turn for the worst. These dynaflow guys are a dying breed. I broke down and bought a set of clutch plates. They cost me another $120 but I figured what the hell. I'd hate to get everything back in the car then find out I really needed to replace them. Things seem to be going along pretty well with my rebuild though. I've managed to identify all the suspected problem areas adn I've got all the parts I need. So baring any major interuptions this weekend I should be able to be back on the road come monday.:bglasses: Living in the UK would really make things tough. I've been extremely fortunate in that there's a transmission parts store here in town A & Reds which has actually had everything I've needed so far in stock which was absolutely mind blowing to me. My gasket/seal kit cost me $240 and the clutch plates cost another $120. A & Reds They have a really shell of a website but at least there's a phone number there. You'll have to talk to a guy named Leon, who's not the friendliest fella on the planet but he's been helpful none the less. I'll update my blog with the latest info on my rebuild after this weekend. Wish me luckMy Blog
Yeah these dynaflow guys are a dying breed, sucks really... thats why i was stoked when ken said he had a guy who does nothin 'cept build DF trans...and always has done.... now i'm no trans guy..specially auto.. so i was pretty happy to go with kens kat and have some confidence in my new trans... hell i could prolly have done a rebuild myself, but by the time y'all pay import duty n shippin etc..the stuff is like 3 times more expensive... so i'm sorry to say i wussed out....lol dang i jus checked out ya blog...you have a car pretty similar to the plans i have for the roadie...satin black,red flaked roof, flamed n striped(hmmm must get my brushes out n soak em in some oil,soften em up) nosed ,decked... are these things easy to lower??? chop springs??i been thinkin bout airbags.. but i dunno yet...mebbe wait til i get my tax rebate offa the IRS..woo hoo... thanks for the link.. take care n good luck this wkend..lemme kno how ya get on.
SUCCESS!!!! I got everything put back together last weekend and we're back on the road. I was really relieved to get it out on the road again and feel the transmission working as it should. Granted, I'm still not laying rubber or anything, but these transmissions were never meant to be high performance. It just smooth as can be though and with the high accumulator back in action the slippage used to feel when accelerating from a stop has been dramatically reduced. I still plan to try modifying or replacing the high accumulator spring tension to see how that effects things. It's an easy modification that will be fun to experiment with. ------------------------------ Yes they are easy to lower. If you got the money and airbag system would be ideal and pretty easy. Since these cars have coil springs all the way around bags are easy to install in their place. I don't have the funds to go that route YET, so I put a hot wrench to the coils. It still rides very nice.
Congrats on Your Success. Do it Once and Do It Right, Be Through and Complete from top to Bottom. Don't Leave ANY Stones Unturned. If You Take Short-Cut and You have a Failure, It will Co$t a LOT More Tearing the Trans Down, Again, as well as the Down Time involved and the Loss of the Use of the Buick.
Nice Job :TU: Nice Job. I just recently bought a 56 Special 2dr Hardtop which needs a LOT of Work from top to bottom. The car sat Idle since 1970. The Tires bald and Dry rotted, with the steel wheels frozen and rusted on to the drums. I had to get a couple of jacks to pry them off. New Tires and Shocks. I dropped the tank and refurbished it with a kit. It came out supurb. I drained about 3 gallons of 33 year old gas out of it. Everything was Lacquered up. The Sending unit was shot, the fuel line clogged. so i'm in the process of reinstalling new lines and then rebuilding the carb. when that's completed I hope to fire the bugger up and take a ride around the block. I don't know much about the car other than it runs: with fuel out of a gas can and stops at 5 Mph. The Drums are REALLY Frozen on and I haven't been able to free them up as of yet. (one project at a time) The car needs some body workat the rear Quarters. The Floorboards and frame are in suprisingly Good Shape. The Dash is impecable. The Interior is in Fair shape. Some of the Vinyl is Cracked at the Stitching due to age. And Who knows what other problems will rear it's ugly head, the furthur along I proceed into this restoration (resurection). I have been checking the Buick sites on the web, picking up information as I go along and I happened by YOUR comments and Experiences and Your website which Impressed me and I Thought that YOU should get a pat on the back on what a splended Job YOU are doing BOTH on Your 55 and the Dynoflush, and Your website is Impressive. I have picked up some valuable informationand I would like to comment and extend my admiration concerning Your work. I really liked the height you Lowered the car. How did You determine where to cut the springs to achieve the LQQK wanted?? I have been pretty lucky and have done some extensive research acquiring parts. Hardware Especially. I would like to replace the Emergency Brake cable, but I can't seem to locate one. Parts are out there and available, but like everthing else you have to shop around. and then there is the shipping costs. Gaskets and Brakes can be picked up at Napa. Another Problem is a Power Brake Master Cylinder. Even a Kit is Difficult to find for a 56 which appears to be a mongrel year for brakes. I would like to switch over to an 58 Aluminum Drum System which Improved braking systems Immensley. Historically, Buicks had TERRIBLE Brakes the worst in the industry. In 58 with the aluminum drums and a steel lining Buick went from worst to First. I don't know how to make the swap Yet. Most of the used 58 Aluminum Drums (very popular with Hot Rodders) out there now are useless. They are at Minimum Standards and can't be turned down any furthur, however there is some company out there that is going to re-produce them. Anyway :TU: :TU: :3gears: :beer Tom Gallagher
Sounds like you're having all kinds of fun with your 56. These old buicks are a blast to work on and even more fun to drive. I wish you the very best with your project. Keep me posted on your progress. Thanks for the feedback...I'm glad to have the car back on the road. You'll have to checkout the custom grill I put in last weekend. I'll be posting some pix on blog later today. http://55buick.blogspot.com
RE: Billitt Grille :TU: :TU: I just checked out Your new Customized Grille. It Really LQQKS Super. 102 Baby Bullits to match the 2 Big Ones on the Bumper. Very Unique and Tastefully done. You have a bit of the Artiste in YOu as well as being pretty Cleaver. :beer :Smarty:
dude that looks hella sweet.. i thought about the same thing but i was lookin at bullet tip bolt available at our local fixings outlet.... may still go with it, but..lol like ya say, that grill is a bitch to get off.,....
Glad you guys like it. I probably could have left the grille in the car instead of pulling it out but I really wanted to put in the bench to figure out the layout that looked best. Besides I didn't really like the idea of masking everything off to paint it black Anyhow...thanks again. I kept the dudes email if you'd like to get some bullets like the once I used. They worked great and were pretty cheap compared to the other options I have considered. Let me know.
I just checked out your "blog" Rocky, that grill looks sweet now. :TU: You should post this up in the bench and get a few more looks at it!
