1962 Buick LeSabre

Hello! I recently inherited a 1962 Buick Lesabre 4 dr with a 401 Nailhead V8 and the 2 speed Dynaflow transmission. The car has been repainted the original color and runs pretty well. The transmission leaks though and I am not sure what it will take to repair it. I have a few questions for the folks out on the forums. Does anyone have any history or opinions on the 62 Lesabres? Where they good cars? It seems to have decent power and rides rather nice while cruising down the road. I know the engine was considered a good V8. Was the Dynaflow a good transmission? Do the early 60s LeSabres attract any interest today? Any info or opinions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

welcome!

magazine article from 1976
this guy owns a 1962 ls with 322,000 miles on the clock:



4 door cars are not that popular
your car is a 4 door sedan (with the thin pillar)

1962 production numbers:

4 dr sedan: 56,783
4 dr hardtop sedan: 37,518
2 dr sedan: 7,418
2 dr hardtop coupe: 25,479

 

Nice car, nice color. Engine is a Nailhead, which has quite the following.

 

Very nice looking car. Just like most other things, 4 doors are less desirable then 2 doors of the same body. Does not mean that it isn't a cool and interesting car. Dynaflows are known to leak a little, no matter what you do. Every time I got mine to stop leaking, 2 weeks later it would start marking it's territory again. Enjoy it for it's smoothness and just keep it topped off if it isn't leaving a puddle every week. IF it is leaving a puddle of trans fluid in short order, like a week of sitting, investigate and see where it's coming from. Might be as easy as an output seal. Welcome to the forums!

 

Beautiful car! I have not owned one but know sometimes leaks come with the territory and, based on the severity, sometimes it's better to just keep it topped off. That said, living on a budget, I had to learn that lesson myself.
-MIG

 

Thanks for the info everyone. I had heard that Dynaflow Transmissions often leak a certain amount of fluid. This one does leak a decent amount of fluid over time. Not sure what I'm going to do with it yet. Are Dynaflow transmissions hard to remove? Not sure what is required but might have to remove it to fix the leak.

 

Try a int of brake fluid 1st.

 

That should have said a PINT

 

Drive it regularly and see if that slows the leak. Great car by the way; these old four doors and lesser trim levels have a staid dignity and level of cool that nothing new has. (And a nailhead powered LeSabre should have a drive great!).
Patrick