Torque Ball sealing/replacement for manual transmission

['51 Special]

This may be a way to deal with the limited (or nonexistant) supply of torque ball parts for the 1948-1952 manual transmission Buicks. Purists should just look away.
When I was searching for a decent manual transmission for my '51, I found a nice transmission out of a
'46 or '47 Super. I used everything except the "rear bearing retainer," tailshaft, and torque ball out of the older transmission. All that was necessary to mount the longer (1950 in this case) rear bearing retainer and tailshaft was to drill and tap a hole in the older case.
I have the newer torque ball installed, and it is worn and scored. It is also too loose through the usually
necessary motion, and cannot be brought to the manual specs even by using the thinnest shim available (.006). Worse, when I try to put it through any motion except near the (usual) center, and it is too tight. Per the manual, with use in this condition, it is likely to both leak oil and worsen the scoring.
I just bench assembled my left over '46 -'47 rear bearing retainer, tailshaft, and torque ball, which are somewhat worn but much nicer than the parts that came with the '50 transmission. I had no problem easily adjusting the older torque ball to spec with a couple of shims.
Here are the obvious differences between the '40-'47 torque balls and the '48-'52 manual transmission torque balls:
The '40-'47 torque ball attaches with 5/16 cap screws through the inner and outer torque ball retainers to the rear bearing retainer, there is a large tapered seal within the outer torque ball retainer that seats directly on the torque ball,with a spring to wedge it against the ball, the flange that attaches to the torque tube is 3 and 5/8th inches in diameter, and there is no provision for a torque ball boot.
The '48-'52 manual transmission torque ball attaches with 3/8 cap screws through the inner and outer torque ball retainers to the rear bearing retainer, there is no seal within the outer torque ball retainer, the flange that attaches to the torque tube is 3 and 13/16th inches in diameter, and both the outer torque ball retainer and the torque ball flange are groved for a torque ball boot, which appears to serve the same purpose as the seal.
Though the torque ball flanges are different, they both have the same bolt pattern to attach to the torque tube. To install the '40-'47 torque ball on the '48-'52 manual transmission, you just need to ream out the six attaching holes in the inner and outer torque ball retainers to accept the 3/8 cap screws.
My question: If anyone already done this, how did it work?

[Straight eight]

I have seen actual torque balls with the rubber vulcanized to the ball, and also some with the retainer vulcanized with rubber, both in an effort to eliminate the triangular seal. Don't know which worked, and which failed and which should be used.

[MrEarl]

That's quite some adapting you've done there '51 Special and a great easy to understand write up of it. Thanks

I've heard great reports on this kit.

Buick Dynaflow 1948-52 Torque Ball STOP LEAK Seal Kit & Retainer FREE WORLD SHIP | eBay



Whilst I'm here, does anyone happen to have a universal joint for a 1953 -1955 or a 1956 50-60 series 3 speed?

[buick5563]

No, but "whilst" will always elicit a response from me.