My 1950 Buick Special Transmission Leaks (help!)

[Guest ClubHabel]

Hey all. Its my first time posting here (i think, or its been a real long time). Anyway, my transmission on my 1950 Buick Special is leaking. Ive pulled the torque ball assembly, installed the gasket kit, etc and it still leaks. I'm no expert, just learning as I go so any help would be great.

The "kit" came with gaskets and shims & my shop manual wasnt too clear on the exact procedures. I put the gasket between the inner and outer retainer and didnt use any of the paper shims. The also would go in between right? Since she was leaking BAD before I pulled the torque ball assembly I figured I'd want it tight to stop the leak. Maybe I was wrong with the gasket placement and where I thought the shims should go. I gotta figure you want the gasket in between, but it seems that if I took out that gasket, there would be greater pressure there and less chance for leakage. (oh, it leaks when not running) I just started it for the first time last night!

Also, that rubber boot for the torque tube and outer housing, is that supposed to deter fluid from leaking OR is that the main thing to keep fluid from leaking?

That rubber boot, it fits snug around the torque tube and after I turn it "right-side in" it just rests on the outer retainer? Or does it go inside that retainer? My shop manual wasnt clear. It seems that if that rubber boot was "glued" to the outer retainer that fluid wouldnt be able to leak out. However, that doesnt sound like the way transmission fluid should "not leak" out.

Any ideas on what Im missing? I'm gonna try to retighten the bolts for that torque ball assembly area tonight and see if it helps.

I think I put 5 quarts of transmission fluid in and gotta guess that one full quart came out. [if I remember correctly, The shop manual says it should hold 7-8? The roadmaster more] If I release the pressure of that rubber boot against the outer retainer, I gotta assume there's some fluid "hiding in there too".

[critterpainter]

Were the surfaces on the outer retainer and torque ball scored or worn? The thing is a metal-to-metal seal and any wear or gouges will cause leaks/or seeps. The metal surfaces can be re-tinned or re-coppered as necessary.

Did you replace the lip seal around the back of the u-joint? If this is bad it just aggrivates a bas situation.

The rubber boot is supposed to keep road debris out of the torque ball and do a minor role in stopping the leakage.

Often on worn torque balls the thinnest gasket possible (read a skin coat of silicon) is used between the outer retainer and the inner retair to help compensate for wear.

Bill

[Guest imported_JPIndusi]

There is a torque ball kit on eBay now that shows the outer retainer with a rubber band bonded to the inside lip part of the outer retainer. This looks like it would be very effective in reducing leakage if the innner retainer surface was very smooth. This is not the rubber boot I have seen on later model Dynaflows.

Joe, BCA 33493

[Fred Rawling]

I think you can find the seal at bobsautomobilia.com. He has an online catalogue. Do not forget the seal on the dirve shaft just inside the torque tube. If it leaks trans fluid into the rear end you will have problems with the ring and pinion.