Slim-Jim Transmission Filter

[starfireelvis]

Hopefully will need one of these later rather than sooner, but either way, want to get a hold of one.

1961-64 Roto-Hydramatic ("Slim Jim") Transmission Filter. Bought two of these over the years; one a bargain, another one less so. Put one on the Starfire, the other on the Fiesta Wagon.

Have heard these have been out of production since the early '80s; don't know if that's true or not--but, regardless, where can I find one?

Thanks in advance, Mike

[D Yaros]

I bought mine on eBay

[GARY F]

try info@autotran.us i got my filter & gasket from them for my 63 GP

[rocketraider]

Rumour was going around that some of the normal channels for old automatic transmission parts don't want to sell filters separately any more, preferring to use their stock in kits.

I've heard of a couple of desperate souls who took their dirty SJ filter apart, put new filtering media in the shell, and put it back together. Not sure how effective that might be in the long run. I'd be afraid it might suck in air along the crimp.

As much as I like my cars original, I can understand a transmission swap on a 61-64 Olds or SWB Pontiac to avoid fooling with a Slim Jim.

[dlh61olds]

I am thinking an external, replaceable fiter would be a good investment.

My tranny guy has them for $15. Why not, but, he says not to use a fuel filter

because the filter ( microns) are too large.

This would be easy to do if I knew which line to the oil cooler was the return line.

This filter is so small it would be hard to see as far as judging goes.

Besides, a couple of points off would not matter to me if the tranny(slim jim)

is protected. There are many new cars that use an external filter.

Any comments ???

Thanx, Dave

Edited May 9, 2011 by dlh61olds
spelling (see edit history)

[starfireelvis]

Thanks for the info guys; I did sent an e-mail inquiry to the autotran address. I appreciate it!

[starfireelvis]

Still looking; did have to end up swapping the tranny out of the Starfire for the one sitting on the floor at my mechanic for the '62 D88 wagon engine rebuild. Sucks that now gets postponed, but guess I should count the blessings that I had one ready to just plop in and drive away with...

[Oldsfan]

Have you tried Tom Kasper?

[poci1957]

I used the autotran.us guy years ago (pre-internet) and he had everything and was great to deal with.

[starfireelvis]

Tried autotran and Fatsco--neither had one. Any other ideas?

[Oldsfan]

You gots a part number?

[bill pritchett]

I got a filter for my 61 from FATSCO a couple of years ago. I know Russ has them made. I would try them again just in case.

[starfireelvis]

Paul, I will try Tom Kasper...

[bjtstarfire]

"I've heard of a couple of desperate souls who took their dirty SJ filter apart, put new filtering media in the shell, and put it back together. Not sure how effective that might be in the long run. I'd be afraid it might suck in air along the crimp."

I was that guy and the crimp sucking air is not an issue due to the way I rebuilt mine. I have a post at classic olds that you can read up on.

[Guest dstaton]

Is this it from Fusick's NOS catalog?

[Oldsfan]

That'd be it. And that's a pretty recent list, too. You'd better hurry up, Mike!

Paul

[starfireelvis]

Thanks guys--I really appreciate it!

[Guest booneNcrockett]

I just talked to Fatsco trans parts in Pinebrook New Jersey, and they have new Slim Jim filters in stock in case anyone wants to know.

[bjtstarfire]

What did they price them at?

[Guest booneNcrockett]

$64.00 for filter

[rocketraider]

PTEWPH!!:eek:

Well- If you need it, you need it. And I thought fo'ty dollah was high for a NOS Purolator on ebay three years ago.

We should count ourselves lucky the Fatsco folks are even making them for us.

[starfireelvis]

Thanks for the update on these. I will get one or two for future usage.

IN THE MEANTIME since the spring, I now have THREE Slim-Jims in my possession; one in the Starfire, thanks to Bob Lang in Wisconsin--a real life-saver for me, as he had one that had been completely rebuilt many years ago, and it's the one that got me to Fall Hershey, and is running terrific; and I have the two others completely rebuilt--one for the wagon, which is up and running, and coming home soon, and one that I now have as a spare!

Think I've relayed the story somewhere about how, over the summer months, I took the Starfire and the wagon trannies up to a guy who had 40 years of experience with transmissions--but apparently, not with Roto HydraMatic 10's. After about six weeks, what I had to show for it was the remnants of three SJ's scattered out over EIGHT boxes, as the guy basically threw his arms up in the air, gave up, and told me to take 'em away... :eek:

Luckily, my mechanic's regular transmission guy knew of a retired specialist who knows Slim-Jim's; he took a look at the boxes, and said he could make two good ones out of 'em. Not only did he fix up the one I had from Bob in one day's time--he had to take Bob's '63-'64 version without the speedometer gear housing, and take stuff from the boxes to make it compatible for the '62 Starfire, but also rebuilt two other transmissions out of three that had been taken apart in less than two weeks later. (The guy who didn't know how to fix 'em did manage to find me that third one in the junkyard).

So, the Starfire's all set, the wagon one is in the wagon, and I have the one spare, which would work in any '61-'64 full-size Olds, but does not have the speedo gear, which makes it more compatible with the '63-'64 models.

All's well that ends well, I guess...

Edited December 28, 2011 by starfireelvis (see edit history)