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?

[Guest 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.

[Chris Baldridge]

I own a 1949 BUICK SUPER, with the 'Three on the Tree' MANUAL (STANDARD) TRANSMISSION.  My Transmission was leaking fluid, so I took it to an old guy that specializes in working on these classic cars.  We purchased a typical 'seal kit' for the Transmission, put it back together and it was still leaking just as bad!  He indicated that the rear 'Torque Ball Retainer' needed to be sealed somehow to stop the leaking. After much research, here's the problem... there isn't one!!!  I found out that the original design was a 'metal-to-metal' type of seal that was coated with copper.  It was a poor design from the start, as many people said these transmissions were leaking when they rolled out of the factory!  Here's the kicker... someone had the insight to later manufacture a retro-fit 'Torque Ball Retainer' with vulcanized rubber on the inside to 'seal' this spot, but it was only for the DYNA-FLOW (Automatic) Transmissions!  They didn't make one for the STANDARD Transmission!  And you can't use the DNYA-FLOW one, because it has a different bolt pattern and won't fit the Standard.  I even called Bob at www.ClassicBuicks.com who seemed to be the guy I kept getting referred over to.  He verified that they never made one for (I believe) the 1948-1953 Buick's with Standard Transmissions.  He said there was literally no part I could purchase to seal this and he gets the same phone call about every 3 days from classic Buick owners asking him the same question!  I asked him, what do I do???  He indicated that many guys use RTV SEALANT on the inside of the Torque Ball Retainer, since there is not one available with the Vulcanized Rubber like the Dyna-Flows.  It's not the 'ideal' scenario, however there are no other options how to seal it.  He says the Torque Ball & its Retainer all have to be 'cleaned' really well.  Then apply the RTV SEALANT.  Loosely put it all back together and allow it to form essentially a custom gasket/seal for this area.  It takes 3 days to cure. to harden and conform to this space.  Then after 3 days, tighten down all the bolts to really seal it all down. Many guys say this 'work around solution'  has gotten them significant 'mileage' without leaks and did the trick. This has been a frustrating process and I hope this information might help other Classic Buick owners with the same Standard Transmission leaking issue.  Also as a side note... you also want to make sure that the 'return line' in the transmission isn't clogged.  This will create pressure and make it leak, even with the new basic seal kit installed.  You also want to make sure the U-Joint doesn't have play in it, otherwise this will keep destroying the 'Lip Seal' and allow it to keep leaking.  Hope this helps!

[Guest]

On 8/18/2012 at 9:43 AM, MrEarl said:

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?

Do you need 55 coarse or 56 fine spline? And yes, folks have done some of this modifying!

Edited July 14, 2019 by Guest (see edit history)