offdensen Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 (edited) So my dynaflow is leaking, a lot. I want new seals and such put on and the car has 150k miles so I was considering doing some other stuff to the transmission while it is out. But most importantly I need a transmission shop that knows what a dynaflow even is. I would like suggestions near Dublin California if anyone has any. I called 2 transmission shops recently and they told me that they stray away from more unique transmissions. I can understand that l, which is why I would like to a shop with some experience from someone in the roa. Edited October 3, 2018 by offdensen (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrlforfun Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 OK Off: Well, Grant and Dan's in Fremont is gone, Kieth's Transmission in Castro Valley was sold and is not doing old school. Dublin? Shucks purchased Kieth's. I guess you need to call around. I could also use someone locally to me. Sorry i didn't have a referral. Mitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 If it were me, I'd visit some of the older more reputable transmission repair shops in your area and look for the oldest guy in the shop. Take your chassis manual with you and ask the guy to read up on rebuilding yours. You'll have to ask him what special tools he'll need and have a source of parts for him. Offer to make it worth his time. One never knows until one asks. What can you lose by asking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodneybeauchamp Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 Under the “Me and my Buick “ forum on this site, several owners have mentioned in their restoration blogs a private guy who specialises in Dynaflo overhauls for late ‘50’s early ‘60’s Buicks. You may want to ask there. cheers Rodney ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 How much have you driven it? I have had Dynaflow cars that leaked a lot unless we drove them every couple of days. One would need a quart every week if it wasn't driven, drive it and we never added any. Bernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telriv Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 Seems silly but I can assure is NOT. Add a pint of dot3 brake fluid & drive it!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offdensen Posted October 4, 2018 Author Share Posted October 4, 2018 (edited) To add context I drive it every weekend. Sometimes on the weekdays since I work 4 miles from my house. It has 150k miles and it never leaked before I let it sit for a month. I let it sit while I put new shocks and springs on since the springs were shot. When I started it back up after letting it sit for so long it started a trend of losing a 1qt a week even if it is being used. Oddly enough after driving it for long enough it wont leak when. I get home, but on start up if just leaks a lot of it and forms a puddle. @Ilrlforfun I found out that the guy who owned Keith's transmissions in castro valley does work on the side at his home and will have a talk with him later today. Edited October 4, 2018 by offdensen (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bdad Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 I'm in the wrong area for you but there is a local shop (40+ years) that still works on Dynaflows. I stopped by to talk to the owner 2 weeks ago. He told me there are no a lot of mechanics who know how to work on them these days. He said a total rebuild would run around $2500 vs a 400 which would run $1500. Parts are available (as well as kits). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 2 hours ago, telriv said: Seems silly but I can assure is NOT. Add a pint of dot3 brake fluid & drive it!!! I had friend whose truck was low on ATF and the only thing available to him was some brake fluid. His leak slowed so he added some more. The leak eventually slowed to where he could handle it. His explanation was that the brake fluid is designed to keep the seals in the wheel cylinders soft and pliable. He thinks the ATF rejuvinated the seals in his transmission. Wouldn't hurt to try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offdensen Posted October 4, 2018 Author Share Posted October 4, 2018 (edited) Guess I'll buy some brake fluid and let it run. Never thought about brake fluid like that, but how much should I put in?... It's odd that it only leaks on start up, so maybe the seals are just dried up and there are gaps now. The car is older than me so I figured it will need new seals at some point anyways. I tried things like fluid thickeners like Lucas which I have been skeptical of. Edited October 4, 2018 by offdensen (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 After reading your most recent post, it came to me that ATF expands as it gets hot - that's why you don't check the fluid level when the engine is not running. The expansion of the ATF is probably why it doesn't leak when its being driven. So rejuvenating the seals is doing the same thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offdensen Posted October 4, 2018 Author Share Posted October 4, 2018 (edited) Alright I will try dumping brake fluid in. Few questions though. How much? Can it have a adverse effect of damaging something? Do I overfill with brake fluid or substitute brake fluid for tranny fluid? Dot3 better off than dot4? Edited October 4, 2018 by offdensen (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 Go back and read post #6. Both of your questions were answered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offdensen Posted October 4, 2018 Author Share Posted October 4, 2018 1 minute ago, RivNut said: Go back and read post #6. Both of your questions were answered. doh ?♂️ Will report back on findings. Guess I'll drive it over the weekend, that'll give it enough time to spread and settle I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95Cardinal Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 If you want to look at other options, Jim Hughes in Perrysburg, Ohio specializes in Dynaflow transmissions. I think he's been building them for over 25 years now. Phone: 419-874-2393 He did mine about 3 years ago. It cost me less than half what was quoted in post #8 above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 6 hours ago, offdensen said: doh ?♂️ Will report back on findings. Guess I'll drive it over the weekend, that'll give it enough time to spread and settle I suppose. The more you drive it, the more that DOT3 will circulate around the seals you're trying to rejuvenate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offdensen Posted October 8, 2018 Author Share Posted October 8, 2018 (edited) On 10/4/2018 at 7:06 PM, RivNut said: The more you drive it, the more that DOT3 will circulate around the seals you're trying to rejuvenate. It worked. As far as I can tell it isn't dripping anymore and creating a mess. Guess I'll just wait to see how long term a solution this proves to be. This sure is better than pulling the tranny though. I will now use brake fluid to solve every problem in life Once again the roa helps me with riv problems Edited October 8, 2018 by offdensen (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted October 8, 2018 Share Posted October 8, 2018 34 minutes ago, offdensen said: It worked. As far as I can tell it isn't dripping anymore and creating a mess. Guess I'll just wait to see how long term a solution this proves to be. This sure is better than pulling the tranny though. I will now use brake fluid to solve every problem in life Once the roa helps me with riv problems What other problems? ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offdensen Posted October 8, 2018 Author Share Posted October 8, 2018 (edited) 49 minutes ago, RivNut said: What other problems? ? Typo, corrected it. Supposed to be "once again" as in this is one of many problems this forum has helped me with. Besides the tranny leaking the car runs just fine, it makes a few ominous noises but it isn't anything nerve racking. Think it's just bushings being squeaky But thank you all for the input, still not looking forward to the day where I need to find someone that can go through the tranny with confidence if something goes wrong but will deal with it then Edited October 8, 2018 by offdensen (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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