1000 Miles
The other night I was looking at some of the pictures of the Buick that I took right after I got it. The odometer read 11152. I went out to the shop to see what it read now… and it read 12152. EXACTLY 1000 miles! How strange? Not bad, 1k miles without any breakdown. It has burned NO measurable amount of oil, which is amazing… however, I think I must have put about 2 gallons (no kidding!) of ATF in the trans. This sucker leaks like a BP oil well! I have to be careful to park it on level ground, or it will leak the entire contents of the transmission out onto the ground. I found this out the hard (or funny?) way. I took it to Spokane one day for lunch at Dicks Hamburgers, an old fashioned 50’s style drive-in burger joint. I parked where I usually do, right up next to the building where the car would sit pointing a bit up-hill. Thinking nothing of it, I ate my food and got in the car to leave. As I backed out I was shocked to see that the Buick had dumped what looked like at LEAST a gallon of ATF onto the ground. There was this MASSIVE oil slick that was running down the hill. A few people who were watching me leave were staring with their jaws open, probably amazed that my car would still move considering the size of the spill I had left. I got the hell out of there before the business owner saw what I did and banned my from coming back! The leak is coming from the “Torque ball” seal, a common place for these old Dynaflow transmissions to leak. I’ve purchased a replacement seal kit and will install it when it arrives.
I wanted to write as ive enjoyed your website! I’ve had my 1960 Electra four door sedan since 1984. Although I’m on wife number two and have had three kids since I bought it, my Buick has been the constant thing in my life.
I’m now on restoration number two in its life. Had the carb rebuilt, replaced the plugs and wires, coil, had the transmission rebuilt and the radiator boiled and repaired. Next is the interior.
Keep up the good work on your baby. Do you have any new photos? If so, would love to see them!
Take care.
Dave in Dallas
Hi don’t waste your time with them cheap china seals I found out fast to thin ripped when I put rearend back in get an nos. one on ebay.I have 59 buick invicta invicta 2 door
Ray.
Hey Ray I got my seals off of oldbuickparts.com. When I got the torque ball all sealed up and after a couple hours fighting to get the shaft mated I finally got it partially mated and when I slid the shaft forward something went wrong and it started puking ATF and I mean puking. I have my entire tranny out now and pretty fed up with it. What am I doing wrong other than the fact I’m trying to repair a torque tube drive train.