transmission question

Ok guys I got a question ! I have a 61 Lesabre 4 door sedan . Not up to snuff on the Buicksou: Doing research and came up with this: transmission is a dynaflow . Is this correct ? if so how does this trans shift ? is it like a GM powerglide ?

 

In drive it never automatically shifts. It is in high gear from the start. To shift it you would have to manually start out in low and manually shift it to drive which again is high gear.

 

The Dynaflow's "shifting" is done in the torque converter.

 

When does it use low gear ?

 

Mainly when you want a quick getaway or for hills, braking, etc. I haven't driven my '61 a lot yet, but drive seems to have adequate acceleration for me so far.

 

The original CVT. The Dynaflow gets a bad rap. It is strong and reliable. Perhaps not the most efficient transmission ever built, but it makes up for it in smoothness. I am one of those people who regards a Dynaflow as a plus.

 

and they will keep on going like an overdrive. trooper broke the speedo on one of dads cars and it was buried past 120.

 

Dynaflow uses low gear ONLY when the selector is at L. When the selector is at L, it will stay in low until you shift up. Don't drive in low at more than 30 mph.

The automatic "shifting" is in the torque converter stator vanes. The stator vanes are variable pitch. When more torque is required the stator vanes will change pitch to much like an airplane prop.

The Dynaflow is the predecessor to the switch pitch torque converter.

Count me as one of those people, too!! On flatland interstate my Roadmaster can get 22mpg.

---------- Post added at 07:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:51 PM ----------

From the 55Buick.net 1955 Owner's Manual;
http://www.55buick.com/OwnersManual/om7.htm

 

Thanks bhambulldog ! Great post , I now know how to expect the trans to work , If I could only get it to run now !o No:

 

I was told mine had been sitting for 5 years since the last time it was started. I went ahead and put new points, plugs and condenser in, but it wouldn't start. I was using a gas can to feed the fuel pump and it seemed to be getting gas but no fire. I tested the coil and it was producing a fat spark.

Cleaned all the connections and tried again. This time it spitted and sputtered and finally fired up. I was very happy. A few more adjustments and it was idling, but man was it ever loud with basically no exhaust. Made sure the fluid in the tranny was at the proper level and it moved when I put it in drive and then reverse. I was one happy camper, that's for sure! :beer

 

Yes mosslack I to want to here at least a sputter! I am going to do a full tune up with new stuff instead of stuff I found hoarded up. Tomorrow I will start the process.I was at the parts store today and loaded up . Hopefully I will hear that sweet sound of rotten exhaust !

 

If your '61 has not been run for many years I would strongly suggest popping off the valve covers and oiling all the valve guides. Remove the rocker shafts and then spray the oil into the valve guide depressing each valve by hand to make sure none of them are sticking or seized. I learned the hard way sticky valves are a very common problem on long sitting nailhead Buicks. This prroblem wiped out several valves and pushrods on my 364. The above process takes a little time but very worth the effort.

Steve weim55 Colorado

 

Sticky valves can be a problem on any long-sitting engine. If the engine has been sitting for a really long time, I would consider replacing the valve springs once I got the engine running. The springs that sat compressed for years cannot help but to have lost some of their tension.

 

weim 55 , the car was running and driving less than 4 months ago. I have already got it up and running again. Motor sounds sweet. Amazing what a full tune and some 110 octane fuel will do . The carb is still a little iffy . No smoke no knocks ! might have hit a homerun .:TU: