1940 60 special 3 speed trans overhaul

E

Ercell

Member
I would like to overhaul own transmission in my 40 special. It's a 3 speed. I also will replace clutch and pressure plate. The clutch is rough. The trans scratches in 3rd. I figure synchro. I'm pretty handy but never taken apart a transmission. It would be nice to have a book. Anyone know where I can acquire some sort of shop manual plus I'll need parts. Kanter has the clutch parts but I haven't found the trans parts. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
Ercell, shop for and buy a "Buick Shop Manual". Probably any from 1940 on. 1952 is available on this site. Dennis Marordas, 606 237 6648 for parts.
Welcome.

Ben
 
The '52 shop manual would be the same for ALL 5 bolt top cover glass gears selecter shift trans. Even an older Motors Manual.

Tom T.
 
Thanks for the reply Ben and Tom. I didn't understand the glass gear, Hmmm. Anyway I talked to Dennis Marordas and he said I can probably do it myself and yes he has the transmission parts and Fort Wayne Clutch and Driveline has the clutch parts. This I am looking forward to doing as this is my favorite car. Thanks again for the help.
 
Ercell said:
Thanks for the reply Ben and Tom. I didn't understand the glass gear, Hmmm. Anyway I talked to Dennis Marordas and he said I can probably do it myself and yes he has the transmission parts and Fort Wayne Clutch and Driveline has the clutch parts. This I am looking forward to doing as this is my favorite car. Thanks again for the help.
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I used new pressure plate and clutch for a 1995 Jeep Wrangler. Available at O'Reileys. Fits perfectly.

LOL. I knew what Tom was referring to with the glass gear comment. He raced the 320ci straight back in another lifetime. The transmission you/we have is considered "weak", as in could be broken easily. The Roadmaster/Century/ Limited transmission has larger gears and is the preferred one
Ben
 
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You are correct Ben. I had a slew of '55 Buick's. 16 to be exact. Most were Special's Series 40's with a couple series 60's Century's. My favorite '55 was a Special standard shift that came with 3.90's from the factory. I had the trans. out to repair sooo many times I can't count. Got very proficient at it. I could have it out in less than 30 minutes. One time doing it on the side of the road. The little 264 stock would break gears/parts. After I put a 4bbl. on it & made headers & dual exhaust it became very apparent It needed something stronger. I found a '56 six bolt top trans. out of a Special that fit the bill. It was one inch longer which made it perfect as it centered the rear wheels to conform/fit the wheel wells better.
That lasted until I rebuilt a '59/401 from an Electra & installed it in the '55. Well the six bolt didn't last too long until I was at it again. When I tried to shift it too fast it would hang betwwen 1st. & 2nd. & would snap the 1 1/4" mainshaft in 3 pieces. One time I ONLY had 3rd. gear. Got home, jacked it up & the whole bottom of the trans. was GONE. It made very little noise when it happened. That was catisstrofic. That was a rare part as no more than 8% of Buick's were standard shift from '53-'60. I was lucky in the fact that a junk yard in Pa. the ONLY cars he had were Buick, Olds & Pontiac. Now as far as I know Olds & Pontiac only used the 6 bolt top cover. A new source of parts.
So a word of caution drive nicely & somewhat gingerly. No "jack rabbit" starts & NO fast shifting or anything more than normal driving habits as even a good running str.8 can break it.
I think I would take Ben's recommendation on using the Jeep clutch.

Tom T.
 
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