Transmission / Overdrive: 63 Avanti transmission repair

[Legs]

I am an Avanti new comer. My father in law gave his original owner 63 Avanti after 35 years of seeing it in his garage in LA. I have finished total restoration of the Avanti (R4252A), almost. The car sat in LA for 6+ years and my mechanic has it running beautifully except for a transmission problem. He drained the transmission, replaced seals and filled with new fluid. It also has new motor mounts.
The 3 speed Borg Warner auto transmission will not shift into 3rd gear. It is smooth and quiet into reverse, neutral, 1sst and 2nd but won't shift up. I think the torque converter is missing a tooth or two. It starts instantly but has clunk when the starter turns over.

So am I looking at a complete overhaul of the tranny or can a transmission expert go in and do micro surgery to find and fix the problem? The torque converter plate would be replaced in the process.

OR should I consider a replacement Ford FMX or newer transmission?

Thoughts from Avanti or Studebaker pros will be most welcome.
Thanks, Legs

Thanks

[Chucks Stude]

You don't say what town in Texas you live in.

[maxpower1954]

I'm sure you probably know this - the Avanti automatic is second gear start. So normal operation with the selector in "D" is just one up shift, from second to third. You have to manually select first gear if you need to pull out fast, like into traffic.

Other Borg-Warners in Studebaker V-8s are also second gear start, but if you stomp on the gas it will drop into first and upshift 1-2-3. Not on the Avanti.

In any event, it's still an automatic any transmission shop that has been in business awhile can easily deal with.

Russ Farris

[63r2]

As Max said it is a second gear start so it will only change once.
The clunk might be a broken flex plate.
pb

[Legs]

Thanks for the quick replies,
I realize it is a second gear start but it stays in 2nd. I can shift down into 1st and back up into 2nd with no problem but it won't shift up.
So I will take it to a good transmission shop here in Houston and let you know what they say.

[karterfred88]

Take your Avanti work shop manual with you--under transmission section there's a great trouble shooting section on pages 43-47--could save you unnecessary rebuild costs. Most of the shift problems are fixable by pulling the pan and valve body. Gummed up and stuck o-rings and control valves from sitting so long, are the usual culprits. Many of todays trans shops haven't seen one of these in 20 plus years, many haven't been in business that long and the first thing they do is pull the trans and tear it down--!!!$$$$!!!

[mapman]

What they said, plus check to be sure the kickdown rod is correctly adjusted. It will hold it in second if not correct.
Rob

[Chucks Stude]

If you lived in the NW side of Houston, I would recommend Javier's Automotive on Clay Rd. at Campbell. He has done a lot of work on my car, and he is a Jeep specialist, and builds custom rock crawlers. Since you are having starter problems, he might be able to fix all of this at one shot. Just visiting his shop and looking at what he is building is really a treat.

[Legs]

Thanks to all for the advice and Chucks Stude, I will give Javier a call. The paint shop I used is at 1-10 & Wilcrest so easing out to Javier's in 2nd gear would not be a problem.
I will let you know how it comes out and will post a picture later today.

Thanks, Larry

[Chucks Stude]

One of the best body shops around used to be next door to Javier's. It was owned by Junior, and it was called International Paint and Body. He was a big time collectors of the old "start and stop" motors from the turn of the last century. You might ask Javier where he went. Also, there is a very good interior shop (works out of his house) down the street if you need him.


Are you sure you understand that it is not a problem for your car to start in 2nd gear? That is the way it was designed, and you have to modify the valve body to get it to start in 1st. I understand that the 1st, 2nd shift after the conversion is not that pleasant. Others will chime in, I am sure.

[Legs]

Thanks Chucks Stude, yes I do realize it starts in 2nd, but mine stayed there. The problem has been fixed and here is what I learned.
Your suggestion to call Javier was great. He suggested over the phone that if my car has a vacuum modulator on the Borg Warner 3 speed Power Shift (some did and some did not), check the vacuum hose connection from the carbeurator to the transmission. If the hose is not connected or is leaking, the transmission will not shift into 3rd. Then he gave me Mike Garcia's name at Wholesale Transmission in Houston who Javier has used for 20 years for transmissoin work. I took the car to Mike and he called the next day. As karterfred88 said above, the key is to find the right and honest guy. The problem was twofold, a prior mechanic somehere along the line had the parking cable wrapped around the throttle and the transmission linkage needed adjusting. So $160 later we are shilting smootly. A far cry from the first mechanic who said he would send it out to his guy but it needed a complete rebuild kit. Hooray for the input and contacts from you guys. Thanks

[Chucks Stude]

Love it when a plan comes together! Glad to help.

[mapman]

Thanks for the update. always nice to know how it came out.
Rob