DG250 torque converter - getting worried

[Peter in London]

My Speedster and its torque converter (DG 250) are in pieces and we can not trace a new or reconditioned torque converter following all the leads suggested - nor through secondary referrals from those. The direct drive brake bands need replacement (not such a problem) but there is some metallic destruction further forward that is not repairable. Does anybody have any further leads for us please? Getting very anxious![:0]
Peter.

[Sam Roberts]

Peter, I think Jaguar used the same transmission even longer than Studebaker, that might be source if so.

quote:Originally posted by Peter in London

My Speedster and its torque converter (DG 250) are in pieces and we can not trace a new or reconditioned torque converter following all the leads suggested - nor through secondary referrals from those. The direct drive brake bands need replacement (not such a problem) but there is some metallic destruction further forward that is not repairable. Does anybody have any further leads for us please? Getting very anxious![:0]
Peter.

Sam Roberts

[Bunzard]

Peter, What year is your Stude?

[Peter in London]

1955 President Speedster (actually Dec. 20th 1954) with the original DG250 transmission.
I'm following some more leads - one in the Netherlands.
Peter.

[Roscomacaw]

Peter,
Did you contact the chap in Los Angeles? He told me he had 3 complete DG-250s that came from roadable cars and he was willing to part them out. Further, he has the expertise to recondition the convertors if you wanted such. I can send you contact info if I haven't already.

Miscreant at large.

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President 2-dr
1955 President State
1951 Champion Biz cpe
1963 Daytona project FS

[Peter in London]

Thank you - that's good to know. In fact I am rather loosing track of who the mechanic and I have contacted between us! I should have kept careful notes and at my age I should know that.[:I]
The problem has been the difference between the DG250 and subsequent ATs. In fact I found a torque converter - the only one we traced - in the Netherlands and was thinking of going across to pick it up, but yesterday George, the careful, steady, old fashioned mechanic (old AT specialist) who has it all in pieces has a mechanic friend who works at Heathrow Airport and who has the tools to turn a new part in the very hard steel required - so I think that we will manage without the hugely expensive one from the Netherlands.
I'll keep you posted and after a visit to George today with the Shop Manual and Parts Books I should be able to lift the curtain on this a bit by giving a name to the part that is destroyed.
Peter.

[Peter in London]

Well, 5 hours driving through West London on a Friday afternoon later - I now have a better idea of what was wrong with the AT. The "one way clutch" in the middle of the torque converter had failed and damaged the races both inside and outside of it - so George is remaking them - should be done by Tuesday and then it will just need putting together again. All should be in running order for the Rally of the Giants on July 17th, so I'll be there for the AGM of our UK Chapter of SDC.

Meanwhile, I'm off to Genoa for the opening of an art exhibition of Adrea Crosa (of SDC) called "StudebakerTsunami" as the exhibition includes his Speedster as well as his works of art.

All's well that (almost) ends well.
Peter.

[Roscomacaw]

Peter - if worst comes to worst, I've got a DG convertor here that I'd ship to the guy in Los Angeles for him to check out and overhaul as necessary.I don't know that there's anything wrong with it but it would be good insurance to at least have it checked out by someone who knows what they're doing.

Miscreant at large.

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President 2-dr
1955 President State
1951 Champion Biz cpe
1963 Daytona project FS

[studeclunker]

Bloody hell Peter!![:0] And I thought I had it bad on this side of the pond.[}] Refabricate the part from, what will that be, bar stock????[:0] My hats off to you and your mechanic!

Lotsa Larks!
Studeclunker
A.K.A: out2lunch

[Roscomacaw]

Speakin' of "bloody hell, Clunk - did you ever get that Champ column apart or did you just decide to take a sledgehammer to it?

Miscreant at large.

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President 2-dr
1955 President State
1951 Champion Biz cpe
1963 Daytona project FS

[Peter in London]

As always in this forum the help is unstinting and authoritative. I anticipate the car being ready to collect when I return from Genoa at the end of next week - and for completion I shall post what I hope to be a jubilant message, together with impressions of driving with a properly functioning gearbox, probably for the first time in 9 years.

Peter.

[Roscomacaw]

Fingers crossed for you, Peter. Hell to use the keyboard like that, I might add![}]

Miscreant at large.

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President 2-dr
1955 President State
1951 Champion Biz cpe
1963 Daytona project FS