John Metzker's tele number

[Charlie D]

Would someone please private message me John Metzker's telephone number? I have a DG-250-M in my car that has been sitting in a garage for 14 years. I was hoping to talk with him concerning what I should do to it before firing up the engine. I checked the fluid today and it looks normal. Just sitting it was about 1/4 inch above the bottom of the ID plate. I guess when the engine is turning the level drops down quite a bit toward the bottom of the dip stick where the full and low indicators are. Thank you.

Charlie D

[BobPalma]

Charlie: John Metzker will tell you he is really not "the man" on Detroit Gear / Automatic Drive transmissions. He "prefers to defer" on those units.

The expert on those within the club is Herman Thoms at Studebakers West. Herman has overhauled many and will continue to do so, but with a waiting list as Carl and Herman are up to their eyeballs inventorying NOS Studebaker parts acquired from Stephen Allen [Cade] when he went out of business. The Thoms Brothers at Studebakers West can now honestly advertise having "The largest stock of NOS Studebaker parts west of the Mississippi!"

Their phone number is in their advertisement in every Turning Wheels, but they'll probably be busy this week in Phoenix / Glendale. BP

[StudeRich]

Ahh, make that Thoms Bros.

[StudeRich]

The service procedure is pretty much the same as a Flight-O-Matic or any '50's or '60's car. After a long sleep it is best to drain the Trans. Pan, then spin the engine over slowly until a Torque Converter drain plug appears though the hole in the housing, and remove the plug. After all Fluid is out, tighten plugs, install 4 Qts. of Type "F" ATF (Valvoline still makes it), start engine, fill to full in Drive at slow idle, choke and fast idle OFF, wheels blocked, hand brake set.

For a complete "tune-up" you would Remove Oil Pan, clean pan and screen filter and replace pan Gasket, adjust all three Bands, and adjust the Throttle Pressure. After carefully checking the Rear Engine Mounts for crushed, old or cracked. All per the Studebaker Automatic Drive repair Manual, or applicable Shop Manual.

If you do not feel you need a Oil change and fluid is very clean and bright RED (if clear or Yellow, it's been in there way too long, before RED ATF or ATF was used), you could just start the Engine and check fluid, if no more than 1 Qt. low, warm it to operating Temp. and check and fill in DRIVE as necessary.

[BobPalma]

Ahh, make that Thoms Bros.

Thanks, Rich; got it! BP

[Charlie D]

Thank you for the excellent information. I am in the process of removing the body so the transmission will be easy to get to and I will probably pull it along with the engine. It would be pretty easy to do the complete tuneup just before going back together. The lady I bought the President State Sedan from in 1983 said she had an NOS tranny installed. I put a few hundred miles on it. It was shifting great before I parked it. If I remember right however it had a little whine to it especially when the inspection plate was off.

Charlie D