1961 Studebaker Lark VIII Transmission Questions

[aucyrano]

I am trying to figure out as much as I can about my car before it gets here. I have been lurking for a while and I think I have read 17 or 18 pages of posts from the tech section of this forum.

I am trying to figure out what transmission is in my car and what the good, bad and the ugly are?

I have been told you have to place the car in low, otherwise it will start in second gear. I have read that there is a conversion, but if it isn't broken, don't fix it. Also, I have read that the bands need adjustment every so often, but I think I would rather watch with a qualified transmission mechanic before I tore something up.

Anyhow, I just need to know what the transmission is? What are its strong points, weak points? What are the things to look out for and what kind of maintenance schedule is on it? I plan to daily drive this car, maybe 8 miles a day, so I won't be hard on it, just want to be prepared.

Also, I found this post and wasn't certain if this is what I have or not. If so, it just seemed that from 0 to 70 miles in 2nd gear was a stretch for me. I know the car does have the 3.07 gears and the 259, but that just seems like a lot of distance for a transmission to be able to cover and still hold together.

http://www.studebakerdriversclub.com/sdc_forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16020&SearchTerms=three,speed,automatic,transmission

1961 Studebaker Lark VIII. 6x,xxx miles from the factory. Daily driven.

[LarkVIII]

You have a Flite-O-Matic 3spd automatic. It's designed to start in 2nd gear unless you hold the pedal to the floor. It originally took type A fluid, use type F if you like firm shifts or you can use Dexron III if you like smoother shifts. The band adjustments are not that difficult.Get the shop/body/parts manuals from any of our vendors. They are available in original,reprint and CDROM. It's a good tranny and can handle all the power your car has and then some...a very close cousin to the Ford iron case from the late 50's through mid 60's.

63VY4 Leakin' Lena Hagerstown MD

[aucyrano]

Flite-O-Matic, huh. I guess I can at least do some research now and crumch some numbers to find out what the rpm's will look like at various speeds. Thanks and if anyone has anything else they'd like to throw in, by all means, toss it out there.

Kel

1961 Studebaker Lark VIII. 6x,xxx miles from the factory. Daily driven.

[Mike Van Veghten]

Kel -

If you want to start in first gear...no problem.

Pull the shift lever into the "L" position. As you speed up and get to a point to where you'ld like second gear...shift into "D"...for just a split second...and pull it back to the "L" position. Then...when you want third gear...shift it into "D" again, only leave it there.

This sounds like a lot...but after you do it a coupla times, it becomes like second nature.

And don't worry about hurting anything...you won't. I got these instructions from a guy that rebuilds these trans. for side money. He told me that even a high milage trans. will not be harmed by this shifting back and forth. I've now done it to my (daily driver) 59 Lark, on and off for over 5 years with no signs of trouble.

Fluid...either Ford or Dexron will work fine.

Mike

[StudeRich]

Well actually, it's [u]Flight</u>-O-Matic! as in Ford-O-Matic, Merc-O-Matic, Flash-O-Matic, Shift Command and others. The Cast Iron case Borg-Warner Automatic was used in AMC cars, Checker, Jeep Wagoneer, International and even in Airport Tugs that pulled Boeing 707's around! [:0]
And in Power Shift form (Ford Cruise-O-matic type) was used in Supercharged Avantis, 327, 305, 350 Chevy powered Avanti II's and heavy duty Trucks. To say it is strong, simple and dependable would be an UNDERSTATEMENT![^][:0]

quote:Originally posted by aucyrano

Flite-O-Matic, huh.

StudeRich -Studebakers Northwest Ferndale, WA

[aucyrano]

This sounds similar to the transmission in my 52 Dodge Coronet, minus the clutch pedal. It is a three on the tree and you have to shift from 1st to second back to second, which magically becomes third.

Thanks for all of the replies so far. I am going to try and run through another 10 or so pages of posts tonight to help me get a little closer to being caught up on my Studebaker.

Kel

1961 Studebaker Lark VIII. 6x,xxx miles from the factory. Daily driven.

[StudeRich]

Actually a Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth Hi-Drive, (Fluid Drive) can start in High with NO clutch, if you have all day to get to 65-70 MPH, or be shifted through all 3 with the clutch with better performance. It is not in the same class as a fully Automatic Trans.

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA