My New WiFeY

[eddyramrod]

46 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Shawcross? Lordy.

Someone you know?

[High Jetter]

8 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

Someone you know?

Obliquely, yes.

[eddyramrod]

Woke up to a light dusting this morning...

I did have to go out, so took the modern.  WiFeY doesn't need to go skating!

[comfortablynumb]

31 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

took the modern

Ironic that wifey is probably more capable in bad weather than the modern!

I can totally understand why you wouldn't risk it tho🥺

[lesapandre]

3 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

Woke up to a light dusting this morning...

I did have to go out, so took the modern.  WiFeY doesn't need to go skating!

Calender shot indeed!

[High Jetter]

6 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

Woke up to a light dusting this morning...

You need more control on the housework 🤣

(But if it tickles your fancy...)

[eddyramrod]

I've known from the start that WiFeY's gearbox is showing its age, to put it politely!  I already knew that the Hydramatic used by Vauxhall wasn't the best automatic even when the car was new.  Mike, who previously and currently owns the Omega, had his Lincoln's gearbox rebuilt by a specialist in Preston a while back, so I've been in touch with them.  They know this box and can do it.  Accordingly, I'll be driving down the A6 on Friday and coming back by train.  

Turnaround seems to be in the region of a week, which is good.  What isn't so good is the timing.  They're fitting me in when they can, and tbf sooner is always better, right?  But I was kind of planning to do it in May, after we've had our USA trip that's going to occupy a good chunk of April.  There may be a slight crimp in the spending money while we're away.  I'm expecting the bill to start with a one and a comma.

Ah well.  It should drive so much better when it's done!

[danthecapriman]

32 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

I've known from the start that WiFeY's gearbox is showing its age, to put it politely!  I already knew that the Hydramatic used by Vauxhall wasn't the best automatic even when the car was new.  Mike, who previously and currently owns the Omega, had his Lincoln's gearbox rebuilt by a specialist in Preston a while back, so I've been in touch with them.  They know this box and can do it.  Accordingly, I'll be driving down the A6 on Friday and coming back by train.  

Turnaround seems to be in the region of a week, which is good.  What isn't so good is the timing.  They're fitting me in when they can, and tbf sooner is always better, right?  But I was kind of planning to do it in May, after we've had our USA trip that's going to occupy a good chunk of April.  There may be a slight crimp in the spending money while we're away.  I'm expecting the bill to start with a one and a comma.

Ah well.  It should drive so much better when it's done!

Auto gearbox rebuilds are not usually cheap, but if it needs doing then not much choice. I assume it’s still slipping then and hasn’t completely died?

The good thing about timing (if you want a positive from it!?) is that if you get it done now it’ll be ready to go by spring and the good weather. 
It’ll be worth it in the end👍

[eddyramrod]

It's not like I'm going in blind.  I knew this would have to happen.  Maybe I shouldn't have emailed the specialist until we'd done the trip! But ok, I can live with it.  And it will make such a difference.

[eddyramrod]

Something else that had to happen...

A pair of Oxford Diecast 1/76 Crestas, to display on WiFeY's dash when we go to events.

Also...

Some more ebay parts, in this case the seals for inside and outside of the winding windows.  These can go on after I've had the windscreen done.

[eddyramrod]

WiFeY went for a little trip on Friday!  Barrow to Preston, to see a man about the automatic gearbox, with a view to rebuilding same.  Barrow to Preston is about 75 miles, which is more than any trip it's done in my ownership, and probably in the preceding decade!  So I kept the speed down and took the A roads rather than motorway, and put in a break along the way.

So here we are at Truckhaven Services, just off J35 of the M6.  Time for a hot-check of the gearbox oil level (satisfactory), a pee (satisfactory) and a latte (surprisingly nice, and not dear!).  Then I had a slow stroll around the parking, watching two blokes loading a couple of road-rollers onto lowboy trailers.  WiFeY and I rested about 45 minutes, then got back on the road.  By now I was detecting a whine from somewhere in the transmission; but is it gearbox or further along?  I guess we will find out eventually.

And here we are in the street outside the auto-trans specialist.  They'll probably have the car a fortnight or so.  

[eddyramrod]

Goodness, was that really three weeks ago?  I've had an email today showing me a bunch of photos of what appear to be gearbox parts, which appear to be terminally broken.  It's entirely possible that, with Easter coming up, I may not get the car back before going to America.  Bit of a bummer, but these are the joys of running a car almost as old as I am.

 

[danthecapriman]

16 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

Goodness, was that really three weeks ago?  I've had an email today showing me a bunch of photos of what appear to be gearbox parts, which appear to be terminally broken.  It's entirely possible that, with Easter coming up, I may not get the car back before going to America.  Bit of a bummer, but these are the joys of running a car almost as old as I am.

 

But it’s fixable??

I suppose it does prove you were dead right to do something about it now though if you want a positive from it. And, still plenty of time left through spring and summer to enjoy it.

[eddyramrod]

Oh it's all fixable, one way or another.  I think they'll be replacing enough parts to call it a new gearbox!  And yes, once it comes back, I'm absolutely going to enjoy it!

 

[eddyramrod]

It occurred to me that Regular Readers might like to see the gist of the two most recent emails I've had about this.  I don't think I'll be getting it back before my USA trip!

Well, that's been fun ,not .

 

Broken accumulator spring, broken servo piston, seized bushing guide, damper plate with 2 springs missing (?) - but told some did back then & no longer available anyway.

 

 

Parts on order from States for broken bits we found, already got frictions,band, gaskets, and seals last week in readiness. 

 

it was an absolute tw4t trying to get the rear end apart.

 

For some reason, Vauxhall in their infinite wisdom , hide a circlip on the output shaft which isn`t shown in any manuals .

Holden and Oldsmobile don`t use the circlip so this was a puzzler for us.

It sits deep into the extension housing about 5" below the bushing sleeve piece.

That sleeve is around 2" aluminium,  which had decided after 60 years it didn`t want to come out.

Heat wouldn`t move it so we ended up drilling, tapping and using a puller to get it out - necessity being the Mother of invention.

 

The broken servo piston is on order from the States , along with the broken accumulator spring from a different supplier in the States.

Not expecting them till the end of the month.

[eddyramrod]

Another email this morning...

Found further damage on reassembly.

 

The shaft sealing ring land in the torus is partly missing.

This would leak pressure as the torus charges up during acceleration. 

 

It's actually used for what they class as the 2^nd stage (effectively the 1-2 shift) , might explain why it was "mushy".

 

Found one at Bop Parts in California so ordered it which should arrive after Easter.

 

Enjoy your holiday. 

[eddyramrod]

Today there was some travelling...

My local station, about 15 minutes before my train arrived.  To take me to within reach of...

Yay, she's outside!  There was a bit less Yay when I saw the bill though... fortunately we had some holiday money left over which covered it.

Here are the broken bits, "in case you want them."

And here we are on the road, or actually, in a queue for roadworks with traffic lights attached...

And home!  Thank goodness!

She does feel somewhat stronger than she used to; so she should for £3k.  But the main thing is, she's home.

[High Jetter]

£3k for a full overhaul on a 50's autobag? Sounds pretty fair, to me.

[lesapandre]

So pleased to see this turn out ok. Spinners on the wheels look fab too. Ready for some good summer runs out.

[eddyramrod]

20 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

Ready for some good summer runs out.

Tomorrow and Saturday, to start with!

[danthecapriman]

Glad you got it back and it’s sorted the problem. 
Sounds like they had to source bits from all over the place to fix it!

[eddyramrod]

Mostly America, apparently.  Shipping was a significant element in the bill!  Seems the same box was used in the Oldsmobile F-85, father of the Cutlass around 61-64.  I haven't looked at the "old" parts yet.  I'll probably just throw them in the trunk and forget they exist!

Incidentally... for anyone who wants to check out Automatic Transmissions Preston on Facebook, you'll find plenty of pics of my car, and the various stages of dismantling and rebuilding the Hydramatic.