Hello all. My father and I are restoring the same make, model car he had in college. I have been a mechanic for 20 years but I have realized that these starfire parts seem to be in the twilight zone. With that being said, I registered on this forum because I know I'm going to need all the help I can get. This is also the first forum I have registered with and will need help with the do's and dont's there also. Thank you all in advanced.

 

Welcome. The 62 Starfire is one of my favorite cars. I think black is the best color but they look good in any color. Let me be the first to hound you for pictures. There are a lot of good folks on here that know a lot and are glad to share their knowledge.

 

We are going candy apple red but black is real nice on that car. I have pictures of the car on my computer but when I try to put it on it ask for URL. Do I have to put the pictures online somewhere?

 

Welcome, yes pictures are appreciated.

 

Welcome to CO! Look forward to pictures of the progress.

 

Welcome aboard

It's good to see another early 60's era Olds being restored. You will find(you probably already have ) that there are few reproduction parts available for these cars and the Slim Jim transmission is troublesome beast at best, few shops will work on them, but all that being said they are one of the classiest rides on the road and one of my favorites.

Just like the rest I also would like to see a few pictures, you might want to start a thread in the major builds forum so we can follow along as you do your build. And the problem you are probably having with posting pictures is that the file (size) is to large and needs to be reduced. There are a bunch of ways to do this I use Adobe Photo Bucket to resize others will probably chime in with their procedure, it's a common and irritating problem on these forum.

I think you will find this forum the friendliest and most informative on the Net, best of luck on your build and keep us posted.......Lost in the fifties ...Tedd

 

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I just ordered the transmission rebuild kit for $217. I am a transmission mechanic for Caterpillar and thought this would be simple but I know nothing of a "slim jim" and I heard something about it not having a torque converter??? Is there some kind of fluid coupling that is not called a torque converter in its place.

 

Welcome, good to see another Starfire being saved. Looks like good raw material with decent trim. Check out Fusick Automotive, http://www.fusick.com/ for some parts. Do a search on the forums for Roto-Hydramatic or Slim Jim, you will find lots of discussion. Start a new build thread, there should be a lot of people who can help.

 

I just bought a 62 SF a couple years ago and have been messing with it. I would love to see a thread about rebuilding the slim jim! I know mine has a front oil leak but I haven't messed with it. I will keep an eye on your progress! I wish mine was red

 

I think Oldsmobile called it a torus? it was on the inside of the transmission.

 

There is a plate that looks like a clutch disk, but without the friction material. It bolts to the fly wheel and has springs on it like a clutch disc. It has a female splined section in the middle of it that mates with the input shaft of the tranny. I think it's called a damper or something like that. The springs can wear or crack, and that could give problems. I know, because I pulled my slim jim on a 63 dynamic 88 to replace the input shaft pump seal. Cost was about $25 for the seal, and about $20 for fluid that I had spilled all over the garage floor. The damper plate was ok. No cracked springs.
Any how, that fixed the leak, and it's real important how you set up the linkage from the carb to the tranny. Mine shifts real nice, and never had to go inside of the tranny for any reason.
Good luck, and I hope you have a manual. E-bay has them on disc for a fair price if you need one.

 

The dampener plate is available from Fatsco in NJ, they are repoping them and they fit like the original, I replaced the one in my 63 98 and no noise and shifts great.
Steve