Hey guys, Are there Slim Jim transmissions re-builder's around that can rebuild these with better parts and make them reliable? That and the lack of front end components like ball joints is holding me back from looking to buy a 62 Starfire...

 

Is the Starfire a project or is it complete? If it runs well just because it has a Slim Jim and hard to find suspension parts shouldn't prevent you from buying it.

As far as rebuilding a Slim Jim there are very few shops in the nation that can do this right (I don't know of any). You wouldn't be able to take a 62 Starfire to Meineke for transmission service. There are options to replace the Slim Jim with a more modern transmission though.

 

I'm not a fan of the Slim Jim, I couldn't get mine to shift well after a rebuild, fought it for a long time, others have had some luck wit them. The general feeling on Slim Jims is if it is shifting well now don't mess with it. As mentioned above it's hard to get a shop to work on them, they were problematic from the get go.... Tedd

 

Tedd, that's the re-enforcement so far from others too. Olds64- I looking down the road that's all if I move forward and buy a 62 Starfire. My other first choice is a 65 Starfire.. parts are much easier to locate..

 

And I may add, this is a very very nice car-but still leaning on a 65 Convertible..

 

Thats a good looking Starfire. I'm not a fan of convertibles as they tend to have a lot of/or the potential of rot and rust. There are more things that fail and increased maintenance during ownership.

 

That's a hard top...22K is a great price too.

 

I was beginning to question my mental faculties. It sure looks like a hard top to me.

 

I agree the one pictured is a hardtop, my comment was directed to your wanting a convertible.

 

Ah ha. Not it makes sense. I missed the part (read through it too fast) about you leaning on a 65 convertible.

 

I would probably go with the 62 because I think it is one of the prettiest full size Oldsmobile ever made and that is a really pretty one. Keep in mind that if the Slim Jim is working okay now, chances are it is going to be okay since you will put limited miles on it. I had a guy south of Fort Worth rebuild my hydramatic im my 54. He did a great job. The problem is that he is now probably 80 years old. When these old guys are gone who is going to rebuild these things. It is just me but I would be all over that 62. That is a stunning car.

 

OH gotcha Eric, Pam has given me the OKAY but she prefers a convertible, so both will be happy. That 62 hard top at money is a great buy. I talked with Vinny the owner and he reiterated car needs zero work. He has a bunch of cars, just thinning out his herd, all stay in a dry heated building up in Massachusetts. car does not see any weather..

 

Another Slim Jim thread with the usual responses. That is an absolutely gorgeous 62 Starfire, the important question is how does the trans work right now? The one in my 63 worked fine because it was in good condition, the carb linkage was correctly adjusted with an original 4GC carb (critically important), and no one had tried to "improve" it. Yes, it's shift characteristics are a little weird but not really a problem. These cars were designed as cruisers, not drag racers.

 

I was gonna add what Don just said. The Slim jim in my 64 Starfire shifts very well. When it shifts. It's the gear ranges that I think are a little odd. The jump from 2nd to 3rd (if you consider this a 4 speed trans) is a mile wide. Revs are high and then after the shift its practically bogging. I like the way mine shifts better if I get on it. Give it some gas and it feels fine!

Too be fair, I haven't even tried an adjustment on it. I probably should but it's infrequently driven and I'm used to it.

 

Thanks for the input...

 

Mine had no big jump between second and third but after the rebuild she shifted with that heasation then bog usually followed by the high compression ping till the RPM's came up, Very frustrating. Almost like it skipped a gear but there isn't a extra gear to skip. Don't know, I plead ignorance....Tedd

 

OK, the "slim jim" is a transmission that can't be compared to a turbo 400 of newer years. The transmission was designed to last 100 thousand miles just like the rest of the cars on the market in that time. What Don said is correct, if it shifts correctly now then it will shift correctly down the road and should this transmission need rebuilding the new clutch pads available now are much better then the ones used back in the 60's. Check with Fatsco in N.J. and you can purchase a rebuild kit, trans filter, dampener plate and other necessary parts for the Roto 10 transmission. The T.V. rod from the carb to the rear of the transmission is critical and must be set correctly or the shift will be early or late causing a pressure buildup or an engine stall.Keep in mind that these are a double coupling trans. that when you first start driving have a different shift pattern. When going from park to drive the trans will start out in first gear and when you come to a complete stop will only shift back to second gear and if you do not manually shift from D to N and back to D the trans will stay as a 2-3 shift and a 3-4 shift. The 2-3 shift is the one that feels wrong if the TV rod is set wrong.
I'm thinking that looking at this car you are going to need anything right off to certify it. Turn key comes to mind when I look at it, ball joints are scarce but you can still get NOS or NORS for these, you just have to look and be willing to pay the premium price they are bringing right now. Call Craig at Mobile Parts (516) 485-1935 and get him looking for them and when he finds them get them. You will only need one set in your lifetime, we aren't using these cars enough to wear them out now.
Some parts are available now through Fusick and Jaswest.
Good luck on the purchase of this car, I doubt you will have much to fix on it.
Steve

 

The slim jim in my 62 Dynamic 88 operated fine for me in the 15 years I was caretaker of the car. I drove it both local and on the highway. No problems.

 

Slim Jim is a 3 speed tranny.

 

Not 'zactly. There's a gizmus in the coupling called "Accel-A-Rotor" that does that 1st gear dance Steve's talking about. Its action is barely noticeable in operation. The big issue most have with SlimJim is that shudder-clunk-lurch 2-3 shift. My blue 64 SF would routinely stall out completely in that shift esp if trying to get going uphill. The green one was better.

 

Still only has 3 gears.