Fluid drive leaking (1941 D19)

[roofdown]

Our D19 barn relic is now running and we even took it out for a small test drive recently. However, the problem we've got now is the fluid drive is leaking pretty good. Is there a replacement seal kit for the fluid drive? I've got a D19 shop manual and it implies that special tools are needed to service the fluid drive.

Just curious if anyone has done fluid drive seals before....if so, what type of challenges are we up against? If seal replacement isn't an option for us, then perhaps we can send it out to a specialist for a rebuild.?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

-Garrett

[garbagestate 44]

You might try this guy http://www.oldmoparts.com/ Some people say he's great and others say he's rude and impatient. I personally haven't had any trouble in the 1 or 2 times I've dealt with him but he does have fluid drive stuff. Good luck

[JIPJOBXX]

There is a magazine down at our local grocery store that deals in old cars and parts. I cannot recall the name of it but I know they have somewhere in that magazine a guy who rebuilds those old fluid drives. Maybe someone here can come up with the name of that magazine as I'm having a senior moment at the present time. If it comes back to my brain than I will pop up here again.

[greg g]

There are seal kits available from a number of sources. Congrats on getting it runing and driving. Are you sure its fluid drive stuff and not the rear main seal?

[Dodgeb4ya]

Your car uses a special copper bellows accordian seal that screws into the fluid drive coupling. I have seen these copper bellows seals with corroded pin holes in them. It (the bellows seal) has a hardened steel ring wear surface on the inner end that a special graphite ring seal seals against. One or both are most likely bad.Also the graphite ring seals against a inner hardened seal surface inside the Fluid drive coupling that is not accessable or replaceable with out special equipment.To remove the bellows seal unit ( after 1st removing the clutch driven plate) a special 4 prong socket is used to remove it as you have seen in your shop manual. You need the bellows and graphite ring to hopefully seal the FD unit up. I have done many this way.

Bellows seal unit is a MoPar #857616 and the graphite seal is #1064616.

Bob

[JIPJOBXX]

I bought a rebuilt fluid coupling for my Dodge and found it on the internet for $275 dollars plus shipping and old one inturn. If you can go this way I wouln't fool around and try to rebuild your drive unit and beside there is a roller bearing on the front and it probably needs to be replaced.

[p24-1953]

what is the difference between fluid drive and hydrive?

[Dodgeb4ya]

There is a magazine down at our local grocery store that deals in old cars and parts. I cannot recall the name of it but I know they have somewhere in that magazine a guy who rebuilds those old fluid drives. Maybe someone here can come up with the name of that magazine as I'm having a senior moment at the present time. If it comes back to my brain than I will pop up here again.

I think I agree. You need all the tools to do it the easy way and the right way. Am glad I have all the tools to do these.

Bob

[garbagestate 44]

I think the Hy Drive circulates engine oil through the fluid coupling unlike a fluid drive which is self contained.

[Dodgeb4ya]

The Plymouth Hy-Drive converter is a torque multiplier like all modern cars use-unlike a fluid drive coupling which does not multiply torque. It's just a fluid coupling pushing fluid from one 1/2 to the other 1/2.

Bob

[roofdown]

Thanks for all of the responses. Sounds like acquiring a rebuilt unit could be the best solution here. My dad is the "crew chief" on this project (and he's a longtime mechanic) so I don't doubt his skills to rebuild....however, we don't have any of the special FD tools at this point, so that has potential to become a big hassle.

Looks like Andy Bernbaum has a "FLUID DRIVE ASSEMBLY-WITH CLUTCH DRIVING PLATE" for $349 (core required). Anyone else got alternative suggestions for where to acquire one? I'd also be open to sending our original out for a rebuild too.

Thanks,

-Garrett

[roofdown]

I just did some browsing around the Hemmings site and found a company called Northwest Transmission Parts (Ohio). Here is the ad:

FLUID drive units and seals, 1936-54, Chrysler, DeSoto, Dodge, clutches, pressure plates, etc. Northwest Transmission Parts, 937-442-2811; 800-327-1955, OH; northwest@nwtparts.com; www.nwtparts.com

Anyone dealt with them before?

Thanks.

[JIPJOBXX]

Yahoo I remembered the name of the magazine!!! If you do not want to buy the magazine than usually your local library will have one on there shelves. Some place in that newsprint there is a guy who rebuilds those old units as I have seen him before in there. Jon:D

http://www.hemmings.com/

[Jim Yergin]

I just did some browsing around the Hemmings site and found a company called Northwest Transmission Parts (Ohio). Here is the ad:

FLUID drive units and seals, 1936-54, Chrysler, DeSoto, Dodge, clutches, pressure plates, etc. Northwest Transmission Parts, 937-442-2811; 800-327-1955, OH; northwest@nwtparts.com; www.nwtparts.com

Anyone dealt with them before?

Thanks.

I dealt with them for parts for my overdrive transmission. I was very pleased with the parts and the customer service.

Jim Yergin

[p24-1953]

what is a throw out bearing? is this one?

[Plymouthy Adams]

a bearing that has gone bad and is no longer suitable for the job designed..

the throw out bearing is the animal that slide on the input shaft collar and when it makes contact with the fingers on the clutch cover compresses the springs and takes the pressure off the clutch disc...

[p24-1953]

so the photo posted above is a throw out bearing?

[Don Coatney]

The picture below is a non fluid drive but I believe the throw out bearing is the same as a fluid drive. Bearing number 6-19-3, part number 1505

[Plymouthy Adams]

folks need to understand that coupling is one thing, the transmission is yet another..the tranny and clutch is as a standard vehicle..only the intermediate coupler is different be it a fluid drive or actual torque converter as on the hy-drive..