Re: Henry's 55 Constellation

Posted by BH On 2010/8/24 18:44:44

The part shown in Hank's image numbers 1486, 1484, and 1487 is listed in (Gr. 3.612) as the "converter shaft assembly". It is also referenced in a couple Service Counselor articles on "Converter Pump Shaft - Oil Pump Rotor Splines".

I believe the article published in the May 1956 SC (Vol. 30., No. 5) merely involves a clarification of transmission serial numbers (as a watershed point in 56th series production run) from the article as originally published in March 1955 SC (Vol. 30., No. 3).

While the same part number, 450257, for that shaft is specified in that article for all Gear Start and Twin Ultramatic, the eight 1/8" holes had to be drilled for all 54th Series Gear Start and 55th Series Twin Ultras, but only some later 56th Series Twin Ultras.

Yet, I found that page 48 of the 55-56 parts book (revised July, 1 1956) shows a different part number, 6484522, for that shaft. In fact, that part number is subsequently referenced in the August 1956 SC (Vol. 30., No. 8) as a Converter Shaft Assembly (Drilled). Also, another new part number, 6484523, is referenced in that article for the late 56th Series Twin Ultra as a Converter Shaft Assembly (NOT Drilled). Hmm, I wonder how P/N 6484523 differs from the P/N 450257, which was also not drilled, as it cmae from the factory.

Meanwhile, it could be that the shaft that came out of Hank's converter was either drilled in the field or came that way off the shelf, but his transmission appears to have been updated correctly in that regard.

Alas, I could find NO reference to a "converter shaft bushing" in the parts books or any SC, STB or SSB that I know of. I suspect the converter shaft assembly consists of that shaft and bushing, but - for reasons unknown to me - the components were not serviced separately by S-P. Neither Kanter's nor MaxMerrit's site list such a bushing, but I see that Kanter offers a rebuilt shaft assembly on an exchange basis.

I don't know where the two, small o-rings, shown in Hank's image number 1484, go.

Perhaps Ross can shed some additional light on both of these matters.