rich little

[daveymc29]

Anyone know the phone number or email?

[russcochiolo]

Rich Little and Mickey 661-325 2255 123 Shafter Avenue, Shafter, CA. Absolutely #1 guys that do exceptional work and treat customers right. Russ

[JDupuis]

What type of work do these guys do?
Should their info be added to the top "sticky"?
Thanks. Jeff

[daveymc29]

The Volvo Overdrives and yes, they should be in the sticky, IMHO

[31 RPU]

Is Rich Little still around? I used to love watching him do impersonations as a kid.
Especially Archie and Edith Bunker.

[nhusa]

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Most of us are just a Little Rich!
Ok We are big broke!

[old31]

How many of you are using Rich's Volvo overdrive. Is it just a OD or is it also a syhcro?

[Chuck Dempsey]

Originally Posted by 31 RPU

Is Rich Little still around? I used to love watching him do impersonations as a kid.
Especially Archie and Edith Bunker.

I loved his Nixon impression....

[Larry Jenkins]

Us older folk remember Rich Little as a performer.. and a damn good impersonator. Saw him in Vegas many years ago and recently in Riverside. Iowa.

This "Rich Little" is obviously a Model A guy..

[daveymc29]

The Volvo overdrive is an overdrive that is mounted into the torque tube. It is a hydraulically actuated shift that is made by tripping a switch, either on or off. That activates a solenoid that lets the hydraulic pump supply pressure to a servo that engages the overdrive. (Or in the off position disengages it), very simple and sturdy overdrive. Must be wired so as to always be disengaged when in reverse, much as the B/W OD. The shift is very smooth like an automatic transmission. They come in several ratios. Rich Little is the man to see in CA. MHO

[Dave in Petaluma]

Can this OD be adapted to 6V?

[Dick M]

My Volvo overdrive from Rich Little has been in my A for 5 years and 10,000 miles. No issues. I love it!! Rich is a great guy to deal with.....

[john charlton]

My wifes elderly Volvo was bound for the crusher so I rescued the Laycock O/D out of it before it went for scrap . I did a deal with the scrap man that if he removed it for me he could have the rest of the car for free ,the scrap value of the car would have been around equiv $90 . So the O/D cost me $90 . A few months later the junkyard(AKA recycling centre) called me to tell me they had another Volvo 740 in and did I want another O/D for $90 ,yes I said so now I have 2 . I now find no one in UK does the torquetube conversion . Question is are Volvo O/Ds readily available in USA and if so how much are they worth ??? Should I bring one to sunny Chandler AZ in my carry on ???

John in weather was cancelledl again today Suffolk County England .

[Herb Concord Ca]

Hi John, yes the Volvo O/D is available in the US, mostly from 240 series. BTW I hope you got the long shaft from the transmission to the O/D, it's needed to do the conversion for use in the Model A.
I have been using mine since 2000 it's now in it's second Model A. At least 6 or more are in Model A's in our club, Diablo A's.

[john charlton]

Thank you Herb,yes got the complete setup with 4 speed trans still attached . These both came out of 740 Volvos . Just wondered what they would be worth in USA .

John still in Suffolk County England .

[old31]

Does anyone have a set of instructions as to what is needed to install rich's unit?

Does Rich provide the cut driveshaft, bell housing brackets etc., or does he just ship the trans?

[Herb Concord Ca]

Hi John, sorry I forgot to answer your question on value of the volvo O/D. On the West Coast where I live, you can get them from a wrecking yard for about $100 or maybe slightly less.

Old 31, Rich does all the machine work to install the Volvo O/D in a Model A torque tube. What you get looks just like a Model A driveshaft and torque tube but with the O/D bolted in the middle. No mods are needed to the bell housing brackets. The torque tube with O/D connects to the U-joint just like a regular drive shaft and torque tube. Hope this answers your questions.
Herb Concord CA

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

The later Model "J" Laycock is stronger & several modifications, including NOT to have to adjust the TRICKY Solenoid linkage.
Disassembling one is MOST interesting! The pump is a cam operated plunger, much like the one in a lever type Grease Gun, puts out something like 3,000 Lbs pressure! The solenoid directs pressure to 2 hydraulic pistons, which PULLS the cone clutch into the OVERDRIVE position. It's held in the DIRECT position by SPRINGS. It has a SPRAG clutch, that comes into play, in OVERDRIVE only.
When it doesn't work, it's likely LOW on OEL! Use ONLY ATF!
If MAJOR parts break, it costs you AN ARM/A LEG/AND YOUR SMARTEST CHILD!!! & "MAYBE" your DOG even!--LOL----The Dog's LAFFIN'---He's my "proof" reader.--NO, he duzn't do ANTI-PAIN-PILLS & COFFEE, like his Ol' Dad does!
Bill Laycock

[old31]

Originally Posted by Herb Concord Ca

Hi John, sorry I forgot to answer your question on value of the volvo O/D. On the West Coast where I live, you can get them from a wrecking yard for about $100 or maybe slightly less.

Old 31, Rich does all the machine work to install the Volvo O/D in a Model A torque tube. What you get looks just like a Model A driveshaft and torque tube but with the O/D bolted in the middle. No mods are needed to the bell housing brackets. The torque tube with O/D connects to the U-joint just like a regular drive shaft and torque tube. Hope this answers your questions.
Herb Concord CA

Do the rear radius rods have to be altered?

Is the unit fully upshift and downshift synchronized in all gears?

Does this unit eliminate the transmission?

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by old31

Do the rear radius rods have to be altered?

Is the unit fully upshift and downshift synchronized in all gears?

Does this unit eliminate the transmission?

Radius rods do NOT have to be altered.
It shifts purely by a cone clutch, that transmits power to the planetary gears.
It was originally mounted as a part of a regular transmission & the oil was common to both units.
Bill Laycock