First post (other than personal intro on other thread here)!

I have a 1980 Volvo 240GL sedan that my parents bought brand new in 1980. It is a great car, but it has developed a problem that I need a hand with.

First, let me explain that I do not know ANYTHING about car repairs. I put gas in my car, and every other tiny thing that needs to be done to my car gets farmed out to my family's long-term mechanic. Thus, PLEASE do not reply with ANY lingo, because there is NO CHANCE that I will understand what you are talking about.

That having been said, here is the problem. Last summer, I had to have some transmission work done. When I got the car back, I was told that the overdrive unit had failed and been removed. I was told that the overdrive is not really a fifth gear, but is a separate device that works kind of like a fifth gear.

Since then, I have not had any overdrive. As a result, my car does just fine around town. But, if I drive more than 50 mph, the engine starts to whine because I can't "shift into fifth." As a result, I can't really use my car to drive on the interstates or high speed highways.

I have been after my mechanic for several MONTHS now, and I feel like I'm getting the run-around. My mechanic does fine work and is super honest and fair, but he is as disorganized as anyone I know to the point that I get anxious just going to the shop and watching him bounce between phone calls and working on cars, etc. I actually get stressed out.

He has told me that he can't find a source for a reliable replacement overdrive unit.

I honestly have no idea if that even makes sense, but that is what I am told. And so, my question: Where can a person go to find a source for 1980 overdrive units?

Again, I do not understand anything about car repairs, so PLEASE do not reply with advice on how to fix anything on my car. I will not do that. At all.

But if anyone has thoughts on a source for a 1980 overdrive unit, please let me know!

Kevin