39 Pickup tranny

[Clem Clement]

I'm hearing that the 29 pickup did not carry the new 39 transmission. It had the 37 transmission from the factory. That correct?
Clem

[tubman]

You mean '39 pickup, don't you?

[Clem Clement]

Yes. 39 pickup. Sorry.

[bart78]

Vanpelts says they did use the 39 transmission in the pickup.

[Fred A]

Ford was well known for using the parts from prior production until old stocks were used up. This famously applied to commercials and to some extent, the standard models. That would put earlier transmissions in many pickups. I bought a couple with '39 numbers filled with earlier gears but topped with double detent tops. Not a happy discovery for my purposes. Good Luck: Fred A

[Mac VP]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

As Fred said. As a rule of thumb, the pickups and even the Standard Ford V8's were given the '38 gear sets in 1939 cases (with the double detent shifter housing and the 68-7230 shifter fork instead of the 91-7230 fork). This gearset would have the old style synchro, of course. Not sure how long this was kept up, but I suspect they all eventually got the genuine 39 trans as old parts were used up. The Delux V8's and the new Mercurys all received the new trans from job one.

[Clem Clement]

Thanks guys. I'll live with the tranny noises.

[bart78]

If the case is marked 78. The newer gears will fit in it.

[tamnalan]

I too have a '39 trans with the double detent shifter housing and older synchro design. What would it cost to convert to the newer synchro? I understand that just about all internals must be swapped - I just don't know how common the later internals are.

[Sid the Maineiac]

Tamnalan, Talk with Mac Van Pelt who has responded to this topic ! He can give you a ballpark figure I am quite sure for him to do the work or for the parts alone. Great reputation, too !

[Barn Junk]

Originally Posted by tamnalan

I too have a '39 trans with the double detent shifter housing and older synchro design. What would it cost to convert to the newer synchro? I understand that just about all internals must be swapped - I just don't know how common the later internals are.

If you can find a "good" 1940-1948 pass car column shift trans, all the parts can be installed in the 39 case. The correct 91A 2-3 shifter fork is repro'ed and can be installed in your 39 shifter top to complete the conversion.

[Clem Clement]

Today a friend swapped me a rusty 39 tranny. Whooo Hooo!!

[Juergen]

Originally Posted by Mac VP

As Fred said. As a rule of thumb, the pickups and even the Standard Ford V8's were given the '38 gear sets in 1939 cases (with the double detent shifter housing and the 68-7230 shifter fork instead of the 91-7230 fork). This gearset would have the old style synchro, of course. Not sure how long this was kept up, but I suspect they all eventually got the genuine 39 trans as old parts were used up. The Delux V8's and the new Mercurys all received the new trans from job one.

y

Mac, my friend bought an early (first month from the vehicle trans number) Deluxe Ford which he street rodded. I bought the trans. It still had the old style gears. It was crusty enough to be original and I doubt someone would rebuild it with old gears.

[Rowdy]

The gears will also fit in the earlier cases most of the time. It is tight and requires some patience. Rod

[rotorwrench]

In the war years, they used what ever they had available to them. For someone on the cheep, The old gears would work just fine.

[tamnalan]

So how preferred is the later design over the '37-39 synchro design? Do the brass synchros work that much better? I plan to use my '39 pickup as a driver.. several thousand miles per year.

My '43 Willys T-84 trans uses the later brass synchro design, but also specs bushings for the cluster gear instead of needle bearings. Go figure!