Transmission prices

[Coupe35]

I’m really surprise at how cheap 33/36 transmissions sell for. Several good used ones on ebay went from $300.00 to $350.00. Is it just because they seldom wear out or break down. After all, these are 70 plus year old units and you would think they would be getting hard to find.

[Bassman/NZ]

They're not desirable because of their straight cut gears. They're supposed to be noisier than the helical gears, but my 36 trans is just fine.

[Barn Junk]

A true 36 trans has all helical gears (first year). The difficulty of the 1932-early 1939 trans from my stand-point is lack of original parts (most 40 and later side shift parts don't interchange), Syncro brass that is not replaceable, Second gear has a thick bushing that seems to wear quickly. That being said, one in good condition will work just fine and could save you some money.

[Floyd]

Depends on what you want to call "good used". If they have not been correctly rebuilt, they are all worn out and will provide you with the popping out of second gear routine. The cost of parts is about $500 and getting almost impossible to find in order properly rebuild one. I have looked at many trans listed as rebuilt and with the top off, they are junk.
Just an opinion
Floyd

[1931 flamingo]

With some internal mods and changing tower can not later gears and synchros be installed??
Paul n CT

[39portlander]

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If your looking @ transmissions, I would strongly recomend reading Mac Van Pelt's (Ins and outs of early ford transmissions). Vern Tardells booklet #2 ford transmission service and repair is another good resource.

After reading both books cover to cover, you will know why those tranny's are selling on ebay and know what to look for when buying one.

Look for a 78 series case from a light-duty three-speed 39-50 truck, plus a complete 42-48 tranny for the internals. The pickup case has a thicker bottom under the relief and is stronger than the pass. car case.

I wish my rebuild parts were only $500.00, but I did have to get a new cluster, and other higher priced parts. It had a rough life and now on a fresh second chance.

[Floyd]

For the above reply, yes the later gearset can be placed in the early box as long as you use the straight up tower and the correct low/reverse fork. You may have to assemble the main drive gear bearing to the shaft after it is in place. The early boxes do not allow the cluster to fall far enough down to install the assembled main drive gear("input shaft"). Mac VP's book is an absolute must if you mess with the transmissions. However even he notes that the book focuses more on the 39 and up box. There are some tricks and pitfalls with the early boxes that need Mac's book, the Ford trans repair manual and the Ford service bulletins plus a few of the drawings in order to correctly put one together.
Working on an early box as we speak.
Just an opinion
Floyd

[f1builder]

Originally Posted by 39portlander

If your looking @ transmissions, I would strongly recomend reading Mac Van Pelt's (Ins and outs of early ford transmissions). Vern Tardells booklet #2 ford transmission service and repair is another good resource.

After reading both books cover to cover, you will know why those tranny's are selling on ebay and know what to look for when buying one.

Look for a 78 series case from a light-duty three-speed 39-50 truck, plus a complete 42-48 tranny for the internals. The pickup case has a thicker bottom under the relief and is stronger than the pass. car case.

I wish my rebuild parts were only $500.00, but I did have to get a new cluster, and other higher priced parts. It had a rough life and now on a fresh second chance.

re: 78 case. i have a good 78 case and was going to put my 41 gears in it but you mention 42-48 internals? can i use my 41? is it not as good as 42-48? thanks in advance for your input, i was just about to start doing this. thanks, george......

[svm99]

Originally Posted by f1builder

re: 78 case. i have a good 78 case and was going to put my 41 gears in it but you mention 42-48 internals? can i use my 41? is it not as good as 42-48? thanks in advance for your input, i was just about to start doing this. thanks, george......

Essentially the same except the synchro unit uses the 3 spring loaded balls instead of the spring wire ring and pressed blocks. The later synchro is easier to assemble also. If you have a good gear set with the '40 and later style synchro with the brass rings you'll be good. Make sure you have the correct thrust washers to match the cluster, ie the earlier 4 tang rear thrust washer which fits into 4 notches in the cluster vs the later 2 tang style cluster where the thrust is notched to fit over the cluster tangs.

Also, always replace the pilot bearing in the flywheel so the input shaft is well supported as it supports the main shaft inside the transmission.
Have fun
Paul J.

[Floyd]

George, the gears from your 41 will be fine. Any of the column shift cars, "side shift" trans cases up to about 48 will work fine. The side shift trans are more available and are used as doners for redoing the desireable top shift boxes. If your 41 is a pickup with a floor shift, then it may have the earilier gearset as the commercial cars (pickups) were last to get the late gearset. Actually the late side shift synchro (51A)is not correct for top shift boxes and can cause problems although it does fit just fine. Please call Mac VP and order his trans book and read the whole thing. You will be very glad you did.
Floyd

[Barn Junk]

The 78 cases with the most room and the strongest are from the 41-52 pickup light duty top loader 3-speeds. They usually had the 29 tooth cluster and that was what the extra space was for. Putting the 29 tooth cluster in the 18 case is a challenge and may even require a little grinding cleanup in the bottom of the case. The 46-52 pickups, floor and column shift, used the same syncro with the clips.

[Hoop]

The "78" case is not a MUST HAVE item. Indicating that it is THE way do go can cause unnecessary concerns for guys transplanting newer gears into ... say, their original '36 transmission, for example.

That '36 case is not going to crack apart and drop gears all over the street.

Unless you plan to pound the daylights out your transmission ... and even then, nobody can offer positive proof ... there is no need to worry about any "weakness" in earlier cases.

If anyone has worries about preserving their original transmission and original serial number on it, they certainly do not have to toss it in favor of a "78" case.

I hope that dumping the original case is not the advice suggested on this forum.

[Mac VP]

Hoop.....I very much agree with your statement about the 48 vs 78 cases. There is the issue of fitting the 29T cluster inside (and even in some cases the 28T cluster) but that can be overcome in a couple of ways. A perfectly good 48 case should not be wasted in search of the "holy grail" 78 series case.

[Capn John]

Originally Posted by Mac VP

Hoop.....I very much agree with your statement about the 48 vs 78 cases. There is the issue of fitting the 29T cluster inside (and even in some cases the 28T cluster) but that can be overcome in a couple of ways. A perfectly good 48 case should not be wasted in search of the "holy grail" 78 series case.

In a previous V8 TIMES there is an article on how to adopt the internals into a 48 case. Not having read MacVP's book I imagine he's covered that issue. Time to order a copy !!! He's the GURU on the subject!!!

[39portlander]

Good reply hoop, I agree 100% and believe me when I post some stat. or ref., it's from some book I have read and written by someone who has forgotten more than I will know.

Without Mac's book I would have no idea what I was doing. Just passing along highlights I think can contribute to a thread