Shifting Question.....Update

[Nabco]

Hi guys,

So I've been trying to drive my car everyday (when it's not raining anyway), she is running great, been playing with the GAV and Spark Advance and really getting her dialed in....one thing that I've noticed is the longer I drive her when shifting into 2nd and 3rd it is not 100% smooth, not grinding the gears but it doesn't just drop into gear like it does when it is not as warmed up. When I first start out it drops right into gear with no noice at all....almost like a syncro'd tranny.

My thought is as the transmission oil warms up it should shift easier, in my case it seems to be worse.....again, it's not grinding it's just not as smooth.

Any thoughts on this.......

Thanks

Nick

[Russ/40]

It likes the viscosity of oil at cooler temps. What oil are you using in the transmission?

[Will N]

Double clutch.

[Nabco]

Originally Posted by Russ/40

It likes the viscosity of oil at cooler temps. What oil are you using in the transmission?

I'm not sure what oil is in there, I got the car from my father-in-law 2 years ago, according to his records the transmission oil was changed about 200 miles before I got the car, I've put probably 750 miles on it since getting it, maybe a little more.

He was pretty good about using the correct products in both his A's and he had a lot of friends in the hobby, I'm guessing he had help doing this the last time he did it.

[Nabco]

Originally Posted by Will N

Double clutch.

You may be right Will, I did notice today when down shifting I double clutch and it was a smooth gear change.

[Patrick L.]

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As the transmission warms does slowing down with the shift help ? If so, sounds normal to me.

[Nabco]

Originally Posted by Patrick L.

As the transmission warms does slowing down with the shift help ? If so, sounds normal to me.

Yes, if I go neutral, 1/1000, 2/1000, shift it is much better

[tbirdtbird]

Trannies of the era were non-synchro.
Cadillac changed all that in 1928 but with patents and all it took a while for the other makes to catch on.
If you like your tranny gear teeth very much at all, double clutching is the way to go.

Highly experienced ppl are able to shift without double clutching, but why take a chance? Have you any idea how hard it is to get an A tranny out of the car for an overhaul when all the teeth are ground down to stumps?

[eagle]

I use Lucas Oil Stabilizer in my transmission. Makes it feel silky smooth without the fade of 600W.

[Nabco]

Originally Posted by eagle

I use Lucas Oil Stabilizer in my transmission. Makes it feel silky smooth without the fade of 600W.

Are you using 100% Lucas or as an additive.

[eagle]

100% lucas oil stabilizer. Feels silky smooth. Originally tried another lucas product but it fades when hot. Also foamed. Oil stabilizer works great. I think it's been in 3 or 4 years...hard to keep track of the years!

[Nabco]

Quick update.....checked the tranny oil level and it was low, added Lucas Oil Stabilizer and she now shifts like a dream......slides right into gear....I'm probably going to go ahead and drain it and refill with fresh oil.

Thanks for the help.....Nick

[Mitch//pa]

It's always wise to check / change the fluids on a newly acquired car, and not assume. Driving it low is not the best thing ask Tom W about his Corvair

[PC/SR]

As the fluid warms it gets thinner and the gears rotate more before they slow down to the shifting speed you are using. The thickeners accomplish the same result. No need to double clutch shifting up.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

It's always wise to check / change the fluids on a newly acquired car, and not assume. Driving it low is not the best thing ask Tom W about his Corvair

You've got a good memory Mitch.
I used "copy" and "paste" to bring the story here for those who haven't read it. It was a tough but valuable lesson for me.


I didn't hear anything other than the usual noise of spur gears. As Mitch said, be sure to drain and refill with the right oil. The first thing I do whenever I buy a car is change all the fluids and check the brakes. The only time I didn't check the rear end oil was when I was in El Paso in the Army, and I bought a 1962 Corvan. It was mint with a rebuilt motor and I bought it for only $150 because the motor missed on 2 cylinders. I adjusted the too tight rocker arms, and it was perfect. I changed all the fluids, except the rear end. I planned to do that when I drove it home on leave. I got into the middle of New Mexico and the rear end locked up due to lack of oil. It locked so sudden and complete that I didn't even have time to pull off the road. I had a pump oil can and a quart of motor oil, so I filled the rear end with it, let it cool for 30 minutes, then kept popping the clutch forward and reverse. I finally got it to move, but it sounded like a broken down threshing machine. I got to the middle of Kansas and it let go completely.

I got towed to the Chevy garage parking lot, where they let me remove the rear end in their parking lot, as I didn't have enough money to pay them. I found a good used rear end for $10 in a Corvair where the engine had been sold. Using my spare tire and scissors jack, I was able to change the rear end and get back on the road. The rear end ratio was now 3.27 from the car, instead of the 3.54 for the Corvan, but at least I could drive again. This was a tough lesson just for not checking the oil level right off the bat. And, would you believe this is the only time I didn't check this one item, and this is the only time it was really needed. Any time I gamble, I loose.

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

You might want to check your differential. Sometimes oil from the tranny will leak thru and overfill the rearend.

[Nabco]

Originally Posted by Chuck Sea/Tac

You might want to check your differential. Sometimes oil from the tranny will leak thru and overfill the rearend.

Checked the differential this morning, oil was right up at the filler hole so should be good to go.

Also I have cookie sheets with cat litter under the length of the car, no leaking at all in the rear.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

You've got a good memory Mitch.
I used "copy" and "paste" to bring the story here for those who haven't read it. It was a tough but valuable lesson for me.


I didn't hear anything other than the usual noise of spur gears. As Mitch said, be sure to drain and refill with the right oil. The first thing I do whenever I buy a car is change all the fluids and check the brakes. The only time I didn't check the rear end oil was when I was in El Paso in the Army, and I bought a 1962 Corvan. It was mint with a rebuilt motor and I bought it for only $150 because the motor missed on 2 cylinders. I adjusted the too tight rocker arms, and it was perfect. I changed all the fluids, except the rear end. I planned to do that when I drove it home on leave. I got into the middle of New Mexico and the rear end locked up due to lack of oil. It locked so sudden and complete that I didn't even have time to pull off the road. I had a pump oil can and a quart of motor oil, so I filled the rear end with it, let it cool for 30 minutes, then kept popping the clutch forward and reverse. I finally got it to move, but it sounded like a broken down threshing machine. I got to the middle of Kansas and it let go completely.

I got towed to the Chevy garage parking lot, where they let me remove the rear end in their parking lot, as I didn't have enough money to pay them. I found a good used rear end for $10 in a Corvair where the engine had been sold. Using my spare tire and scissors jack, I was able to change the rear end and get back on the road. The rear end ratio was now 3.27 from the car, instead of the 3.54 for the Corvan, but at least I could drive again. This was a tough lesson just for not checking the oil level right off the bat. And, would you believe this is the only time I didn't check this one item, and this is the only time it was really needed. Any time I gamble, I loose.

Tom,
When I got Vermin, he had ONLY 1/8 cup of oil in the trans & rear end
Filled them with 600W & everything was OK! (WHEW!)
Bill Happy