What happens to a transmission in for a rebuild

[Mac VP]

With everyone forced to stay close to home (or the TV, the computer, or perhaps your shop) we decided to give you guys and gals a little peak into the secret happenings in our transmission rebuilding shop. This will be mainly a picture thread with my own comments, and perhaps a few replies to your comments and questions. The patient in this thread is a 1949 Mercury overdrive 3 speed transmission. This unit came out of a customer's 1949-50 F1 pickup truck. The early Merc overdrive is a common transplant into the F1 trucks.

The transmission is shown pretty much totally disassembled and laid out on the floor of the shop. Some of the misc bolts and such are missing from the picture but you get the point. This is how most of the jobs arrive in our shop....a blend of grease, gear oil, rust, and dirt. You can see that the years of use have darkened the oil on the internal parts. As we move through the job we will take photos of the parts as they move through the cleaning process.

So this is it for today. Stayed tuned for progress on the transmission! Here are links to
PART 2:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278395

PART 3:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278551

PART 4:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...95#post1867195

PART 5:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278760

PART 6:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278891

PART 7:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...70#post1872470

PART 8:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...60#post1873060

PART 9:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=279621

PART 10:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=279746

PART 11:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...72#post1885172

[Ggmac]

Thank you . I'll be watching

[Darrell S]

Thanks Mac, for sharing. I'll be watching too.

[VeryTangled]

This is one of the few times I wish we had a Thumbs Up or Like here on the 'Barn.

Mac is an amazing old-Ford guy (Edit: part of an amazing team...), and I'd pay money to just stand around in a corner of his shop. His presentation in Dearborn in '18 was PhD grade educational material.

The company website is a 12 on a scale of 1 to 10! Props to their webmaster.

[bobH]

Originally Posted by VeryTangled

This is one of the few times I wish we had a Thumbs Up or Like here on the 'Barn.

but I just got into this deal around the time Mrs. Mac switched a gear

Speaking of.... I haven't heard a word about the 'Model A Lady' in a long time. I hope all is going well. We haven't forgotten you........

[VeryTangled]

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Originally Posted by bobH

Speaking of.... I haven't heard a word about the 'Model A Lady' in a long time. I hope all is going well. We haven't forgotten you........

And I felt a teeny bit skeevy mentioning it so in my message it is edited out by the time sent this reply.

The switched a gear line was pretty good, but talking about a person's spouse was over the line so I self edited.

I really hope I didn't torpedo this before it's out of the harbor.

[Mac VP]

Although she prefers to stay in the background, the former Model A Lady is doing fine, and appreciated your asking. So, back to our regularly scheduled program.

[tubman]

I will be watching. Thanks for taking the time. I for one, really appreciate it.

[35fordtn]

Originally Posted by Mac VP

Although she prefers to stay in the background, the former Model A Lady is doing fine, and appreciated your asking. So, back to our regularly scheduled program.

Mac thanks for doing this. In a time where nothing but bad news is spreading it’s refreshing to see a guy like you give us something to see and escape our minds from the world for a bit.

[JSeery]

Thanks Mac for sharing your knowledge!

[Alaska Jim]

I wish Mac would make a video of the complete reassembly process for this transmission. I am sure there would be a market for it. I for one would buy one, and help me refresh my memory, as I have 2 of these transmissions that need gone through. The overdrive section is what I am not that familiar with, haven't built one since 1970. the regular 3 speed part is not a problem

[V8COOPMAN]

Man, except for NO beer and NO 'dome dogs, this'll almost be a perfect replacement for the now-defunct baseball season. DD

[Teltruck]

Will be watching! Thanks.
Bob

[tubman]

I have a '51 OD transmission mounted on a special fixture on an engine stand just waiting for this. It's even all cleaned up!

Let the games begin!

If I find I need parts, I know where to go.

[Emmit51]

Great thread. Thank you!

[VeryTangled]

Fantastic that you mention baseball, because of your location ID.

Still glowing in the DC 'burbs.

February is usually the worst for baseball fans who glare out sad grey windows... But now? Glad to see the NASCAR dudes tear up some virtual junk today! I really rooted for the 8 car and got out of my chair like I missed for about the last twenty year! Who Hoo!

[Mart]

Thanks for sharing this information Mac. Because of my remote location I have to "do it yourself" so any and all information is devoured hungrily.

Mart.

[Mac VP]

I am introducing each new segment as a fresh thread. Look for the same title under Part 2 (and followed by Parts 3,4 etc as they become available).

[APDAVE]

Thanks Mac!

[Aarongriffey]

I have a ‘’49 or 50 Mercury transmission with overdrive.
I also have nice F1 with a rebuilt engine and broken transmission.
I ve been told by several people
that putting an overdrive tranny in an F1 requires too much frame cutting to be worth the effort.they say too many F1 pickups ended up in the junk because somebody tried to install an overdrive tranny.

[corvette8n]

Thanks for bringing this series to the barn, looking forward to the installments.

[expavr]

Originally Posted by Aarongriffey

I have a ‘’49 or 50 Mercury transmission with overdrive.
I also have nice F1 with a rebuilt engine and broken transmission.
I ve been told by several people
that putting an overdrive tranny in an F1 requires too much frame cutting to be worth the effort.they say too many F1 pickups ended up in the junk because somebody tried to install an overdrive tranny.

Check your PM. The swap is doable. No frame cutting.

[Krylon32]

Great stuff

[Mac VP]

We were talking at the shop today and the choice of transmission candidates for this thread came up. I will explain that I chose this particular type for several reasons. Mainly, it’s the one transmission that shares the most common characteristics of the various early Ford transmissions that we rebuild. Its 3 speed gearset is virtually the same as most 1940-48 passenger car trannies......it has the large round bell and clutch shaft shared by the typical 1932-48 Ford three speed units of this era.....and the side cover and shifter forks are nearly the same as the 1940-48 side loaders. Then, we have the added benefit of the Borg Warner overdrive section to provide some benefit for the overdrive guys’ interest. So, this single model touches all the bases for this project.

I really don’t plan to spend any time on how you can modify this trans, or how it could be fitted to other vehicles beyond the 1949-50 Mercury cars. We’ll stay focused on the transmission itself and the rebuild techniques we use.

[tubman]

Excellent choice for the reasons stated. I particularly like the O/D part.

[mfirth]

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Thanks Mac ! I have o/d in the 52 Vic, so....if i need parts some day...thanks again !
mike

[Mac VP]

I took many pics at the shop yesterday. The next segment should be posted by Friday. Stay tuned......

[Mac VP]

Part 4 is now up and ready to view.....Enjoy!

[Mac VP]

Part 5 is up and read to view!

[Mac VP]

Part 5 was expanded and I just posted Part 6.

[petehoovie]

"Parts Is Parts"

[Mac VP]

I just posted Part 7 of this project. Also, please note that I have added a couple pics to some of the previous Parts, so you can re-read those to see anything fresh.

[Mac VP]

And now Part 8 is posted...….

[Mac VP]

Part 9 done and Part 10 coming later today....

[Mac VP]

Part 10 is there now. Still more to come of course.

[Mac VP]

I just added the rest of the pics for PART 10 for those who are following this thread. I will try to put PART 11 up this weekend.

[Mac VP]

I’ve had some requests recently from people interested in this rebuild process, and my old thread is a bit difficult to find in the search tool. So, I am popping it back up once more for those folks. Don’t forget that this project was covered in 10+ separate threads so you have to jump to Page 2 then Page 3 and so on.

[19Fordy]

THANK YOU so much for posting all this info.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Mac VP

I’ve had some requests recently from people interested in this rebuild process, and my old thread is a bit difficult to find in the search tool. So, I am popping it back up once more for those folks. Don’t forget that this project was covered in 10+ separate threads so you have to jump to Page 2 then Page 3 and so on.

Hey Mac....I'm kind'a dense at times, and right NOW is one of them. Can you PLEASE point me to the link for these 10 threads? Thanks a million! Coop

.

[Mart]

Coops (and all) just revisit post #1 on this very thread.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278347

Mart.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Mart

Coops (and all) just revisit post #1 on this very thread.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278347

Mart.

Duh..... I'm an idiot! Thank you, Mart!! Coop

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