Chipped Tooth Cluster Gear

[Nasukau]

Hi all,
I am putting back together a 1937 trans and I have one chipped tooth on the cluster gear. Will it be ok to still use this?

Denny

[Ken/Alabama]

Personally, I would not. It's a lot of work to re-do.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Nasukau

Hi all,
I am putting back together a 1937 trans and I have one chipped tooth on the cluster gear. Will it be ok to still use this?

Denny

I would not install that gear. No how - no way.

[cas3]

i am no expert, but i too would look for a better gear. cluster gears are expensive. some more in demand than others, and your all helical gear was used for many years. what is the tooth count on the big gear?

[Nasukau]

This is a 28 tooth.

[B-O-B]

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You will regret it if you do

[cas3]

sadly, 28 is what is the most in demand for nicer gear ratios. its not swap meet season or you can usually buy a whole tranny for less than that gear will cost you. do you have a stock 37, or has it been upgraded to the late style syncros? if not, now is perhaps the time. i can go into that more if you are not aware of the swap

[Paul Bennett]

Originally Posted by Nasukau

... Will it be ok to still use this?

They make great conversation-piece paper weights. If you install a chipped cluster, wash your hands then order a full complement of gears..

[Nasukau]

cas3 - this is a stock 37. It has not been upgraded. Does that require all internal gears to be swapped out to upgrade?

Denny

[cas3]

yes, all internals. its a very popular thing to improve your old ford. in 39 ford changed the design of the syncro's to basically the same thing you find in a modern car. what you look for is a 40-48 side shift trans (3 on the tree), and put all the guts out of that case into your top shift case. you would also want the double detent 81a style cover, which your 37 shift lever will fit. these tranys are common, craigslist, swap meets etc. but be sure to pull the cover off, look for the 28 tooth cluster, and condition of the rest. heres a link to mac vanpelts wonderful web site to further explain the "39" style trans http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/f...sID_3speed.htm theres lots look at there, go to "home" and check other stuff too

[cas3]

i should add, in my part of the world they can be had for 50-150 bucks depending on where you are shopping. a good gear for your trans bought from a dealer will be 2 or 3 times that

[rotorwrench]

Contact Mac VP at VanPelt Sales. He can sometimes supply used internals but in any case, he supplies the highest quality parts for transmissions that are available. His book is well work having for every sort of info needed for these old cog boxes. He can also supply the 91A shift fork for a conversion to the later 39 to 50 improved synchro light duty 3-speed.

[Fred A]

I was about to dismiss the naysayers as I too often do, but even though such first gears have taken vintage fords tens of millions of good miles, I decided to take one last close look. If there had only been a quarter inch more tooth, but now even I would have trashed that one. These days I think we have higher standards than when vintage had not yet become parts of the parts description. Good Luck Denny: Fred A

[Jack E/NJ]

>>>such first gears have taken vintage fords tens of millions of good miles>>>These days I think we have higher standards than when vintage had not yet become parts of the parts description.>>>

Gotta agree. Cuz my chipped tooth was much worse-looking than the OPs. Yet it held up behind a healthy SBC with a lead-footed driver for 20 years till it finally let loose along with an adjacent tooth. Only then did it and the rest of the guts get replaced. My standards today are probably almost as high as they ever were. 8^) Jack E/NJ

[Henry Floored]

Would anyone try to weld that up? If backed into a corner I sure would.

[JSeery]

I would think welding would mess up the hardening?

[tubman]

Originally Posted by JSeery

I would think welding would mess up the hardening?

Hard surface rod?

[cas3]

the OP never said why he was"putting back together" the trans. pops out of gear? noisy bearings? 60 year annual cleaning? we dont know. but myself, i would not want to put a bunch of other new parts in there without fixing that too. we also dont know whats expected out of the new trans, like trips to the dairy queen twice a year, or miles and miles like old henry does. it makes a difference. in my youth i would have put that gear back in, but now days i like to know its not going to be a problem that comes back to haunt me on long trips. whats the plan nasukau ?

[flatheadmurre]

Originally Posted by tubman

Hard surface rod?

The heat from welding will still mess up the original heat treatment of the parts no matter what rod you use.

[Nasukau]

Cas3 - here is my plan. I am putting a stock 1942 Flathead and the 37 trans into my 1931 pickup that will be running a stock Model A rearend. This truck will be used to just cruise. Not for doing burnouts. I was given the transmission while picking up parts for another car so i have no idea of the history of the transmission. The 28 tooth cluster gear seems to be pretty pricey. That’s why i was asking for some advice whether to replace or keep it.

Denny