Beeen a while since I've been on the board. I'm 51 Merc in the old Hamb and Ford Barn . Still have and drive the Merc., but at the age of 73 I've started a new project with and for our Grandson, Matthew. He's a great kid and works hard to support his Mom while his Dad James( our son) is on the road hauling freight. James and I found a '48 Chrysler Windsor more door that was stored in a shed in Utah. It appears someone started a restoration maybe 15 years ago? Original 6 in line has no wear ridge,and the oil was clean, just really thick. I've usually worked on Fords from Model A's to my Explorer. In high school I had a Plymouth Business Coupe which my friend and I managed to stuff a Desoto Hemi in, but this Windsor has the prselector type three on the tree tranny and I know nothing about them. Any experts out there. Also car has no steering wheel and mismatched tires and wheels. Matt is going for a low buck Taxi look with yellow primer and pistripping by yours truly. I can still pull a line. Of course I have to use my Bugler striper now Diabetis has destroyed my feeling in my fingers. We're in Vegas now having moved south from Portland In February. I'll be lurking and looking for ideas. Les Bliss AKA 51 Merc
The transmission is a M6 semi automatic Fluid Drive. Its a two speed with a high and low that shifts automatically when you let off the accelerator pedal at about 14 MPH and wait for the 'clunk'. To use all four gears, you use the clutch and manually select high or low. It will automatically downshift. Its generally a reliable setup that should work when it has adequate 10 wt oil. The P15-D24 site can offer assistance.
OK, that was the setup in my friend's '50 Plymouth. I recall adjusting the linkage so his would work correctly, but it's been 20 years... As I recall the linkages were all slightly miss-adjusted because his engine mounts had settled a lot or gone soft from oil soaking.
The Plymouth was a standard 3 speed with a clutch. The Chrysler and De Soto had the semi automatic. Dodge had a simple Fluid Drive with a regular 3 speed manual. http://www.allpar.com/mopar/m6.html
His may have been a little newer than a '50, and now that I think of it it might have been a Dodge. It's been over 20 years... but it had the dual range. I had to teach him how to drive it. It may have had a Desoto engine and trans for all I know, but it had 4 speeds, with 2 in each range. It kicked up automatically when the gas was relaxed. My Buddy's '48 Windsor had that fluid drive with a 3-speed manual & the tiny Safety Clutch. I think the disk was only 9 or 10" inches, & he blew it up trying to "ride" the clutch.
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