Fixin to go swap meeting soon to look for a ******...question is...is there a sure fire way to tell a 39 ****** from all the earlier years...they all look similar on the outside Ron
Look to the left back bottom casting number 78 is there. There are other things to look for. The Tardell book is helpful.
Look for the double detents on the shifter housing. However, you still need to take the shifter off to look at the forks to make sure it has the larger fork and later style synchros.
I wish you guys would stop calling them "******s". That means something else entirely in todays society..
The new ones have a different shift pattern, and a distinctive whine if you don't lube them properly.
Funny...I actually thought that when I posed the question, but I figured you all are so damned old you wouldnt catch it.
I second this suggestion, go to http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_home.htm . You really need to identify the gears/shifter as they were all pretty much interchangeable (as sets). Charlie Stephens
Use this link to the Transmission Identification info on our website http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_transID_3speed.htm Read all sections and print out pics to save. Remember when looking at swap meet trannies that guys have mixed up the ge****ts over the years. Take a ratchet and 1/2" socket. If the top isn't already loose for inspection, ask the seller if you can remove it to check out the ge****t. Plenty of things to watch for, but there are many things you really won't be able to see properly also. Even if the ge****t is toast, the case, tower, shifter lever, etc will have value. Make your offers accordingly.
the way I can tell, 39 Ford. the tower that holds shifter is vertical all the way around, earlier towers have a angle on the engine side. Like ****, I can't describe it very well, but I know it when I see it
This old post was written as your shopping guide: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/39-ford-transmission-prices.91515/
Well, there are important issues here; some of the hormones involved in turning a '39 box into a ****** can make the gear teeth brittle. You just can't be too careful when doing something radical like this!!
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