I did a search already but.. anyone know any places to get parts or a rebuild kit for a '39 trans? One of the gears (3rd gear?) has a bunch of broken teeth, but it looks to be all there and shifts fine. I saw from some other posts that there is a few variations, which one is mine? thanks for any help..
Try this link http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/trans-partsprices-pg1.htm I believe you have a 35-38 trans, or maybe an early 39; however its not a "1939 Trans" -Chris
I personally would not put much money in that. The case is fine but the gears all would need replacing to upgrade to the better shifting "39" style. Then you would need the later shift fork. I might have some gears for that one if you want to mess with it. What is busted? The cluster gear?
There is a Place in Glendale CA, called Trans-matic, that deals with 1930's-1970's transmission parts. Or call Crabtree Automatics, in Burbank, this guy Larry is great and does know his Toploaders and automatics. Sorry, I don't have anu phone #'s with me.
Is there a number 78 on the case??? If so you can replace all those gears with ones from a 46 48 trans that had better synchros. The column shift 46 48 can be picked up pretty reasonably still.
Not sure of the exact year, but the first and reverse are straight cut, so it's 36-ish. later were helical cut, as was the splines on the mainshaft. The gear you're pointing to is 2nd gear. There isn't a "3rd gear" as such, 3rd is straight through. If the box was earlier, the shifter tower would be sloping back. Mart
im with the others, its not a 39 trans, looks more like a 35/36. have a look at the cast number on the rear of the casing underneath the two larger holes and you will be able to figure out what it is. the later gearsets can be used in these cases, you just need to grind away a little of the casing to let the later gearset fit into them, other than that they arent really different to the 39 casing. obviously the selector forks are different as well
Most of the major early Ford vendors carry bearings, thrust washers, small parts, etc. Gears are tougher - try joblot in NY & eBay, of course. If your mainshaft (output shaft) is no good, I'll take it! Need just the back half of one for a little science experiment I'm doing...
Look up Alan Mest -- I think his address is in Gardena. He deals in early Ford parts and has a huge stash of early V8 mechanical bits of all kinds.
Try the Early Ford Store in San Dimas. Bill has a lot of those parts in his store. http://www.earlyfordstore.com/home.html
Awesome guys! thanks for all the help. I wire-wheeled all the crap off the back of the casing and it does say "78-7???-N" so is it really worth finding the 46-48 gears and shfter forks and upgrading..or should i find the '39 gears and forks...or should I just find the '36 gear that I need and try to run it that way, or are the '36 tranny's even worth it? I am running a pretty much stock for now 8BA flathead with (2) 94's.
78 cases will take the later gears. They go in EXACTLY like the old ones come out. Keep notes or even better in this digital age take a few pics. The shifter fork you are looking for will have a casting number that starts with 81------ Appears to me that you are about a third of the way there. Good Luck and keep us posted.
If you can be choosy, find a gearset with a 16T input & 28T cluster - slightly better ratios than the other common gearset (15T/29T)...
I think i found it... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...akeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:us if i win these, i just have to find the selector forks and I can be back in business right?
Start Reading this will get you started. http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_transID_3speed.htm The gears you're looking at on ebay will drop right into your 78 box, the shifter forks you have will not work. I'm not sure if you can put the larger shifter fork(91A) in the older style housing or if you need to upgrade the the entire shifter housing. Plan to pay at least another hundred for the 91A shifter fork.
there is a 91-A shifter fork that I am watching also.. if I win the gears I will try and get that too.
I dunno ,but that trans looks like it has been under water,is that rust on the gears??.it would be a total waste of time fuckin' with it if that is the case. It looks to be a '36 gear set amongst that brown stuff. Actually,apart from Zephyr Clusters the '36 was the better set to drive with,if a little 'whiney 'in first.theres was hardly any synchro so you can shift pretty Quickly from 1st to 2nd...without using the clutch.Just keep your foot in it, then once you learn the right sounding revs,just pull it straight into second. it takes practice ,so do it often enough ( might involve a few trans changes) and you'll wow the kids with your expertise at the bang shift.
no, it spins fine except for the missing teeth. It probably just looks red because of the old tranny fluid or something.. It will be nice once i bead blast it and clean it up according to that link it should be a 37-50 case. probably 37 or '38 since it has the older style gears
I just rebuilt mine last week. Talk to Mac Van Pelt. He has all the parts and knowhow. Very helpful person. Go to his web site - www.flatheadv8.com Lot's of good stuff there. Buy his book on Toploaders, it's well worth the $$$$$ Good luck, Flatheaded
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