I have been trying to determine if the three speed toploader I installed in my 56 bird has ever had a speedometer drive gear I have felt as best I could in the hole where cable goes and as best as I can determine it does not have one was wondering if it could have came this way from factory and how hard it would be to install one, trans is already in car and I hate the thought of pulling it back out for this I never suspected it would not have a speedo drive gear
You can't see in the hole where the cable hooks up to tell if the gear is on the shaft? You mention a "toploader" sounding like it may not be the original transmission. Are you referring to a toploader from the 1960s and newer? Those have a little ball to hold the gear in place on the tailshaft. If that little ball has somehow gotten out, the speedometer won't work. I've had one like that in a 60s Mustang.
The gear is on the cable and comes out when the cable is removed. When I went to put my cable back it, it would not go in. I found a 5/16 nut had fallen and of course it found it's way into the hole for the cable. A mechanics magnet pulled it out and all was well. The hole for the cable is on the drivers side and goes in from the top. I could not see down into it with out a mirror.
It needs a mating gear on the transmission output shaft. If it's been removed or came loose, the tail housing needs to be removed to fix the issue. AFAIK, the only 60's-70's toploader 3 speed that didn't have a speedometer gear would be an early Bronco, as the speedo gear is on the transfer case output. I don't know if there is a housing that would work with the short output to convert it to 2 wheel drive operation.
Thanks for the help I wiil have to pull it apart I guess ,probably the ball that holds gear has come loose, the trans I beleave is out of a sixties mustang but not sure take care sam
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