Technical Transmission swap

I can pick up a floor shifter 1937 Chevrolet truck 3-speed transmission (pictured). I would like to know if it would fit in my 1941 Master Deluxe. The three speed in my Master Deluxe works fine, but it takes a bit of mastery to shift it properly and I even have a miss or two from time to time. The vacuum ***it works also, but, again, sometimes its not great. 1st-2nd great, 2-3 you have to double clutch for a noiseless shift. If you forget, you get some grinding. LOL. And, when you down shift, sometimes it's not 1st, but 3rd and even with the big torque 216, you have to try again. The vacuum ***ist was not a great design in my opinion.

Anyway, the Master Deluxe is in the barn that I can't get to until the snow leaves, so any insight into whether they are the same size would be great.

Thanks, Carl

 

You would have to, at the very least, use the '37 bell housing. The two transmissions have different bolt patterns. The next step is to see if they're the same overall length.

 

Also, I once saw a '40-'48 transmission that someone added a '49'54 side cover to in order to get a conventional setup of two equal sized shift arms. I'm not sure what was involved in the modifications.

 

Thanks, that is what I needed to know. I will p*** on that one.

 

View attachment 6659670 View attachment 6659669

I have a '51 3100 with a column shifter and a 3-speed transmission (I think it's a 3-speed), anyway, I will take a closer look at that transmision and see if it has the two levers, versus, the current lever and slider, etc.

I see now in the picture it has two rods going to the transmission. I wonder if they made a floor shifter kit for those back in the day? View attachment 6659670 View attachment 6659669

Thanks, Carl View attachment 6659669

 

you 'think' its a 3 speed??

 

LOL, It is a 3-speed. I haven't looked at that truck in a while. I found the picture with the hood up and can see the shifter rods.

Thanks, Carl

 

I guess the next question would be, is the 51 truck 3-speed simular in size and bolt up as the current 41 Master Deluxe transmission?

That truck is currently under a foot of snow out back, so it will be a while to look at and or measure.

Thanks, Carl

 

Chevies of the ‘40s has a vacuum eliminator setup.

 

proartguy,

I have seen that before. Not sure I want to go that way.

Thanks, Carl

 

The trans in post #1 is a '36 Master or pickup. '37 - '39 p***. & '37 - '46 pickups have stamped steel top covers.
Ansen sold converted '49 up side covers to fit '40 - '48 p***. trans.
Champ & many other aftermarket suppliers sold a vacuum shift eliminator kit consisting of just a long lever that did away with all the vacuum parts.
The '48 up truck trans uses the same bolt pattern as '55 up p***.
All the innards of a '48 up pickup trans will fit in your '41 case, giving you needle bearing cluster.

 

I may try the kit with the rod first. If it fixes the issues, then I don't have to dig into the car too much. I do want to get rid of the vacuum setup. It works, but like I said, it's not the greatest.

If I keep the Master Deluxe, the long plan is for a 235 and an automatic. That would be nice. And I have a couple 235's, so there is that. The 235 in the '51 is a an early 60's 235-powerglide if I remember correctly.

Anyway, thanks for the expert information on the 3-speeds, etc.

Carl

 

A 53 truck transmission (Muncie) is entirely different than 49/54 car transmisisons.

 

I may be all wet but OOPs Bingo the images in the GM Heritage center archives show that a 37 Chebby car should have a floor shift. According to the GM heritage center vehicle info kits the p***enger car and 1/2 ton pickup used the same transmisson. I am taking this to mean that the base model car used the same trans as the pickup. 1937-Chevrolet.pdf Real deal specs in that link.