I didn't want to hijack the ongoing thread about a 1940 vacuum assist problem, but was wondering what was its purpose - ease of shifting? My '37 has a conventional floor shift and shifts quite easily.
I believe by 1940, the shifter was moved to the column and although I've never driven a 1940 Chevy or one with vacuum assist, I've driven lots of old cars with column shifters without vacuum assist and they seemed easy enough to shift. Sounds like the vacuum assist was a solution in search of a problem or am I totally incorrect ?
Just curious and would appreciate the education on this subject. Thanks, -Bob
I didn't want to hijack the ongoing thread about a 1940 vacuum assist problem, but was wondering what was its purpose - ease of shifting? My '37 has a conventional floor shift and shifts quite easily.
I believe by 1940, the shifter was moved to the column and although I've never driven a 1940 Chevy or one with vacuum assist, I've driven lots of old cars with column shifters without vacuum assist and they seemed easy enough to shift. Sounds like the vacuum assist was a solution in search of a problem or am I totally incorrect ?
Just curious and would appreciate the education on this subject. Thanks, -Bob
According to their flyers at the time, it was so that "even a woman could drive"...
The advertied advantage of the vacuum assisted gear shift was very short travel and so easy to move the lever with one finger....this enabled both hands to stay on the steering wheel.
The vacuum assisted shift was also an option on 1941 Plymouth and Dodge cars.
Properly adjusted and in good health vacuum assist units were a nice thing to have. Short throw and seemed to just suck the gears in place. Effortlessly.
Of course, some short-sighted folks always wanted to slam the gear in place and act like a bunch of red-necks instead the sophisticated motorists the designers had in mind. Ladies included.
Some even took the mechanism off in search, maybe, of their barbaric roots whilst driving the dirt back roads of America.
Like a-slamming through the gears made the car run faster and make the driver seem more manly. Such a guy just wasn't cool enough to merely have a T-shirt on with a pack of Luckies rolled up in the sleeve, a ducktail haircut slicked back with pomade and some loud pipes. Nosiree, had to show off by turning hard right whilst flooring that Victory Six and slinging some dirts and pebbles. Impress, Sadie May from Dog-Patch after leaving the drive-in. You get the picture.
I, personally, can't see the wisdom in removing the vacuum assist and, if not there, then doing all one can to put it back. Mercy!
