VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 1952 Sed. Deluxe 3 speed man. trans. mount/support

My MASTER PARTS CATALOG says the 3 speed manual transmission is the same for the 49-53 models, and is #3701462. A garage lost my trans, trans rear mount and support, so I bought another trans on ebay and the number was correct. When we went to install it, the 2 mount holes on the trans are on the underside of the trans and maybe are 3"OC. I bought a 52 trans mount and it was no where close to fitting the trans but fit the crossmember, maybe 6"OC holes, so I bought a 51 mount and it fits the trans but not the crossmember. When you shop for a trans mount and support, the 51 and 52 are radically different. What is up with that!!!!!
Are the transmissions the same but the 51 and 52 mounts different.
I think the 52 has 2 external ears where the trans mount holes are and the 51 mounts from the 2 screw tapped holes from the bottom.
Does anyone have any help or pics that can help??
Pirkey

The mount holes that are different are the ones on the tail piece of the transmission, is that correct?

Yes, I think the mounts on the 52-53-54 three speed transmissions are different than the 1951 and the differences are due to the new side mount engine mounts introduced in 1952. The transmission case itself is the same. I think that the 1951 tail piece is what is different. I have two 51 transmissions and a 1953 transmission in my shop, and next week I will try to dig them out and measure the tail pieces and get some numbers. I seem to remember the differences in the mount on the crossmember also. however I suffer from C.R.S. since I have been a senior citizen for a good while.

Mr.Mack,
Yes, on the rear or tailpiece.Thanks for the info. I guess I need to buy a 52 trans now. Would it be correct to say then that the MASTER CATALOG is not totally correct when it says that the 49-53 trans is the same??
Pirkey

Maybe you can find the correct tailpiece and still use the transmission you bought on ebay.

When you order a mount, some of out repro suppliers require the old mount for rebuild. I purchased a new one (repro) from Kanter. The Corvette mount is very similar and was sent, a call provided the correct mount. The difference in transmissions is the tail piece, if you are looking for a replacement try and obtain a 53/54 as they are upgraded over the early transmissions.

Thanks Mr. Mack, I will ask if anyone has one for sale in the PARTS WANTED section.

Did you find the support that the mount needs to connect to the crossmember??

I don't have the parts available to compare to answer your question, but I can give you some ideas. You'll find in the Master Parts Catalog that the second crossmember changed in '52 and into '53. It's placement was also was also altered on the frame rails, I seem to remember that it was shifted 2" to the rear. I ran into a similar problem on a '52 convertible when I changed from a PowerGlide to a standard trans. I bought several mounts trying to find the right one to line up with the mount on the x-member with no luck. Finally dawned on me that the problem was not with the mount itself but with the stamped plate that it was mounted on and in turn bolted to the crossmember. Due to the unlikely chance of finding an original plate for the convertible, I made one up out of 1/4" stock, which solved the problem.

The standard trans was so common in the '52 closed cars that someone should have the item you need on a parts car to avoid having to make it.

The '50 and '51 cars actually had a different crossmember from the factory for the PowerGlide vs the standard, but in '52 the crossmember was the same for both, which required an extension to mate up with the standard trans.

Hope this helps a little,

Pirkey,

I think that National Chevy Association has the part you need on their website:

http://www.nationalchevyassoc.com/shop-online/used-parts/product/4046.html

Note that this part is the same as the rear bearing support that is currently on your transmission except for the two bosses you see sticking out of what is the bottom side. These bosses contain the tapped holes that accept the mounting bolts that pass through the crossmember and rubber mount. If you are missing the rubber mount, they have these as well. I think either The Filling Station or Chev's of 40s has the stamped sheetmetal retainer that holds the rubber mount to the upper side of the crossmember, if you are missing this. I hope you have the bolts that are supposed to mount the transmission. It's bee 12 years since I put my car back together, but I recall that there was something a bit unusual about them -- either a specific length or head style? -- I don't remember now. (More of that C.R.S. that seems to be going around these days!)

I hope this helps.

PS - I believe National Chevy also lists a replacement bushing for the one in the support, in case that one is worn or scored; I would ask them to check that bushing before hand so you know whether to get the replacement at the same time.

Scott,
I think you have hit on the answer. That maybe the part Mr. Mack called, a tailpiece and I had something different in my mind of what the tailpiece looked like, but that support is the tail piece. I envisioned the tailpiece wrong.
I went to the site you sent and I think that may work. All that you described was SPOT ON!! Maybe Mr. Mack can validate this??
Scott,Thanks so much for sharing!!

Thanks.Your reply also is SPOT ON as to the problem. With your help, Mr. Mack's and Scott's, I think we are close to the answer. I will run this by my mechanic friend working on the car tomorrow.
We toyed with the idea of a plate early on.
Thanks so much for yall's time and effort.
Pirkey

I didn't go back and read all the previous posts but the mount sits directly on top of the cross member on all but convertibles. You need a mount and the retqaining plate that holds it in place.
I am sending you a picture as it will be worth 1000 words.
In the first few years the mount and plate changed numbers several times. Several years later they got their problems resolved and the mount fit 1952-54 with standard transmission. It was part #3704551 and the number was moulded on the original part. The correct retainer plate for that mount was 3704555. Each design of mount required a different plate. This info is from the 1959 parts book.
After 1952 the 1952 style was sold for replacement on the 1949-51 cars, the bolt hols were just left "hanging"
Your picture is on the way :)

53-54 Output Shaft Support #14056 According to NCA
That is what I called the tailpiece.

Price $75.00........seems a bit pricy to me.
ProdNo 14056
I think I would email Bruce AKA (bwbugay@aol.com)

Thanks Mr. Mack, that brings it all together. I will contact Bruce on the part. I think the mounting plate and retainer may be hard to find. I missed one on ebay before I fully understood what I needed. Maybe Bruce will have one as well??

Thanks again,
Pirkey

Finally, something I can understand!!! A PICTURE!!! I am glad that out there, somewhere, was a picture and thanks to those of you, who knew where it was!!
Thanks,I will take that to my mechanic friend. He is in his 70's and has been a mechanic for 43 years.He has said repeatedly " I just can't remember what it looked like on a 1952".
Thanks again,
Pirkey

Mr. Mack
Bruce had it all and at a very reasonable price, Thanks again.
Pirkey

You are always welcome to any help we can muster.
I hope you will honor us with some pictures of the car when it is ready to hit the road!