VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 '33 Master transmission rebuilders in CA

My synchros arn't working as they should be. While I have the engine out I should have someone look at the transmission. Can anyone recommened a good transmission shop in CA?

Also, it would be good if somone makes an overdrive unit that takes the place of free-wheeling. Or am I dreaming?

kru,
Yes, you are dreaming. So wake up and take the top off your transmission. There is nothing in there that is magical or mystical. You should be able to identify worn parts/bearings. Then get new replacements by placing an ad in the parts wanted section here, and search ebay. If you encounter problems, there is plenty of good advice available here.

Mike

Ok Mike35. Thanks for your confidence in me. I'll give it a try when I get time. Gene

Hi kru. I have a '36 1/2 ton and I have found that the '32-'36 Master and 1/2 ton transmission is a half step between a "crash" box and the '37 and up unit that actually really works. If you open it and look in, you will see that between each synchronizer and a shoulder on the mainshaft is a collar. This collar is crucial in the operation of those transmissions. Its function is to press the brass synchronizer cup against the synchronizing cone on second and high gears when the 2-3 clutch is moved forward or back by the shift fork. First, it must be in good condition, which many are not. Second, the collar must have a clearance of .025 to .035 inch between the collar itself and the adjacent shoulder on the mainshaft, measured with the synchronizing surfaces in close contact.

If that measurement is out of spec, you have a real problem. Those collars were once available in various widths to get the clearance correct but finding them today is a real challenge.

If the measurement is in spec, I would suggest trying 600 wt. oil. These transmissions have very large clearances because they were designed for very viscous oil. I found that helped a lot, although 3rd gear still does not synchronize perfectly in hot weather when things are really warmed up after a long drive.

I hope this helps. If you want to comntact me, please use my email rwaldbaum@aol.com because I have no computer skills and will probably never succeed in logging on to this site again.