VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 vacume shift

the vacume shift on my 47 fleetline is very stiff. The gears often grind going into third gear. how do icheck the transmission fluid level and where is the vacume assist mech located. how can i check it?

Hi 47fleetline,

The filler plug on your transmission is on the passengers side, and is about 1/2 way up in a slight depression. It can (the plug) be removed with a 9/16 open end wrench. Use your little finger (pinkie) to feel inside to see if you can touch the fluid. If you can, it's probably full enough. If low, replenish with 85W90 gear oil.

The vacuum shift mechanism is located on the drivers side of the transmission. It is a large canister looking device that is vacuum operated. Assuming it has worked correctly in the past the slugglishness is probably due to lack of lubrication. If you feel up to the task it should be removed from the car, placed on the workbench, and completely disassembled. Inspect all parts for wear, replace as necessary, install a new boot, and reinstall. Check for a leak free hose and pipe from the unit to the intake manifold. Follow directions specifically in the repair manual for the correct adjustments.

When this unit is properly maintained and adjusted, shifting the transmission is a dream.

Fleetline,
Do not attempt to open cylinder. You will or should be asking more questions when you get the unit off. It's actually a simple operating system but it needs to be lubed and adjusted correctly, which is also a simple adjustment. Good luck!