VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION New User Forum 1931 Transmission

First time with a Chevy this old. Got to take her out around the block this week and no matter how hard I try she grinds a little going into each gear while driving. Clutch seems good with no real issues into 1st and Rewind when stopped. I have tried double clutching and a long pause while the clutch is pushed in like the manual says but not any better. Much worse if I try downshifting. Reading the 31 & 32 service news talks about the new synchronized transmission in 1932, was 1931 [not synchronized? Any suggestions on how to drive without grinding them? or what may be wrong?

fluid seems full. Plan to change transmission and differential fluid. I saw Snyders M-533 recommended in another thread. Thoughts? What is the capacity of the rear end and transmission for a fluid change?

I use the 600w and if someone had put lighter oil in yours it maybe a factor. One thing I was doing wrong was staying in 1st and 2nd too long. I get rolling then into 2nd, and in just a few seconds into 3rd. I think each car will have its own favored system. Downshifting is still a challenge but double clutching and revving the engine to match gear speed helps.

Dave

One common mistake a lot of people make when first starting driving non synchronized transmissions is to wind up the engine rpms. You should shift out of first gear at 10 to 15mph. Second to third should be at about 25mph. A rule of thumb would be "when shifting up your rpms should be down, when shifting down your rpms should be up". If you keep that in mind and with a little experience the rest will come easier.

Welcome! Enjoy your '31. The '31 transmission is not at all synchronized, and learning how to double clutch it correctly is the key to avoiding the grinding.

I use 600W in all of the '29-'32 cars. It's readily available from the Filling Station, Snyder's and a number of other suppliers. The capacity is in the Service Manual and I think the owner's manual, both of which are available from the Filling Station and both of which are musts.

A recommendation: Find a fellow owner of a '29-'31 Chevy (or an earlier Chevy or a Model A Ford) near your home town in Wisconsin and invite them over to talk about the cars and to show you the right way to do the double clutching. It's one of those things that just takes a lot of practice. The secret is to remember that while you're in neutral between gears with the clutch out, you're trying to use the engine to get the input side of the transmission to the speed it will be running when you engage the next gear, so the gears can mesh while turning at the same speed or nearly so.

Maybe one of our fellow Chat guys will offer to help you out.

Hope that helps.

All the Best, Chip

Thank you Dave, BeachBum, and Chip. Very helpful info. I did join the local VCCA and hope to meet a few folks that have more experience with this vintage. Glad to hear the trans is likely good and I just need to learn how to drive it. Ordered the fluid from FillingStation and I will change it out just to be on the safe side.

Thanks again

Robert