VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 1930 RPM

thanks, dog

epi

Arf, arf!!!!

You will notice the slight loss of engine brakeing when going to a higher gear ratio.(3.50).Even going from the 4.22 to 3.73 in my '39 the car "coasts" farther when you foot is off the gas pedal and more brake pressure is necessary at higher speeds.

It's probably one of those rare times where I can back up the JYD with personal knowledge. I riveted the original type woven brake linings on my '32, and braking is pretty good. I don't have too much fear braking in routine traffic, as would be the common fear with mechanical brakes.

I'm curious about the changeover to the 3:50 gears. Is that a doable job for a experienced amatuer like me?

Eddie: If old Donald can get it done by his Model T buddies, then you can do it yourself. ha ha! Yes, that is something that you can probably install yourself, or you can have part of it done at a local machine shop if you wish. The time consuming part is setting up the ring and pinion so that they mesh correctly. :eek:

So if I take my rear axle off and drag my rear (axle) off to the local machine shop with the kit, they can do it. Okay. Is this one of those situations where it's best to find someone who's worked on old cars (just like if you're bringing your old babbit pounder for rebuild), or is this a pretty straightforward job?

Is this Larry the same guy who has advertised in the past for the 3:50 gears in G&D?

Yes, Larry is the dude that has made all of the 3.50 gears in the past. He apparently is going to make one more run and that's it from what I've heard.

Actually, you can install the gear set yourself. Unless you want to rivet the ring gear in place like original then you might want to have a machine shop do that for you. The rest is no problem. On the setup, just follow the instructions in the shop manual and you will do okay. The hard part is adding or removing the shims from the pinion as needed to get the correct tooth mesh. :( :(

I think It Is better to have a machine shop put those gears In unless you are experienced with doing that kind of work.I had mine put In by Dave Folsom who Is a top notch chevrolet mechanic and wow what a great Improvement. My 32 cruises highway speeds with no problem, Actually Its hard to hold her back from going over the speed limit. I do not like going 10 to fifteen MPH down the highway like the junkyard dog does :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :eek:

I don't mind 15 MPH myself, but I get concerned about being slammed from behind from some yahoo who thinks the speed limit is a suggested starting point.

It sounds like I could do it if I could see someone else do it at least once, but I hate to guess what I'm doing on something this critical. Seems like I'll go the machine shop route.

What's the best way for myself and others to know when these new gears will be made available? Do you think somebody will announce it on here?

Hey Eddie! Don't let good old Donnald fool you since the mechanic that put in the gear set on Donald's car is one of his Model T buddies. :( :( Also, Donald forgot to tell you that his '32 does travel down the road at 60 MPH.........but that is in an enclosed car trailer! Ha ha! :cool2:

If you are interested in purchasing a gear set, I suggest that you contact Larry Jackson directly since he normally takes advance orders before he gets the gear sets made. Otherwise, when you hear about the run it might be too late to order a set. If you do call Larry, tell him that "The Mutt" told you to call.

I would suggest a good mechanic versus a machine shop. It may be necessary to take the carrier and ring gear to a machine shop. A mechanic can set up the ring and pinion and will have experience and tools that the typical machine shop will not have.

Chev nut, no change in coasting if you're "freewheeling", right?

I have heard over the years that it is bad to let your tranny "brake" or slow down the car, but that you should use the brake (or should I say 'binders')and not the transmission to slow the car.

Put the car in neutral when stopping (or nothing if in freewheeling mode) in order to 'save' some wear and tear on the tranny, is this true or not? If this is true then wouldn't freewheeling help the tranny last longer?

"...it was outlawed in 1933-34." JYD, please explain, outlawed by whom? I don't want to brake (no pun) any laws.

There is slightly less engine braking with a 3.50 rear than the 4.11.Due to the lower engine revs.The engine should be used for engine braking in high gear and the clutch pedal should not be depressed until car speed is down to about 10 MPH>Modern cars can be down shifted for braking (at times) but wouldn't make a habbit of doing it constantly with an older tranny.Free-wheelinf is the same as depressing the clutch-which is "coasting".....

Hey Eddie, Taking the car down the road In a trailer Is much better then the Junkyard Dogs cars that never leave the garage. Yep Its true

Thanks chev nut for the info on letting the engine slow the car down.

What do you think of using the freewheeling? I sort of liked using it, would you?

Well, trailering is safer than driving, but not as fun. I really don't mind the ancient putt-putting ahead, but it's scary because there aren't much slow vehicles where I live (ex. tractors, old cars, etc.) so I dread having someone wipe around a corner or over a hill with no expectation of coming up to someone else moving a lot slower.

I've tried using 2nd gear to slow down to a stop, but the previous post is right on about slowing to 10 MPH first - there's a lot of bucking and chugging if you use your transmission to slow down. The conversion sounds like a real upside with no negatives.

Yes, the conversion to 3.50 gears is a definite plus if you are going to drive your car. However, there is no need to install the 3.50 gears if you are only going to drive the car up the trailer ramp and down the trailer ramp like good old Donald does. Besides, I can understand why he trailers his car all over instead of driving it......you know, with all of those Model T dudes that have worked on his car, including installing the 3.50 gears, it's no wonder that Donald trailers his car everywhere. Donald does have a fantastic enclosed trailer though.....I will give him that! :cool2:

Foot Note: Steve Kassis from the Filling Station is here as we speak. He drove his freshly restored 1932 Special Sedan all the way from Lebanon, Oregon to Eagle Point, Oregon (some 228 miles) and the car never skipped a beat. He is leaving today for Auburn, California for a VCCA car meet. He will be driving his '32 all of the way to Auburn, California and then back to Lebanon, Oregon. That car runs like a top, and he drives it at a study 60 miles per hour. Driving the old cars, that's what it's all about.

Hey Junkyard Dog, You should of taken a picture of your car and hopped a ride with Steve Kassis to california. :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow:

What is Steve running a 350/350 with a 9" F*rd rear? (joke) Is he running the 3.50?

Donald what has been your experience with the 3.50?

Hey Donald! Isn't that about the same thing as you pulling your '32 around in a car trailer? Hum..........

Gator: Don't ask good old Donald that question unless you want to know how fast his '32 goes up car ramps into an enclosed trailer! :eek:

Steve told me today that he drives his '32 Chevy 60 to 65 MPH on the freeway, and he actually passes cars as well. You can't beat that!

Too cool.

White gas is gasoline with out any additives,our unleaded gas has some additives but not any lead. White gas is simular in composition to the Coleman fuel used in camp stoves and lanterns. Very low flash point and a high evaporation rate.Any Chevrolet engine built before the 1955 model year should handle unleaded gas without any trouble (no need for hardened valve seats), not so with other engines that required "Premium" fuel. Some of them I would think would require "Premium "fuel would be the high compression power pack 283 and the 327 high output engines also the Chrysler hemi and the Olds Rocket 88.

Hey Gator, The 3.50 gears that Larry Jackson has made, work OH so good. I can actually get through the Intersection In my 32 without shifting Into second gear. The dog does not know, But you can go down the freeway at 60 to 70 MPH with no problem. The engine purrs and as far as the RPM,S go, I have not checked to see what the engine Is turning. The cost Is not cheap to buy the gears and have them put In, But well worth every dollar to have It done. Now If the dog could get his car built and on the road, Maybe I would take up a collection so he could see what It Is like to go faster then ZERO. YA

Hey Donald! If I went one mile an hour then that would be faster than your car, because it can't move under it's own power when it is in a trailer. But, then I forgot that the Model T boys worked on the car, so it couldn't move under it's own power anyway. Ya! ha ha!

Gator: Larry's gear set is equal to a 15% overdrive as I remember. :cool2:

Donald - What kind of costs should I expect (both the purchase and the installation?) :(

I have to figure out ahead of time how to justify it to the wife.