1939 gearbox question

Henry Hopper

Henry Hopper

Senior Member
I see that the '39 boxes are sought after by many as they are supposed to be better than the other years, due to extra strength, I think.

My question is, why just '39..... Did they revert to pre '39 design again in 1940.... Or is the '39 box the same and just carries the 39 name as a way of identity?

I can't see why they would build in improvements and then change it.

Just curious.
 
39 did have advantages, but they changed to side shift, so 39 is the toploader with slightly better forks, double detent springs etc. However, a 37-38 box works just as well in my opinion, and doesn't have the price of a 39.
 
Also, not nearly all actual 1939's got the improved synchros...by about 1940 they were in full use, sideshift in cars and top shift in many pickups.
You could regard the hotrod need as being for a topshift trans with late type gears and syncros...which can be built in various ways using common sideshift parts correctly used in any topshift case back to '32.
You NEED Mac Van Pelt's book, a great summary of all you need to know.
While you wait for it, here is a smaller summary of what's out there, what you need, how to identify what is inside a transmission...which is frequently different from what is stock, as hotrodders have been swapping bits for decades:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91515&highlight=transmission+prices&showall=1
 
Bassman has said it, and that's as I understand it.

In 1940 Ford went to side shift. In 1939, (possibly in preparation for the side shift) they intro'd an improved design of synchro. (Not in all models, maybe Deluxe only). So in 1939 only, you had a top shift box with the better synchro (it is really a more superior design) and torque tube drive.

Pickups retained the top shift and improved synchro, but went open drive from 42, and used the 40 style clutch release in 40/41.

So, in days gone by, if you wanted a new box to replace the one you just blew up in your jalopy, you'd scour the yards looking for a 39 box, as it is the only year that had everything you wanted - top shift; better synchro; closed drive; lever type release.

Mart.
 
And in typical Ford manner, some double detent tops still had the narrow forks and presumably the 38 synchros.
 
I never knew that column shift became standard, I thought it was an option.....you live and learn.It all makes sense now.Ive only ever been interested in pre 40 Fords and know next to nothing on the modern post 40 stuff.lol.

Thanks for enlightening me guys.
 
I have been kinda worried about my transmission, it does seem to shift ok, not great, feels fragile so I shift it very slow & easy, and it will sometimes get stuck, but has never slipped out of gear. It was rusty inside when I opened it up, the 600W molasses crap that was in there, was very nasty and stunk like hell! I drained it out and cleaned inside with degreaser rags, then refilled with 140 weight. I do wish I knew exactly what year and type it is??? Years & years ago, swap meet guy said it was a 1939, but I have never really tried to down shift, I go to netural then stop!
 

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Flat, read through the link I posted. You date the case via the serial on it, then check out the innards to see what's what in case things have been swapped.
Look at your lid and see if it's the big or small screw type, 68 or 81 mark.
I think I am seeing a stock '36-8-'39 small synchro case and gears there. Getting rid of the 600 should make it happier!
 
Henry Hopper said:
I see that the '39 boxes are sought after by many as they are supposed to be better than the other years, due to extra strength, I think.

My question is, why just '39..... Did they revert to pre '39 design again in 1940.... Or is the '39 box the same and just carries the 39 name as a way of identity?

I can't see why they would build in improvements and then change it.

Just curious.
Click to expand...
Late 39 and all 39 mercury had the improved syncro and shifted better. Not especially stronger, just shifted better.
 
flat-V8: Your transmission seems to have the better syncro and gears (first/ reverse slider on a helix shaft). With all the rust inside you may want to consider disassembly and cleaning and rust removal. New oil is not going to remove rust, nor stop the rust from doing further damage, to the input and output main bearings as well as the input shaft and cluster shaft bearings. There should be no reason why you should not try to downshift from 3 to 2nd at this point.
 
Terry said:
flat-V8: Your transmission seems to have the better syncro and gears (first/ reverse slider on a helix shaft). With all the rust inside you may want to consider disassembly and cleaning and rust removal. New oil is not going to remove rust, nor stop the rust from doing further damage, to the input and output main bearings as well as the input shaft and cluster shaft bearings. There should be no reason why you should not try to downshift from 3 to 2nd at this point.
Click to expand...

Thanks Terry! Yes I should open it up, clean it up, & refill, but I do not want to pull the transmission at this point, maybe later when I'm retard!
 
Mart said:
Bassman has said it, and that's as I understand it.

In 1940 Ford went to side shift. In 1939, (possibly in preparation for the side shift) they intro'd an improved design of synchro. (Not in all models, maybe Deluxe only). So in 1939 only, you had a top shift box with the better synchro (it is really a more superior design) and torque tube drive.

Pickups retained the top shift and improved synchro, but went open drive from 42, and used the 40 style clutch release in 40/41.

So, in days gone by, if you wanted a new box to replace the one you just blew up in your jalopy, you'd scour the yards looking for a 39 box, as it is the only year that had everything you wanted - top shift; better synchro; closed drive; lever type release.

Mart.
Click to expand...

Mart,
I have what I believe to be a 1941 floor shift pickup transmission. Other than the clutch set up it seems to be interchangeable. It also has the double detent springs. I was hoping to use it as a back up for my `35 Cabriolet. Will it work?

Thanks,
Bud Reynolds
 
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