1941 Ford transmission

2nd & 3rd are synchronized. There is no syrchro set up made for the low/reverse gear. Even the cars manufactured in the 50s with standard transmissions were set up this way. There are some later top shift transmissions that have been modified for closed drive but folks don't usually go with a later side shift type.
 
2nd & 3rd are already synchronized, 1st & reverse are not.

So, when you shift 1st to 2nd and 2nd into 3rd, you have synchronization. Going directly into 1st or reverse is not synchronized, and probably never can be within the confines of the original design.
 
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You can slow to a 5 -10 mph and learn to down shift into low.....................never reverse on the move!
Paul J.
 
I used to road race with a standard 28 tooth Ford transmission.
After some practice it becomes very easy to downshift to first at 40 mph.
 
Pete said:
I used to road race with a standard 28 tooth Ford transmission.
After some practice it becomes very easy to downshift to first at 40 mph.
Click to expand...

Pete, good to see you back posting on the forum again. You always provided good info on your expertise.
 
Pete said:
I used to road race with a standard 28 tooth Ford transmission.
After some practice it becomes very easy to downshift to first at 40 mph.
Click to expand...

Yes..................practice makes perfect, that'd be some tricky foot work
 
A good ear helps too. A person gets used to the sound of the engine rpms at particular road speeds so the gears will more easily mesh up if shifted with the engine at correct rpm for the rpm of the cluster gear. The closer the match, the better the shift.
 
An old welding truck had a worn out T98 I could start in gear, and shift up and down without using the clutch.
Bruce
 
albjerryg said:
Is there any way to synchronize the transmission???? Thanks Jerry
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You didn't say how many miles are on your car?, are all the gears noisy, my '41 came with a box of linkage ends that someone was planning to put on, it all came from Dennis Carpenter reproductions. Even though my linkage is extremely worn, I think my synchro's are also worn, I just shift slow and easy until I get to that project.
 
Sorry I've been MIA I been sick as a dog, better now. It is just that I got to go to 3rd then 2nd to get it into 1st or reverse with out a lot of grinding. I don't know the miles on the transmission? Thanks for the input. jerry
 
albjerryg said:
Sorry I've been MIA I been sick as a dog, better now. It is just that I got to go to 3rd then 2nd to get it into 1st or reverse with out a lot of grinding. I don't know the miles on the transmission? Thanks for the input. jerry
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Have you drained the ****** and put in new fluid?, sounds like everything is hanging up, try using some synthetic stuff, search this forum for suggestions.
 
It sounds like your clutch is dragging (not releasing properly). This may be due to incorrect adjustment, or contamination (oil) on the plates making it sticky.

Mart.
 
I agree if your clutch free travel is set properly you should be able to down shift easily with out grinding. It may take some practice to see at what speed is ideal for downshifting.
 
I had just had the transmission clutch adjust by my nephew who woks on transmissions for a living so I guess the adjustment is good. I will drain the transmission and replace the oil once I find out the best to use?
 
Pete said:
I used to road race with a standard 28 tooth Ford transmission.
After some practice it becomes very easy to downshift to first at 40 mph.
Click to expand...

Pete I'd just love it if you'd start a thread where you could share some road racing stories.

There has been a lot published about Flathead Fords in oval track racing, salt flats and drag racing. Precious little on road racing.

Would love to hear some of your experiences and also about some of the combinations you have run and how they did.

I know they road race Flathead Ford stuff "down under" and in Europe. I'm not familiar with too much of that going on here in the U.S.

Thanks if you can!
 
I had problem similar to this in and old 50 ch#vy back in broke Uni student days.

An old timer told me to depress the clutch pedal twice - once to to get it out of gear and once to get it to the new gear (double clutch).

Dunno why but it worked and got to be a habit on that old heap.

Did not work downshifting to gears without synchro.
 
We used to have an old hauler truck that required double de clutch up and down with no synchros.
I have never tried this on a ford 3 speed into 1st but see no reason why it wouldn't work.
Clutch from 2nd into neutral release clutch , depress clutch agin then select 1st. All in a fluid movement.
 
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