Close ratio gears

Charlie Stephens said:
The syncro gears from Mitchell Manufacturing are a better ratio. Has anybody had any experience with their syncro gears?

Charlie Stephens
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I have two of their transmissions, but only one installed. They are "supposed to" have the 15% better 1st. and 2nd. gears. I can't tell that much difference, though I really like the synchro. My wife does even more so.
 
Tried out the close ratio gears on the track at the weekend. Behind about an estimated 70 horses of banger they performed well - although at Prescott hill climb I did have to keep grabbing top (easy) and crashing back down into 2nd for the hairpins (easy enough but a crash...).

I do like the lack of synchro - it gives it a more vintage car feel. From what I gather, Mitchell don't recommend their synchro conversions for anything more than the standard horsepower?

Mercury-prescott.jpg
 
Hotrodfil said:
T. . . From what I gather, Mitchell don't recommend their synchro conversions for anything more than the standard horsepower?

To make room to synch 2 & 3 (1st is not synchro) Mitchell had to get room somewhere. The gears are narrower than stock. That said, I know several guys with 80+HP in front of a Mitchell. You just can't pop the clutch or slam gears.
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Anybody with a strong loathing of unsynchronized shifting should, before spending a lot, have a ride with someone who enjoys them...the education is not necessarily going to be successful for everyone because it involves developing a sort of Zen One-with-the-transmission feel, but I'm sure many could learn this and enjoy it. It is possible for many to develop a very close feel for gear speeds and of throttle openings that put engaged gears into a sort of floating state.
 
Kind of a Zen and the Art of Model A Transmission Shifting (with apologies to Robert M. Pirsig).

“Is it hard? Not if you have the right attitude.” Robert M. Pirsig
 
Changing down on the road is normally quite easy. Need to practice at speed...
I normally run my flattie powered 24T at Prescott in 2nd gear - 3.54 rear end, '39 box, 5.50 x 16 tyres.

With the Tourer - 3.27 rear end and 4.75 x 19 tyres I had to change in to top before reaching the hairpins.

Best time in the V8 powered modified 61.63, highest speed at the 'bridge' (pretty much a straight charge from the line) 51mph.

Best time in the Tourer - 71.01, highest speed at the 'bridge' 44mph in second gear. So I'm quite happy comparing me, with me.
 
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Number crunching.
Been looking at the results from Prescott hillclimb online and doing some online calcs.

Oh yes. Sensibly (not) I seem to build cars with no gauges. Saves all that worrying looking down at the dashboard. Cane it till it bursts and change up. Thought I'd work out the revs the poor old dear was doing as she flapped her skirts under the bridge at Prescott.

44mph, 1.55:1 second gear, 3.27 final drive, 29.8" tyres - 2514 rpm. Hmmm - sounded like more! Tailed off a little - it felt like there was more but didn't want to burst it!

Driving along the Buckingham bypass on the way home and opened her up a bit...

68mph (sat nav), 1:1 top gear - 2507 rpm. Bottom screen rattled loose (hadn't tightened it up after taking the top screen out at the track), blew innards and plunged cold air onto my tootsies, so we backed off a bit.

Rolling along easily most of the time around 55-60mph and it turns out the ol' banger is turning between 2000-2200 rpm which is reasonable for a babbit bottom end.

More than chuffed. Winter time will hopefully see a full pressure shell bottom end model-A engine under the bonnet as a comparison.
 
So when all is said and done, do you like the 3.27:1 gear set? I was thinking of installing them in my coupe when I rebuild the motor. The alternative is a mitchell overdrive, which is quite pricey.
 
Like the 3.27's? Yup. Coupled with the close ratio gears it works a treat.
The tourer is a bit lighter than the Fordor but that's handles a 3.54 set with the standard transmission ratios with aplomb.
 
Patrick L. said:
That is great info, thanks.. I was considering a Mitchell but was concerned of cost of especially quality.. I'm not crazy about the stock ratios and the English and Chinese[ Mitchell] options seem interesting..
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SteveB31 said:
Are you guys suggesting that the Mitchell gears are Chinese made?
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Are Mitchell gears Chinese? I never heard of this before reading this 8 yo thread?
 
Good Morning...I have had a Mitchell Overdrive in our 1931 Tudor for 15 years and it has performed perfectly and I really love having two gear ranges to work with. Here in the Desert it is pretty flat and the high end 3rd over is great. The mountains around the 'Valley of the Sun' would challenge a mountain goat, and going up the mountain to Payson, I tend to use 1-2-3 and 2nd over and 3rd over...Ernie in Arizona
 
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