Late Style Clam Shell Needed

rich40701

rich40701

Senior Member
My 1930 Cabriolet is from later in the year for the most part or parts. I ordered a Mitchell Synchronized Transmission a while back and gave late style for the rear retainer and since the upper universal joint housing cap did not have the extension I thought it was a no brainer. Nope, I was finally getting around to installing and hooking it up this past weekend and when it was time to put the clam shells together the top half will not fit. So after a lot of cussing and a little research I discovered I have the early style universal joint housing caps with the unequal spacing holes but the bearing retainer on my Mitchell transmission has the late style with equal spacing.
Does anyone have a later style upper clam shell half they would be willing to part with?
I have a friend who is the recreational director for an assisted living facility for the elderly. Every year they have a small car show to help raise money to go towards activities for the residents. My car always wins the residents choice award because it brings back memoires when they rode in an A with their parents. The event is this coming Saturday the 20th so I need the part like yesterday or I will have to drop out this year.
 
How far will you be driving it? I cleaned the grease,dirt,and old tar off one years ago to take the bolts out and found it only had the two vertical pinch bolts holding it on.Somebody had mismatched parts when putting it together,and just went without the top bolts.I have no idea how long the thing had been run like that to accumulate that inch thick pile of hardened on road tar.Think about it.For that torque tube to rip out and run away it would have to break both the top and bottom clamps.The rear end would have to slide back a few inches so the driveshaft could slide out of the U joint and clear that bowl sandwiched in between the housing halves.I think I would put it together with the two side bolts,use it for what you want,and slap the correct part on the top when you get one.If you were here I would be handing you a milk crate full of them and tell you to match it up.
 
Bob C, I was able to modify the Inner U-Joint cover by filing the slots in the 10 and 2 o'clock positions to match the slotted gasket that came with the Mitchell transmission kit. The gaskets are designed to work with either the old or new style cover assembly. Unfortunately if I did the same to the upper cover it would be mutilating a perfectly good part that is no longer made so I would rather wait and find the right part. I think, and somebody correct me if I am wrong, the new style clam shells are interchangeable and can be used top or bottom.
 
I think I need another A4514-B which is what I have on the bottom and will also fit on the top and bolt up as new design.
 
rich40701 said:
I think I need another A4514-B which is what I have on the bottom and will also fit on the top and bolt up as new design.
Click to expand...


I think they call it 4514-B2 or 4514-C. 4514-B is the unequal spaced clamshell I have up on eBay, with the lug on the top half. A-4514 is the clamshell with extended arms used only for 1928.
 
I might be wrong that early or later ( equal or unequal) will bolt to any transmission ? I would unbolt the old retainer from the old transmission and bolt what you had on the new transmission.
 
Big hammer said:
I might be wrong that early or later ( equal or unequal) will bolt to any transmission ? I would unbolt the old retainer from the old transmission and bolt what you had on the new transmission.
Click to expand...

Big, the only issue with that is, the OP has a Mitchell transmission and the stock retainers are modified by Mitchell when they add their parts. That is one of the reasons Mitchell requests you provide the retainers with the core. There is even a tag hung on both front and rear retainers when you receive your Mitchell Transmission stating it has been modified.

54790549076_5bd3e6ed9b.jpg
 
Last edited:
That is correct, the rear retainer is a Mitchell specialty item and must be used with their transmission. I found an A4514-B2 on eBay, hopefully it will be here by Friday. Lesson learned for anyone considering buying a Mitchell transmission. Make sure you know for certain if you have early or late clam shells.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top