Transmission question.

1

1937pickup

Well-known member
A friend of mine and I got into a discussion about Ford transmission synchronization. I was under the impression that Ford did not use Synchronization until 1939 and then it was a full synchronization. He said it was not synchronized in first gear. I was reading Mac Van Pelts site and it appears 2 and 3 were synchronized beginning in 1932 and improved in 1939. What is unclear to me is, was 1st gear also synchronized in 1939? This is what I thought. If 1st gear did not have synchronization in 1939 when did Ford introduce it?

Thanks.
 
1937pickup said:
A friend of mine and I got into a discussion about Ford transmission synchronization. I was under the impression that Ford did not use Synchronization until 1939 and then it was a full synchronization. He said it was not synchronized in first gear. I was reading Mac Van Pelts site and it appears 2 and 3 were synchronized beginning in 1932 and improved in 1939. What is unclear to me is, was 1st gear also synchronized in 1939? This is what I thought. If 1st gear did not have synchronization in 1939 when did Ford introduce it?

Thanks.
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2nd and 3rd gears were synchronised in 1932. Better synchros generally arrived in '39 for 2nd and 3rd gears......1st gear STILL was not synchronised in '39. If memory serves me well, I believe that the first time Ford synchronised a 3-speed trans was probably in the 1964/65 time frame (the Mustang comes to mind). I think the BW 4-speeds had sync'd 1st gears somewhat before that. DD
 
1937pickup said:
A friend of mine and I got into a discussion about Ford transmission synchronization. I was under the impression that Ford did not use Synchronization until 1939 and then it was a full synchronization. He said it was not synchronized in first gear. I was reading Mac Van Pelts site and it appears 2 and 3 were synchronized beginning in 1932 and improved in 1939. What is unclear to me is, was 1st gear also synchronized in 1939? This is what I thought. If 1st gear did not have synchronization in 1939 when did Ford introduce it?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

1963 http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/FH_images/FH_trans-pics/Flathead_Trans_1963-67_FordV8_303type.jpg

Bob
 
I had a new 63 Fairlane hard top with a 260 3 speed, it was either a first that year, or the previous. Paul Selfe.
 
I'm not familiar with Ford model A, or Ford transmissions after the mid 50's, but I know '32 thru '53 pass. car and light comm. vehicles had synchronized 2nd and 3rd, but 1st/rev. were not synchronized. '32 to '38 (maybe some early '39's) did not have the additional brass syncro rings. '39 on up has the improved synchronized system for 2nd and 3rd, with the additional brass rings. I'm not sure when Ford began using synchronized 1st/rev. in their three speed standard transmissions.
 
As an owner of a 39 coupe, I can say for fact DD is correct. 39 was for 2 & 3 but not for first.
 
Most late model modern manual transmissions are synchronized in reverse these days. As far as I know the 5 speed Tremec and BW of the 90s were the first rear wheel drive types to use a reverse syncro.
 
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37 Cab said:
Most late model modern manual transmissions are synchronized in reverse these days. As far as I know the 5 speed Tremec and BW of the 90s were the first rear wheel drive types to use a reverse syncro.
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REALLY!

Below are pictures of a Borw-Warner (Tremec) T5 reverse gear. The first picture is REVERSE "UN-engaged". The second picture shows REVERSE gear "engaged". Would you care to point-out EXACTLY where the synchronizer might be for reverse?

I'm almost hearing Al Borland saying..."I don't think so, Tim!" DD

1390650002.jpg


1390650962.jpg
 
There are modern manual transmissions with a synchronised reverse, but not all. Whether 51% or more modern transmissions have it, I don't know, so whether saying "most" have the feature is correct or not is difficult to prove.

Mart.
 
REALLY!

Below are pictures of a Borw-Warner (Tremec) T5 reverse gear. The first picture is REVERSE "UN-engaged". The second picture shows REVERSE gear "engaged". Would you care to point-out EXACTLY where the synchronizer might be for reverse?


I don`t have a picture handy but the Tremec T45 Was a reverse synchronized trans used in the 90s. Also the TR3650 was a revised version produced later.
The trans in your pic is a T5 and is not synchronized in reverse.
 
Gee wiz Mart.... Are you picking on me?? ha ha.. Kind of like saying most cars are front wheel drive huh?
 
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Ford first went to a fully synchronized 3 speed trans in 1963. I was in high school and Ford donated 3 of these transmissions to our auto shop. Almost immediately, one kid beat on one trying to take it apart and it became replacement parts for the other 2. In 54 years of working on most all makes and model of car, I have never seen reverse synchronized. Maybe I've lived a sheltered life?
 
37 Cab said:
I don`t have a picture handy but the Tremec T45 Was a reverse synchronized trans used in the 90s. Also the TR3650 was a revised version produced later.
The trans in your pic is a T5 and is not synchronized in reverse.
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Tommy (37 Cab)......I must say, after looking into this bizarre (to me) information, that you are somewhat correct, and that I am certainly somewhat full-of-it. In your case, there are a relative FEW transes (not MANY) out there that have been graced with sync'd REVERSE. I'm really not sure that it could be said that the engineering and expense is worth it to keep from grinding on occasion when searching for REVERSE. I've always simply shifted into a forward gear (with synchros) to stop the rotation, and then stab reverse.....NO grinding!

Some of us (me) learn something new almost every day. I surely didn't intend to sound like a know-it-all. Interesting topic! DD
 
For me too, it was a surprise to find some gearboxes had synchro'd reverse. Getrag transmissions from Germany are used in many performance cars and at least some of those have the feature.

Mart.
 
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