Jim Yergin Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 The other day Tim was nice enough to explain that the 1941 and earlier transmissions had a different second gear than the post '41 transmissions. He also pointed out that the earlier "fast second gear" would be good in a 1950's O/D transmission. I am just curious why Chrysler changed the second gear ratio after 1941. What was the supposed advantage in the change? Jim Yergin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 to cut down on racing on the streets ..???...to give the chebbies and fords a chance to see what Mopar tail lights looked like..???? I have no real answer here... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Yergin Posted March 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 Tim, In checking my master parts books, it looks like the 1941 transmission used the same second gear and gear cluster as the 1942 through 1948 transmissions. Could your source of information be incorrect as to the '41 transmissions having the fast second gear? Thanks. Jim Yergin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 you are right, I was a year off..the 40 was the last year..looking back in my book..1.55 ratio was from 36-40 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Yergin Posted March 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 Thanks Tim. As always your help is greatly appreciated. I guess I won't bother transferring the second gear and cluster from my '41 transmission. Jim Yergin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 Thanks Tim. As always your help is greatly appreciated. I guess I won't bother transferring the second gear and cluster from my '41 transmission.Jim Yergin Jim; I have heard that George Asche has a stash of NOS tall 40 gears. As long as you are doing this you might want to contact him and see if you can get the parts. PS, Has your e-mail address changed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Yergin Posted March 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 Don, Thanks for the suggestion. I may give George a call. My email address is still the same. Are you having trouble with it? Jim Yergin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 Don,Thanks for the suggestion. I may give George a call. My email address is still the same. Are you having trouble with it? Jim Yergin Just sent you a test e-mail. Let me know if you get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 Just sent you a test e-mail. Let me know if you get it. It bounced. Sent you a PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Yergin Posted March 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 I checked with George Asche about the fast second gear parts. He charges $250 for a used second gear and gear cluster. I found that Len Dawson lists the same two parts NOS for $60. I have placed an order with Len Dawson. George did have a theory on why Chrysler changed in '41 to the "slow second" gear ratio. The slow second gear is not that much different from the first gear ratio. George believes that back when the change was made, drivers were more interested in minimizing gear shifts than acceleration. The "slow second" allowed the driver to start up in second gear and then only have to shift once to get into third. Makes sense to me. Jim Yergin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 I have to shoot that theory in the butt..first gear and third gear is the same in both trannies..the second gear could be by passed if given his explaination in either case...the fast second allow you to be a bit longer legged and thus not need to shift the car at lower speed due to higher engine RPM... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodney Bullock Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 That means my 1940 Plymouth has that fast second gear in it. No wonder it feels so strong in second, I'm going racing tomorrow. I wonder if my transmission is up for a 100 mile trip? Since I can go faster It will take just 2 hour instead of three. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 basically in todays terminology these would be called a close ratio and a wide ratio tranny..but only the second gear does apply..even in 4 speeds of later years..first and fourth would be the same and 2 and 3 would be of other ratio.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 That means my 1940 Plymouth has that fast second gear in it. No wonder it feels so strong in second, I'm going racing tomorrow. I wonder if my transmission is up for a 100 mile trip? Since I can go faster It will take just 2 hour instead of three. Rodney; In order to race you have to alter your wimpy driving style..... I will offer up some training on my next visit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 I have to shoot that theory in the butt..first gear and third gear is the same in both trannies..the second gear could be by passed ... My mother was not a person who liked to shift gears. While I was growing up she drove a 1948 Buick Super 3 on the tree. She never used second gear. She would wind that straight eight out to maximum RPM's in first and then slam it into third. After a few years of doing this the linkage locked up and would not go into second. Believe it was a lubrication issue. When it was time to sell that car dad let the potential buyers take it for a test drive. When they returned the car shifted into all gears like new. However they did not buy the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1949P17BC Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 I have a George Asche OD transmission with a fast second and its is great! Ask Greg G he coudn't keep up. Just kidding I just ordered another GA OD transmission for my 47. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 for smooth even acceleration on todays roads..the fast second is ideal and couple that with the OD...it is even better...if I was ever to run a standard 3 speed behind a flattie..this would be my choice..but being a shiftless bastard I will stick with my automatic trannies.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodney Bullock Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 Rodney;In order to race you have to alter your wimpy driving style..... I will offer up some training on my next visit. Woo, I can't wait:cool: lessons from the master! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_Douglas Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 I checked with George Asche about the fast second gear parts. He charges $250 for a used second gear and gear cluster. I found that Len Dawson lists the same two parts NOS for $60. I have placed an order with Len Dawson.... Funny thing is that George sold me a "NEW" fast 2nd gear for a couple of hundred dollars...Hummm When we take out the trans and open it up to see what George missed that is causing the OD to not work correctly, I will have to inspect the 2nd gear to see if it is in fact a new or used one. James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Yergin Posted March 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 James, It is possible I may have misunderstood George but I was under the impression we were talking about used parts. If I am assuming something then we all know what that makes me. However, even if new, Len Dawson's price beats George's by a mile. Jim Yergin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don St Peter Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 I installed a George Asche OD in my 40 Ply P-9. I'm told that I have a "fast 2nd, but I cannot recognize an advantage going from stop ( or very slow ) with OD engaged from 2nd ,as it acts just like it's in 3rd. I also thought that below about 25 MPH, the governor fly weights would keep the OD from engaging, even with the manual lever engaged. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james curl Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 It is my understanding that any speed below the cut-in speed of the governor removes the solinoid from the circuit. The car should freewheel at those speeds anytime the throttle is released. I didnot wire the governor into the circuit on my 55 Chervolet pick up and overdrive is engaged anytime the power switch is in the on position reguardless of speed. It freewheels at any speed because I leave the cable in the overdrive engaged position even when the power is off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 In a nutshell... 1st gear 2.57 x 3.9 = 10.023 to 1 in OD..2.57 x .70 x 3.9 =7.061 to 1 2nd gear 1.83 x 3.9= 7.31 to 1 in OD 1.83 x .70 x 3.9=4.99 to 1 fast 2 1.55 x 3.9= 6.045 to 1 in OD 1.55 x .70 x 3.9= 4.23 to 1 3rd gear 1.0 x 3.9= 3.9 to 1 and in OD 1.0 x .70 x 3.9= 2.73 to 1 a good pattern would be 1st gear straight, 2nd gear, 2nd OD, 3rd and then 3rd OD regardless of fast or standard your rationin 1st and third remain constant in straight or OD positions.. how you wish to change gears would be totally dependent on your desire to attain cruise or based on your vehicle occupancy weight...either way..they can be lots of fun... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordkustom Posted July 24, 2015 Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 I checked with George Asche about the fast second gear parts. He charges $250 for a used second gear and gear cluster. I found that Len Dawson lists the same two parts NOS for $60. I have placed an order with Len Dawson. George did have a theory on why Chrysler changed in '41 to the "slow second" gear ratio. The slow second gear is not that much different from the first gear ratio. George believes that back when the change was made, drivers were more interested in minimizing gear shifts than acceleration. The "slow second" allowed the driver to start up in second gear and then only have to shift once to get into third. Makes sense to me. Jim Yergin do you recall the part#s for Len Dawson? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meadowbrook Posted July 24, 2015 Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 My car has the 1940 r7 OD from Asche with the fast 2nd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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