Sorry to ask but I give..Trans replacement question

[Guest mark1949B-1-B]

I have a 49 B-1-B with a 4-speed (granny 1st gear) that is unsynchronized. I am having some pretty good grinding so i took it into a trans shop. they think it needs rebuilt but are not sure they can get a rebuild kit.

I also asked about what synchronized trans would work to just replace it. They are stumped on what year might have a synchronized 4-spd that will fit.

I searched trans and read all the posts but didn't find the answer. I also looked in the restore book without finding an answer.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Mark

[greg g]

A little perspective on truck gearing might be helpful. When these trucks were built, they were pretty low powered for the work they were supposed to do. So to make up for lack of HP, engineers looked to gear ratios to meet the hauling needs. You say your truck has a non synched low granny gear. This gear was only meant to do heavy work, or to get the truck rolling when heavily loaded, and coupled with a high numerical rear end gear the whole gear set was probably designed for a max speed of 60 MPH.

In the general scheme of things, driving the truck unloaded would only require the use of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Those should be synched so you schouldn't be experiencing any grinding there. If you do chances are it may be linked to clutch adjustment, in that the clutch is disengaging completely. Enough to keep the truck from moving at idle, but not far enough to stop the input shaft spinning during a shift. Try lengthening you clutch rod to the throwout fork by about 1/4 inch and see if ther is a diffeence in shifting you top three gears. Is the trans whining, grinding, or notchy in its operation? If not it is likely OK internally, if anything your top gear syncros may be worn and they should be available. Granny low should be engaged only at a full stop, and hold the trans in neutral momentarily prior to shifting into low should be helpful in engaging without grinding.

For todays driving, especially if you don't work your truck, you might want to look into the possibility of swapping in a late model 5 speed from an S10 or Dakota. There are adapters for cars with flatties not sure about trucks as the bellhousing is different. Good luck with your situation, Try Kanter for parts.

[Thunder II]

Learn to "Float" the gears...... When you reach the shift point, back out of the throttle, GENTLY pull it out of gear, then GENTLY slide into the next gear. No clutch. Thats how you shift a semi-truck, and thats how I shift my B2-G. It takes a bit of practice. Fou might feel a little "Bite" as the gears start to mesh, so try to match the engine speed with the trans speed, with a bit of throttle. If this is done correctly, you can even shift with a new Synchonized trans. Though it is a bit more difficult.

[Merle Coggins]

The truck trannies don't have any syncros. At least not until the mid 50's, as I understand it. I haven't driven my truck around much yet, at least not enough to test my shift quality, but it's usually just a matter of learning the correct technique. It may be a double clutch, or just learning to better match the engine speed to the tail shaft speed.

I know I've shown this pic before... it is from one of my "test drive" sessions around the yard. But like I said, I didn't really take it through the gears.

[Reg Evans]

In 51 a 4 speed synchro was offered for the first time in the pickups. I hace one in my 52 and another in my garage. You can tell if the trans is synchro by looking at the drain plug. If it is parallel with the floor it is synchro. If the plug angles down it isn't. This was discussed here about a week ago.

[Dennis_MN]

I have a 49 B-1-B with a 4-speed (granny 1st gear) that is unsynchronized.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Mark

Whoops, all of the gears are unsynchronized, so you just need to learn how to double clutch. Use the grannie gear for starting out with a full load of haybales or to get out of the mud. Start out in 2nd for normal starts and when you've gained speed, clutch in and shift to netural, then clutch in and shift to third. Same thing from third to fourth, double clutch and wait a sec for the engine to slow down a tad then shift. When going from fourth to third, or down shifting, you clutch in, shift to netural, rev the engine a tad to equalize the engine speed to the transmission, then clutch in and shift to third. If she grinds, you need more practice at sensing the engine speed and the transmission speed. Your ear does the gear synch on these pre 1952 work horses.

I have the same model truck and the same transmission as you have. Some guy called me and told me about using that truck in the field picking up hay bales. He put it in grannie gear pulled the throttle out just a tad, tied the steering wheel straight, then got out, walked along side and pitched in hay bales when he came to one. At the end of the field, he'd turn the truck around and go down the next row until the truck was full, then he'd head home and unload. No driver needed.

Dennis

Dennis