Carmak Posted February 9, 2017 Report Posted February 9, 2017 I just started working on a 37 P3. The previous owner took the top off of the transmission and let it sit long enough that the gears seized (or he took it off because the trans seized). I am looking for direct bolt in options? What years and models will fit? I am not looking to convert to a T-5 or other modern transmission at this time. I know of a 35 or 36 Dodge transmission. Would it fit? Thanks. 1 Quote
Sharps40 Posted February 9, 2017 Report Posted February 9, 2017 (edited) Dissassemble and rebuild. Its not a difficult tranny. Gears and even clusters are available. In any event, 36, 37 Dodge/Plymouth/Desoto for sure with some slight differences in u joints and brake drum band size/width, most of which can be swapped around. (for example 36 Desotos had cross type (i.e. modern) u-joints, Dodge/Plymouth had the harder to balance and weak cup and stick type u joints.) I believe this top loader three speed was used through 1938/9 in the cars. When ever they went to column shift, that's a general indication of when trans changed....some variances....i.e. fluid couplings, etc. But the basic 3 speed top loader was used for 3 to 5 years across makes. Edited February 9, 2017 by Sharps40 Quote
plyroadking Posted February 9, 2017 Report Posted February 9, 2017 I'm in Des Moines and have a couple 36 Plymouth transmissions. I'll have to check on the conditions though, worst case I know I've got enough parts laying around to put one together. Quote
55 Fargo Posted February 9, 2017 Report Posted February 9, 2017 17 hours ago, Carmak said: I just started working on a 37 P3. The previous owner took the top off of the transmission and let it sit long enough that the gears seized (or he took it off because the trans seized). I am looking for direct bolt in options? What years and models will fit? I am not looking to convert to a T-5 or other modern transmission at this time. I know of a 35 or 36 Dodge transmission. Would it fit? Thanks. Hello and welcome, kudos to you wanting to keep a Mopar trans in the line up. Check with Tim Kingsbury on this website, he can offer you a lot of insight into what can and will work with minimal problems, possibly even some type of early overdrive unit. Good Luck, and keep us posted... 1 Quote
timkingsbury Posted February 10, 2017 Report Posted February 10, 2017 22 hours ago, Carmak said: I just started working on a 37 P3. The previous owner took the top off of the transmission and let it sit long enough that the gears seized (or he took it off because the trans seized). I am looking for direct bolt in options? What years and models will fit? I am not looking to convert to a T-5 or other modern transmission at this time. I know of a 35 or 36 Dodge transmission. Would it fit? Thanks. The 1936, 37, 38 overdrive out of a Desoto or Chrysler will work. A straight 3 speed the Chrysler and Desoto will work, I am not 100% sure about the Dodge. The early 1936 and 1935 you don't really want to use. 2 Quote
Flatie46 Posted February 10, 2017 Report Posted February 10, 2017 I saw this as I was searching for other Plymouth parts. https://knoxville.craigslist.org/pts/5963872547.html Quote
Robert Horne Posted February 10, 2017 Report Posted February 10, 2017 Many people on here have installed the T5 trans in their cars. I installed a TK5 5 speed Ford Ranger trans, 1983 to 1987, in my 1938 Plymouth, still doing great. 2 Quote
55 Fargo Posted February 10, 2017 Report Posted February 10, 2017 On 2/8/2017 at 8:46 PM, Carmak said: I am not looking to convert to a T-5 or other modern transmission at this time. He is not looking for a conversion to a "Modern Trans", you must have missed this. 1 hour ago, Robert Horne said: Many people on here have installed the T5 trans in their cars. I installed a TK5 5 speed Ford Ranger trans, 1983 to 1987, in my 1938 Plymouth, still doing great. 1 Quote
dpollo Posted February 11, 2017 Report Posted February 11, 2017 just about all 35 to 39 transmissions will fit. A 39 will need to have the cover changed and the position of the park brake mechanism may be different from the 37. The internal parts will fit. The 36 trans should be a bolt-in. Quote
50plymouth Posted February 11, 2017 Report Posted February 11, 2017 32 minutes ago, dpollo said: just about all 35 to 39 transmissions will fit. A 39 will need to have the cover changed and the position of the park brake mechanism may be different from the 37. The internal parts will fit. The 36 trans should be a bolt-in. 35 wont work, 39 wont work. Well you can make anything work I realize, but the 39 and some of the 38s have the parking brake on the wrong side and the 39 has other issues. The 35 is an animal on to its own. I have been down this road a couple of times. Quote
Robert Horne Posted February 11, 2017 Report Posted February 11, 2017 9 hours ago, 50plymouth said: 35 wont work, 39 wont work. Well you can make anything work I realize, but the 39 and some of the 38s have the parking brake on the wrong side and the 39 has other issues. The 35 is an animal on to its own. I have been down this road a couple of times. My 36 and 37 transmissions have the parking brake with the handle coming up through the floor. My 38s have a cable to operate the parking brake. All my 36, 37, and 38 transmissions would attach to my 38 bell housings. I used one of my 38 bell housings on my TK5 speed install. Quote
Robert Horne Posted February 11, 2017 Report Posted February 11, 2017 On 2/10/2017 at 7:44 AM, Rockwood said: He is not looking for a conversion to a "Modern Trans", you must have missed this. I was just guessing that a 83 to 87 TK5 was just as modern as any 82 to 87 S10 Chevy T5...... 1 Quote
55 Fargo Posted February 11, 2017 Report Posted February 11, 2017 8 hours ago, Robert Horne said: I was just guessing that a 83 to 87 TK5 was just as modern as any 82 to 87 S10 Chevy T5...... No problem Robert, these are all modern transmissions you mention, and not considered desirable by the poster, I am gathering... 1 Quote
50plymouth Posted February 12, 2017 Report Posted February 12, 2017 14 hours ago, Robert Horne said: My 36 and 37 transmissions have the parking brake with the handle coming up through the floor. My 38s have a cable to operate the parking brake. All my 36, 37, and 38 transmissions would attach to my 38 bell housings. I used one of my 38 bell housings on my TK5 speed install. and your point is ? I think were both on about the same page.. other than there are some 1938 trannys with the parking brake coming off the wrong side. I have seen 3 or 4 over the years. Quote
50plymouth Posted February 12, 2017 Report Posted February 12, 2017 14 hours ago, Robert Horne said: I was just guessing that a 83 to 87 TK5 was just as modern as any 82 to 87 S10 Chevy T5...... I would suggest when the original poster posted and I quote - "I am not looking to convert to a T-5 or other modern transmission at this time" .. Your Ranger transmission would be in his list of ones he wasn't looking for. Im sure you just missed that. Quote
Los_Control Posted February 12, 2017 Report Posted February 12, 2017 Seems like it was between 1934 and 1935 that they did a little physical work on the bell housing, moving the starter location. I would think the '35 or '36 trans would fit fine. Or even newer. Does the 1937 have a floor shift or column? Thinking it is floor shift, my 1949 truck has the 3 on the floor with a 1937 218 engine. I bet something newer then the 37 would fit. Quote
50plymouth Posted February 12, 2017 Report Posted February 12, 2017 5 minutes ago, Los_Control said: Seems like it was between 1934 and 1935 that they did a little physical work on the bell housing, moving the starter location. I would think the '35 or '36 trans would fit fine. Or even newer. Does the 1937 have a floor shift or column? Thinking it is floor shift, my 1949 truck has the 3 on the floor with a 1937 218 engine. I bet something newer then the 37 would fit. There were lots of changes, including the introduction of overdrive, which also changed a lot from the 1934-1941 time frame. There is a great blog article by the AoK boys with pictures that gives you an idea. Now those are overdrives but it will give you an idea Its floor shift to 1938 and then 1939 has a floor shift or column shift. But in the 30s they change the emergency brake connection from one side of the car to the other. So can you make an adapter, yes but its not simple. Your truck other than it is a floor 3 speed is nothing like what he is looking for, but yes most a lot of 1938s will fit but not all of them. Maybe the AoK boys could be talked into amending that article or putting up one that showed the different non-overdrive transmissions. hint hint.. Quote
Sharps40 Posted February 12, 2017 Report Posted February 12, 2017 Best start point is to unsieze what he's got. Might not need much more than cleaning out and some seals Quote
dpollo Posted February 12, 2017 Report Posted February 12, 2017 It is easy to change the rear casting so the parking brake will work. The synchronizers in the 39 may be different but in any case, the internals can be swapped . Quote
Ranger Posted February 21, 2017 Report Posted February 21, 2017 (edited) On February 10, 2017 at 3:08 AM, Robert Horne said: Many people on here have installed the T5 trans in their cars. I installed a TK5 5 speed Ford Ranger trans, 1983 to 1987, in my 1938 Plymouth, still doing great. Looks like a reasonable option. Might do it to my 36. Edited February 21, 2017 by Ranger Quote
belvedere666 Posted March 3, 2018 Report Posted March 3, 2018 On 2/10/2017 at 3:08 AM, Robert Horne said: Many people on here have installed the T5 trans in their cars. I installed a TK5 5 speed Ford Ranger trans, 1983 to 1987, in my 1938 Plymouth, still doing great. this seems like it might be a good option for my 1950. i think the shifter might get in the way of my bench seat though. what type of modifications were needed to get this in there? Quote
likaleica Posted March 3, 2018 Report Posted March 3, 2018 8 hours ago, belvedere666 said: this seems like it might be a good option for my 1950. i think the shifter might get in the way of my bench seat though. what type of modifications were needed to get this in there? Seat position might certainly be an issue IMHO. I have a 39 Plymouth Sedan with three on the floor. Even with the shifter exiting the trans relatively near the clutch housing, when selecting first the shifter is virtually in the passenger's lap. Remember mine is a RHD car so the shift positions are "the wrong way round" compared with your LHD models. I sure need to be good friends with my passenger! BTW when I try to paste an emotion on here, it wipes all the text I've just written. Am I being a klutz or is it a bug in the system? 1 Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 3, 2018 Report Posted March 3, 2018 12 minutes ago, likaleica said: Seat position might certainly be an issue IMHO. I have a 39 Plymouth Sedan with three on the floor. Even with the shifter exiting the trans relatively near the clutch housing, when selecting first the shifter is virtually in the passenger's lap. Remember mine is a RHD car so the shift positions are "the wrong way round" compared with your LHD models. I sure need to be good friends with my passenger! BTW when I try to paste an emotion on here, it wipes all the text I've just written. Am I being a klutz or is it a bug in the system? might just be you..... just put the curser where you want the icon and go to top, pick your poison and click on that icon Quote
likaleica Posted March 3, 2018 Report Posted March 3, 2018 5 minutes ago, Plymouthy Adams said: might just be you..... just put the curser where you want the icon and go to top, pick your poison and click on that icon Thanks Plymouthy - I think that's what I did but it went base over apex......could be my connection dropped out momentarily. We've severe winter weather here and it's affecting everything from travel to phone lines and internet..... Quote
desoto1939 Posted March 3, 2018 Report Posted March 3, 2018 I copied the page from my Hollander interchange book for the 37 Plymouth. Refer to number 113 on the sheet this will tell you alot about which trans will fit. Hope this will help Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com 37 Ply trans.docx Quote
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