1949 Special Delux transmission help plz

[Oliver Klozoff]

First post so please be gentle... 

 

About a month or so ago myself and my dad picked up a 49 we saw for sale. Someone had already done some work, new fuel tank, brakes, a few other things. Didn't take much to get it running. (Although with a slight miss) 

 

We took it for a test drive, but can't get it to shift into 2 or 3. (3 speed column) linkage at the end of the shift is clean, not jammed up. Pulled the transmission, (pardon my lack of proper nomenclature) took off the side cover where the levers enter. There's a few gears missing corners, but nothing major. ( we think) I can slide the rails and make it into all the gears. One lever engages the rails via square tabs. One of these square cutouts has an angled corner. With the cover on and inplace, we can manually get into all 4 gears it's seems. Put it back on, no go. 

 

A little background, Pa has been a mech all his life.. greaser back in the day, mechanic later in life before retiring a locomotive engineer. We do all of our own mechanic work, from weed wackers to cars. 

Also, found a reprint of a service manual and have that to reference as well. We almost need to see the transmission and linkage set up properly to know if what we have here is worn/broken or if the past owner messed it up. If you're in western PA/eastern OH and have one, or leads on any parts, let me know!

 

Edited in pics as promised:

1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe https://imgur.com/gallery/7fOzrBo

Edited June 5, 2023 by Oliver Klozoff
Added link to pics

[moparfun]

2nd or 3rd, sounds like a possible adjustment problem.

[Los_Control]

I'm not familiar with your exact linkage, I'm sure someone here will be.

Since you have tested the transmission works in all gears, it goes back to linkage adjustment.

 

Study and understand the purpose for each rod .... one slides forward & back to engage gears .... thats working getting you into R-1rst.

The 2nd rod from neutral position slides over to engage the 2nd-3rd gears ..... thats the one giving you problems ..... it sounds like. Seem like you are not getting enough reach.    ..... So that is the rod I would be looking at.

 

I do not know what the book says, sometimes the rods can get bent, old bad motor mounts can allow the engine to settle & throw the adjustment out .... Look for something that is not right.

 

Welcome to the forum.

[soth122003]

A quick check of the motor mounts would be a visual check to see if they are mashed, followed by jacking up the bell housing by about an inch and try shifting the gears. If they shift, bad mounts. If not, bent or misadjusted linkage.

 

Joe Lee

[Doug&Deb]

I’m in southwest Pa. I’m a Dodge guy but if I can ever help let me know.

[Sam Buchanan]

Go through the adjustment process described in the manual. The linkage is a bit finicky, but I suspect once it is adjusted your tranny will be fine. If you adjust it too far you won't be able to get 1st and reverse.  

[Oliver Klozoff]

56 minutes ago, Sam Buchanan said:

Go through the adjustment process described in the manual. The linkage is a bit finicky, but I suspect once it is adjusted your tranny will be fine. If you adjust it too far you won't be able to get 1st and reverse.

When the shifter is in N it's about the 3:00 position. Pull it towards me and up for R down for 1... back to N.. does it push forward for 2/3 of just go straight up?

 

 

[Oliver Klozoff]

3 hours ago, Doug&Deb said:

I’m in southwest Pa. I’m a Dodge guy but if I can ever help let me know.

I appreciate it man, thanks!

[Oliver Klozoff]

6 hours ago, soth122003 said:

A quick check of the motor mounts would be a visual check to see if they are mashed, followed by jacking up the bell housing by about an inch and try shifting the gears. If they shift, bad mounts. If not, bent or misadjusted linkage.

 

Joe Lee

Hmm I didn't think about this, I'll have to test it out. Simple enough to rule out

 

Pa just reminded me, he said "remember when I was laying under it and you were moving the shifter I said the motor was moving?"

 

Found them on ebay for $89... 

Edited June 6, 2023 by Oliver Klozoff

[Oliver Klozoff]

1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe pics via imgur

 

https://imgur.com/gallery/7fOzrBo

 

Also, where do yinz get parts? I'll eventually need weather strip, carpet... im not looking for a 100% restoration, gonna keep it kinda ratty but still want it functional. 

I need a driver's window, I presume the passenger is the same? I could have a Glass shop trace that and make one easy enough. 

Rear bumper chrome is really bad, flaking and sharp. Source? Found a junkyard in Phoenix but that's quite a drive from Pittsburgh! 

Edited June 5, 2023 by Oliver Klozoff

[rallyace]

3 hours ago, Oliver Klozoff said:

1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe pics via imgur

 

https://imgur.com/gallery/7fOzrBo

 

Also, where do yinz get parts? I'll eventually need weather strip, carpet... im not looking for a 100% restoration, gonna keep it kinda ratty but still want it functional. 

I need a driver's window, I presume the passenger is the same? I could have a Glass shop trace that and make one easy enough. 

Rear bumper chrome is really bad, flaking and sharp. Source? Found a junkyard in Phoenix but that's quite a drive from Pittsburgh! 

Parts are readily available for most things. As far as the glass is concerned, they are flat glass panels. Any competent glass shop should be able to make them. Weatherstripping and such is available from Steel Rubber in North Carolina. The best places for parts are Andy Bernbaum and Roberts, both are in the Boston area. You probably will not find carpet as these cars had rubber floor mats. You have found one of the best sources of information here on old Mopars, you may want to join the Plymouth club.  The folks with old Mopars are more than glad to share their knowledge.

[9 foot box]

   Like Sam said, the linkage needs adjusting. The gear selector rod is too tight, it needs to be backed off a bit to get a good H pattern on the column shifter. If your rear mounts have collapsed over the years, it would have changed the linkage to operate correctly. I think this from my manual might help.  Rick D.

[soth122003]

5 hours ago, Oliver Klozoff said:

Also, where do yinz get parts?

Time to rag on the new guy.

 

Yinz...Yinz?  In the south it's Y'all. In Northeast it's Youse guys. In the central U.S. it's yuins. In the western states Yourn. Then there's Cali. Dude. Some of us (just few of us maybe?) might take exception to the introduction of foreign vernacular here. 

In my previous life I was a Victorian Librarian vernacular specialist. so there. Raggin dun.

 

Between the characters on this site and the manual for your car there should be the answer for the problems/procedure to take care of most of your needs.

 

Joe Lee

 

 

 

[Sniper]

Hmm, sometimes I say Y'all, after all I live in Texas.  Other times I say Dude, I spent 10 years in San Diego, well when I wasn't deployed.  Grew up in Indiana, no idea what they say there though, lol

[Oliver Klozoff]

6 hours ago, soth122003 said:

Yinz...Yinz?

Yep! It's a Pittsburgh thing.... YINZ wouldn't understand it

[Oliver Klozoff]

8 hours ago, 9 foot box said:

If your rear mounts have collapsed over the years

And from what I see they are definitely squashed and cracked

[Sam Buchanan]

A thread on motor mounts for your reading pleasure:

 

https://p15-d24.com/topic/50844-engine-mounts-p15-caution/

 

 

 

[Doug&Deb]

Rick what manual do you have? You posted a very helpful picture on my oil pan gasket thread and the linkage picture on this thread. I need that manual for my Dodge. The FSM for it isn’t nearly as comprehensive.

[9 foot box]

   I have bought a couple of the original print versions. The pictures in the reprints aren’t very good. I gave a reprint copy to the man that got a 48 P15 Club Coupe from me last month. Rick D.

[Booger]

I think I got my service book on Ebay

[Oliver Klozoff]

7 hours ago, 9 foot box said:

The pictures in the reprints aren’t very goo

That's the same book I got as a reprint, and can attest, the pictures aren't that great. 

[9 foot box]

   When you look for a used original manual, the cover should have a grainy texture. I bought one that has the pages loose leafed. I have the one that came with my 46. It works, but is just too crude, the pictures are good though. Rick D.

[Oliver Klozoff]

FINALLY got to the garage. Jacked up the trans and the ol man put a ratchet strap on it...guess what? It shifts! Took it for a test run and on the back roads here had it up to 60. 

[Los_Control]

Just now, Oliver Klozoff said:

FINALLY got to the garage. Jacked up the trans and the ol man put a ratchet strap on it...guess what? It shifts! Took it for a test run and on the back roads here had it up to 60. 

Sounds awesome ..... you might want to double check the speed rating on your ratchet strap ..... some are no good over 45mph  ???

[Oliver Klozoff]

It's a red one, those are the high speed ones, plus, Pa said "that's not going anywhere" so we good