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MANUAL 3-SPEED TRANNIE UPGRADES Jump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [50 messages per page] | View previous thread :: View next thread |
Forward Look Technical Discussions -> Transmission and Rear Axle | Message format |
d500neil |
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil! Posts: 19146 Location: bishop, ca | I've been interested, for some years now, in researching 'the best' available 3-speed manual transmission(s) for our cars. I don't presently have access to the article, but CARS magazine road-tested a 1962 Dodge Polara 500 with the OEM 3-speed column-manual in it, and reported that that 60-lb lighter (than 1961) trannie performed very well, behind the 305 HP engine! 1st was non-synchronization, but CARS reported no difficulties in working the trannie, in performance mode, and, the shift linkage was upgraded, too, for sure-SHORT movement shifting. Unless someone beats me to it, the article should be posted here, in the near future. In addition to the retrofitting of the 1962 (+) transmission, later iterations of it should feature various improvements in its design and execution. You could, certainly, have its flywheel be milled/cut-down, and new/modern friction material be added, and with reinforced shift linkages, too. And then, the main gearing could be replaced with a modern HARDENED casting/forging based upon CGI technology...OK; that's a stretch, but, do-able, for the suitably deranged FWDLK FINatic. I don't know when the last HD 3-speed transmission was built, but, at least we now know that 1962 was the first year that a significantly improved 3-speed was made available, for our cars (of such persuasion!) IIRC, the gearing for the 62 Polara 500 trannie was around 2.50/1.50 and its rear gear was 3.54 (so, those ratios were moderately aggressive, for the contemporary enthusiast driving). For today's driving/MPG, I'd prefer something around 2.35/1.40 (maybe; and with a 3.13/3.18/3.23 final drive ratio (along with a re-curved distributor, to take full advantage of the engine's now-high-geared output). Edited by d500neil 2014-12-21 4:47 AM | ||
58coupe |
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Expert Posts: 1739 Location: Alaska | I know there were 2 types of 3 speed trans. with the pin type syncros. built, a standard and a heavy duty unit. IIRC, one was the A745 but I have no experience with either one. | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Wasn't this discussed previously, and the HD transmission was determined to be known as the T-85 ? My old 60 DeSoto had a stout 3-onda-flo arrangement that when rebuilt, broke the 10" clutch three times before I was directed to an oldtimer at Seattle Brake & Clutch, who set me up with a larger (12"?) clutch and pressure plate. This cured the breakage problem and while 1st was not terribly aggressive, 2nd was like a slingshot. I never broke anything after that initial trouble, and while I rarely pushed it super hard, it did get an occasional pressure test (beat a well built 396 Nova in a streetlight grand prix one time). Back then, I was a lone cat in the forest with something like this. No one knew a thing about them and the only objective was to make it work. "Science" has come a LONG way since. I only wish I had kept the car or at least taken more pix and notes of what it all looked like, numbers, etc. Not sure if my limited memories of the subject will be of any use, but I did have a little experience in this area. | ||
57chizler |
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Expert Posts: 3768 Location: NorCal | While there were two different style 3-speeds in '62 B-bodies, each had different gear ratios for 6 or V8 so there were four distinct transmissions. The aluminum versus iron tailhousings accounted for much of the weight loss from previous years. The pin type synchros would prevent them from being considered for any performance mods IMHO. | ||
58coupe |
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Expert Posts: 1739 Location: Alaska | You are right Doc, The BW T-85 was the HD option in 60 and maybe 61 and then in 62-64 behind the max wedge but Chrysler also made a HD 3 speed of their own, I am not very familiar with. | ||
57chizler |
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Expert Posts: 3768 Location: NorCal | The factory HD 3-speed was the A745 mentioned above, it is a top loader. | ||
d500neil |
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil! Posts: 19146 Location: bishop, ca | Here's the FEB 1962 article from CARS magazine: (PICT2819.JPG) (PICT2820.JPG) (PICT2821.JPG) (PICT2822.JPG) (PICT2823.JPG) (PICT2824.JPG) (PICT2825.JPG) Attachments ---------------- PICT2819.JPG (104KB - 190 downloads) PICT2820.JPG (80KB - 186 downloads) PICT2821.JPG (79KB - 205 downloads) PICT2822.JPG (79KB - 194 downloads) PICT2823.JPG (75KB - 188 downloads) PICT2824.JPG (108KB - 187 downloads) PICT2825.JPG (85KB - 196 downloads) | ||
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