The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 4 speed tranny rebuild for a '42 3/4 ton

Hi all, I have a 4 speed in my 42 3/4 ton Chev. It leaks so I'm wanting to redo it with new bearings and seals. Does anyone know where I might get parts. Everywhere I've checked carries parts for the 3 speeds but not the 4 speed. The tranny is still in the truck and I use it to get to work. There was water in the trans when I bought the truck, very little pitting showed on the surfaces of the teeth. She's noisy in all but 4th and reverse.

Keith,
Try Anderson General in town for bearings. My buddy with the 29 Pontiac missed a shift in the old beast and blew a gear. He walked in and they had bearings on the shelf.
Bill

Any good bearing supplier should have bearings/seals or can get them easily.

You can take the time and peek through a parts manual to get the numbers you need and then even your local auto parts store should be able to get them-usually about double the price...

If you do need any gears or pieces I have a few of these trannys in my shed. This is assuming its never been swapped and still has the non-synchro transmission in it?

Jeff

The seals & brgs. should be avail. at any parts store.

Yeh, still has the nonsynchro, I'd need to pull apart unless I have the parts numbers or sizes to go to a parts place or Anderson. They can match if they have the original. I really want to wait until I have the parts as I'm using the truck daily to get to work. My car broke down.

Alright heres what you need to do;

Transmission Diagram

Cross View

Scroll down to the bottom and use the listed numbers to check out the section in the parts book to find the numbers you need.

So if you want the clutch main gear bearing (diagram # 4.355) you check out that number according to the master parts manual which puts you here. Look through the list and find the appropriate number related to your truck and tranny, which appears to be New Departure bearing # 3209-L. Give that number to any good bearing seller and they will cross reference to a newer number or if it hasnt been changed after 60 years the same number, regardless of number the bearing should be the same if it cross-references.

A little time consuming when you dont have a manual on hand, but it works.

Good luck, let me know if you need any odd parts and I can pull one of mine apart.

Jeff

Keith:
We probably should be comparing notes. The 4 speed in my ’41 ¾ ton comes out tomorrow. Even though it shifts fine it howls like crazy in all gears. No telling how long it had set unused before I got the truck. When I drained what ever kind of lube was in the transmission only about 2 cups of very thick black stuff came out. I refilled it with a SAE 80W90 GL-5 gear oil and put about 20 miles on it all in ½ mile trips around the block. When I drained it today it looked just like a chocolate milkshake. I think this usually means the lube has mixed with water ?? I’m pretty sure it will come out tomorrow, but I may not get it opened and apart till after the holiday.

I wonder just how much noise other 4 speeds of the same vintage make

I know they make noise with straight cut gears. when we changed the oil the first time it looked like an ice capp from tim horton. Now it's fine. just leaks like a sieve and the clutch is going to need doing.

Thanks Jeff, will try. Looks confussing but I'll figure it out. Appreciate the help.

Keith & Kim

If you can sit tight I will have new NTN & SKF numbers for all of the bearings next week. Mine is now all apart and the local bearing supplier "is workin on it" to come up with the new numbers. Also carefull the book says the bearings on both ends of the counter shaft are the same, on mine at least, they are not.