The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Crash Box

How many out there are running an old totally unsynchronized, granny gear, 4 speed in their truck??

Running one in a 46 and one in a 39. Other than a slight leak on the rear yoke they work and shift great.

just had the 42 1 1/2 army crash box rebuilt and can't wait to drive it.

Ain't they sweet....?

Have one tied to a 261 in a 1940 Chev .... I can do 1 to 2 and 3 to 4 without even double clutching....just by feel and sound..... but the long throw between 2nd and 3rd usually grinds a little.
The biggest handycap is the truck is right hand drive and requires shifting with your left hand...Yipes!!!

Like a woman the tranny really behaves best when handled with a firm hand to minimize the grinding.

Bob C.

Gotta say, love my truck, but not in love with that crash-box! 1941 1.5 ton. If I drove it more often, it would be better, no doubt. As it is, I grind quite a bit, and have to re-learn the sound of the right engine speed to release the clutch after up-shifting.

I'm the opposite of Bob C., though. I find, if I hold the shifter between my pointer and middle fingers, with my palm face-up, it helps me to be gentler, and shift without cramming it and getting yelled at my the tranny.

For me, 1st-to-2nd is a bear. The others seem more forgiving.

I suppose the truck's weight has something to do with it, and my fire truck is likely heavier than most, 'cept maybe for a dump-truck.

-Michael

got one in my '40 1.5t. love it! trying to find another for a spare while i rebuild/inspect, re-clutch the original leaky one in it. cast #590474. i never use 1st, but engage it up my driveway from time to time just to make sure it works. its all about timing between shifts, doesnt like rushing. i drive it daily to work, about 15 mile each way. the most annoying thing about driving, is the others behind that are in a rush!!! most of the time, i get the "thumbs-up"!

I kinda thought there would be more crash boxes out there.

I’m still getting used to mine. My engine is freshly rebuilt so for the first 500 miles or so I hade the idle set around 900 RPM and got used to shifting, but when I dropped the idle closer to 500 RPM it was a whole new ball game.

I like to watch the expression on the person behind me when pulling away from a traffic light. My start is quick enough but the slow second to third shift (I don’t normally use the granny gear first) usually has him right on my rear bumper.

My '46 with 216 has one. I got the truck in '01. The clutch pedal was set w/ zero free play. I didn't drive the truck much then. It was always hard to start and I'd do a little work on it once in a while and things got hectic with work and I let the truck sit for four years with out even running the engine. In May I started it for the first time and started trouble shooting things little by little. I adjusted the clutch pedal and started to learn the double clutch boogie. Then the water pump went bad. I'm also waiting for the radiator to come back from the shop.
I can't wait to get it together again and resume shifting lessons.
Jacques