The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 3 Speed Tranny needle bearings

When I tore apart my 3 speed transmission for a rebuild (1950 GMC 1/2 ton), it did not have the 24 front bearing rear needle bearings (supposed to be 24 of them), or the two needle bearing retaining washers that go between the front and rear rollers. It only had the 14 front bearing front needle bearings. (Sounds confusing without seeing the exploded diagram of the tranny.)However the transmission worked and shifted fine prior to dis-assembly minus the other rollers. The factory manual clearly shows them in there.

I had ordered the small parts kit to overhaul the 3 speed tranny from Jim Carters, and it came with the rear needle bearings that I was missing, but it did not include the retaining washers. I would assume that the kit would have included these washers with the kit since it had replacements for all the other small parts in the transmission.

Does anyone know if these needle bearings and washers are supposed to be in every 3 speed manual trasmission, or are there some sub models that do not use them? As far as I know I am the only one to have over hauled this tranny, so I am under the assumption that it came from the factory without those rear rollers or washers. Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

I can email a picture of the exploded view of the tranny from the factory service manual if it would help clear up the confusion.

Thanks in advance,
Jake

The double row roller bearing with washers did not start until 1953.
A 1950 trans should only use the 14, 3/16" OD, rollers.

Hey Dave, thanks for the reply. That certainly puts my mind at ease, as I have already re-assembled the tranny. I was hoping not to tear it apart again.

Thanks again,
Jake

Thanks Dave, this answered my question, I opened up my 53 3sp and found double roller bearings. I had 14 of the larger ones, how many of the smaller ones should I have?

It's been a while since I counted them, but the parts book shows 24.

The improved SM318 which came out in 53 can be easily identified because it has the 4 lug synchro compared to the 2 lug synchro in the earlier models.

It came to me that my dad had a saying to remember the number of rollers, "two weeks, and two dozen".

Perfect Thanks!