Sunday, August 21, 2011

Hot Rod Transmissions

Did you just find a 41 Willys body?, or are you building a 33 Chevy Hot Rod or do you have an old Dodge Coronet that you want to restore?  Maybe you have a 55 Chevy that has a TH400 in it but you want a rockcrusher or a lenco racing transmission. If you are on a tight budget but need a transmission, buying one used or even junkyard shopping is going to be your best option (unless you got an inside connection on how to get a Lenco for cheap that you might want to let me in on, hmm). Anyway you may have to go looking for a transmission but you may be not sure how to find one.
Step 1. Research- Make sure you know what transmission you want for your build. Make sure you know all of the varations and changes from year to year of that transmission. Everything from bolt patterns, drive ratios, length, and other things can be different on the same model transmission from different years.
Step 2. Learn About Transmissions- This step really is common since, but it is a step many people do not do! Learn about how a transmission works, what a transmission does, the different parts of a transmission. Plenty of info is on goole and I am sure there are Youtube videos on basics of transmissions as well.
Step 3. Plan out the build- Make sure you know what parts you are going to need to install your transmission. Make sure your transmission will bolt on to your engine and to see if you will need an adapter or not. If your transmission will require those parts make sure you get them before you install your transmission to have them on hand.
Step 4. Inspect the Transmission- Whether you are going to a junkyard or to pick up a used transmission from craigslist. Try to bring with you someone who knows something about transmissions. One you get to your transmission be sure to inspect, even bring a flashlight with you to inspect the inside. If the transmission you want is still in the vehicle ask the junkyard staff to see if they can pull it for you.
Inspection Automatic Trans- When Inspecting an Auto Transmission remove the drain plug (its usually small, so this is where studying transmissions helps), drain the fluid, check to see how dirty the fluid is. Turn the transmission upside down and remove the pan, check the condition of the input shaft. Also check the internal rotating gear assembly. Move the transmission through all of the gears both up and down, the transmission should go into all of the gears if it is good. Also look for any cracks in the gears or the transmission as well. Inspect the gear teeth for any wear or damage. Make sure the output shaft rotates as well, also when doing this listen for any grinding, or meshing noises. If so this may not be a good transmission.
Inspection for Manual Trans- Inspecting a Manual is the same concept as an Auto but with a few differences. Again remove the drain plug and drain the transmission. Look for any pieces of dirt, small pieces or metal or anything else in the gear oil. If the gear oil appears cloudy or milky there could be water (and of course rust) in the transmission which is a bad sign. Inspect the condition of the input shaft for signs of the bearing failure. Again shift through all of the gears in the transmission both up and down to make sure they work (don’t forget reverse).When shifting look at the output shaft, it should spin when you shift into gear. Also listen for any grinding or mesh noises if you don’t hear anything and no derbies in the gear oil and no problems you most likely have found a good transmission!
Step5. The Build- Now that you have your transmission and hopefully the parts you will need its time to install it in your Hot Rod!


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