Is it quiet in 2nd gear? Could be the input shaft bearing, cluster gear bearings or slider gear. Trans will have to come out to check.

Sounds exactly like the tranny in Herbert Bell's "Driving Miss Daisy" car. When I took the tranny out and opened it up, I found the front main shaft bearing was shot. Apparently, in 1st gear there was enough side thrust put on the bearing that it really hollered. In 2d it wasn't really noticable, and in third it was fine, since there's virtually no side load. A new bearing made it all well.

Hello - I will try to query Park Waldrop by this post.

It was the front case bearing in the case just described. How interesting.

Do you think it possible that case bearing(s) could cause a grinding first gear in a 1934 Terraplane with much less grinding in second gear and no noticeable noise in high gear?

Car doesn't jump out of gear or anyting like that, just makes a grinding noise.

Robert, it most certainly would. General design of the '34 and the stepdowh "single lever" transmissions in not all that different.

Hello there,

It appears it's well a bearing noise since the cogs are in good shape.
I took the floor and trans cover out this evening, here is the video:

[video] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeoy0fELbQU&feature=c4-overview&list=UUEVtTcLuTHO7rLt46EqtAIg [/video]

Any tips to pull the trans ouf of the car ? I'm going to leave the bellhousing in place right ?

Thib

One of the gang with 2-lever transmission will have to answer your Q on the bell housing. I can't think of a reason to remove it, since the tranny comes off the bell housing easily (unless you've somehow got a single lever tranny there). That's a big advantage of the '52 and later trannies.

This thread is so informative and so common-sensical! Thanks to all and particlarly Park Waldrop for sharing.

If the gears look OK, they probably are OK. Well duh! But it needed saying. I'm keeping my eye on this one. Soon I will apply it to my
own situation.

And again, a big THANK YOU to all !!!

You people science is indeed valuable and welcomed 🙂

Just a last though before pulling the trans: since it has an overdrive which the solenoid isńt wired, could´nt it be the problem ?
The car has been converted to 12v and I dońt know if the 6v solenoid will blow with higher voltage.

Many people have used the original solenoid on 12v with no problems. For best reliability, it's better if you can find a 12v solenoid, used on early 12v Chevrolet, Ford, Studebaker and others. There is a person selling new 12v ones, but they are priced at about $250.

[quote="Thibault Klijkens" post=3124]Hello there,

It appears it's well a bearing noise since the cogs are in good shape.
I took the floor and trans cover out this evening, here is the video:

[video] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeoy0fELbQU&feature=c4-overview&list=UUEVtTcLuTHO7rLt46EqtAIg [/video]

Any tips to pull the trans ouf of the car ? I'm going to leave the bellhousing in place right ?

Thib

You will need to pull tranny with bellhousing attached because it is attached to the tranny from inside. When pulling the tranny after you pull the tranny back from the motor you may be able to reach around remove the bolts and bellhousing then remove tranny from under car, ( If I remember this is how I did my 51 Pacemaker in 1990) otherwise I believe you have to remove tranny up through passengers compartment. I have overdrive also. The later 2 lever trannys unbolt from the bellhousing from transmission side.

I thought all '53s had the 2-lever tranny, with external bolts fastening it to the bell housing. Not this one?

Trans body is bolted indeed to the bellhousing by 4 bolts but I don't know how it's made inside.
Will have a look on the manual and try to leave the bellhousing in place if possible. I'll let you guys know and describe the procedure with pictures.

The trans if now out of the car.
It was an easy job since it goes out without the bellhousing. I removed the floor pan, universal joint bolts, OD wires, speedometer gear then the 4 bolts attaching the box to the bellhousing and BAM. 2 hours job ! I took pictures of everything so I can detail the removal if someone is interested.

The gearbox is a Borg-Warner T86E-1A with OD. Were '53 Hornets supposed to feature that trans ? Google told me it's a studebaker-willys-jeep thing.

Anyway it isn't a bearing problem. The 1st gear cog's teeth on the countershaft aren't in good shape at all. I didn't noticed it earlier because I hadn't flushed the trans oil and that shaft was immersed. Mainshaft cogs are perfect.

Now I'm good to find a new or used cluster shaft. I found a used trans on eBay quite cheap but the mainshaft is longer than mine where it slides into the clutch housing. Both share the same casting number though. Should I take it ?

I'm speaking with AA Gears & Shafts in LA to check if they can help with the shaft only.

Any thoughts welcome 😉

Thibault, I suggest you contact club member Al Saffrahn, in Arizona, about any parts needed. Al is one of our best Hudson transmission experts, and has rebuilt many of them. His email is hetal_saffrahn@q.com. (remove the "het" from this address to get his actual one).