Re: 1936 120 Synchromesh Question

Posted by Rusty O\'Toole On 2010/8/23 10:42:13

They didn't need synchro on first because you never had to downshift to first once you got rolling. Your car should negotiate any hill in second unless you come to a stop, then you can shift into low.

Cars in those days were built to be easy to drive in traffic with plenty of pulling power and low gearing. This is fine in the city but means the engine has to rev high on the open road. In other words, your car should be in its element and not need to shift down to low gear. Have you tried to see how slow you can go in second? You might be surprised, it will go a lot slower than any modern car and pull away without stalling or bucking provided it is in good shape.

Your engine could be down on power without you knowing it. Those old flatheads are very well mannered and can be in an advanced state of wear without making a fuss about it.

I would start by doing a compression test and a tuneup. That is another thing, the tuneup is a forgotten ritual but can make quite a difference in power on an old car.

Now about double clutching. If you insist on downshifting to first, you will have to synchronize the engine speed and transmission speed yourself. You do this by shifting from second to neutral, revving the engine to the same speed it will be going in first, then shifting into first. There is a knack to it but it is not hard once you get the hang of it.