shovelheads Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 hey there. I am new to this site. actually never needed a forum before. I build older harleys from the 70s mainly and this is my first car build. a 1940 plymouth p10 business coupe. I am having problems finding a transmission decoder. the bellhousing serial no is 853853-4 and the tailshaft is 853880-5. i actually do not have the vehicle yet. it is being shipped from montana. i believe it to be a 3 speed fluid drive transmission but am wanting to make sure and also i can't find anywhere a manual for rebuilding this transmission. please help me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 (edited) For a manual, try here....http://www.autobooksbishko.com/ http://www.autobooksbishko.com/search.cgi?year=1940&make=Plymouth&category=Shop+Manual Edited March 25, 2018 by keiser31 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shovelheads Posted March 25, 2018 Author Share Posted March 25, 2018 thanks Keiser31 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shovelheads Posted March 25, 2018 Author Share Posted March 25, 2018 still need to know what transmission is in this according to the identification numbers please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plyroadking Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 Providing it hasn't been swapped it should just be a standard 3 speed transmission. They are pretty much the same from 1940 to 1955 and most everything will interchange. 1940 has a "fast" 2nd gear that some people like to swap into their later transmissions. I've been through many of them and there's nothing very critical or intense about them. Motor's auto repair manuals have a procedure for going through one. They're available on eBay usually cheap. I wouldn't go new then early 50s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shovelheads Posted March 25, 2018 Author Share Posted March 25, 2018 Thank you sir...i was thinking it was the fluid drive?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plyroadking Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 Fluid drive was more a dodge thing, but with some work one could be put in a Plymouth, to my knowledge it was never a factory option. The best upgrade that can be done to improve top end speeds is an overdrive transmission. 1940 was the first year for a true column shifted transmission and they stuck with that design for years. Shifter arms on the transmissions changed but your 1940 arms will bolt on and work up to 1955-56 ish when they switched to a much longer tailshaft on the transmissions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shovelheads Posted March 25, 2018 Author Share Posted March 25, 2018 Thank you so much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plymouthcranbrook Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 As I often suggest go here for early Mopar info: http://p15-d24.com/page/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 When you get the car, post the numbers etc. cast into the transmission case. The Hollander might just tell you if that is the correct transmission for a 1940 Plymouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plyroadking Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 On 3/26/2018 at 2:10 PM, Spinneyhill said: When you get the car, post the numbers etc. cast into the transmission case. The Hollander might just tell you if that is the correct transmission for a 1940 Plymouth. There should also be a date stamped on one of the machined surfaces. Either in front or behind the side cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silverdome Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 Check this out. http://p15-d24.com/topic/46755-transmission-identification/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 The Hollander shows the 1940-48 Std trans. had case 853853. It is a T243 transmission. In the parts interchange section it says the case no. is 1139155. That is also the number in the transm. units section for '49-51 Std trans.. I am confused now. It looks like either might be fitted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now