John Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 Complete transmission identified to fit 1937 Buick Specials. Operating condition is unknown. Pickup in Lehighton PA, 30 minutes north of Allentown. $100 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffH Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 Could this be for a '38? The reason I ask is that I have had both a '37 and '38 gearbox on my '38 Special. The '37 was on it originally, for reasons unknown. When I got a '38 gearbox, and had both of them apart to make up the best from the two, I learned that the '37 and '38 have a different sized clutch spline, and the '37 used a bolt-on retainer that held the clutch gear bearing in place. This was eliminated on the '38 models (as your third picture seems to show). The only reason the '37 fit my '38 clutch housing was because someone had modified the '37 gearbox to eliminate this feature. Cut-off bolts were still threaded into the case where the retainer used to be. Also, my clutch disc was purchased to fit a '37 (spline issue). Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted December 21, 2019 Author Share Posted December 21, 2019 Hi Jeff, I had no idea what this fit and asked for help in the AACA "What is it" section. It was ID'd as '37 based on the 1-1/4" input shaft. https://forums.aaca.org/topic/337542-transmission-for/ John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pont35cpe Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 (edited) Jeff, I`m the one that advised John that the trans is a `37, maybe I was having a brain fart. I know the `37 40series has the 10 spline 1 1/4" dia input shaft and `38 was changed to the 10 spline 1 1/8" input shaft. Is it possible that your `37 trans is a `34-`36 40 series trans with the collar removed? Maybe another `37 owner can confirm. Edited December 21, 2019 by pont35cpe (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 The holes to mount the bearing retainer are not present. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pont35cpe Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 13 minutes ago, Bloo said: The holes to mount the bearing retainer are not present. Bloo, did the `37 40 series trans originally have a retainer? Jeff states his `37 trans has no retainer and the bolts are cut off. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937-44 Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 Here is a picture of my spare 1937 Special transmission. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 3 hours ago, pont35cpe said: Bloo, did the `37 40 series trans originally have a retainer? Jeff states his `37 trans has no retainer and the bolts are cut off. I didn't know the answer to that (although I thought 37 Specials had a retainer). I just thought in light of Jeffh's post that no bolt holes would point to 38 rather than 37. It looks like 1937-44 has cleared that question up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pont35cpe Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 1 hour ago, Bloo said: I didn't know the answer to that (although I thought 37 Specials had a retainer). I just thought in light of Jeffh's post that no bolt holes would point to 38 rather than 37. It looks like 1937-44 has cleared that question up. That clears up the retainer question on Johns trans., but would have to have a `37 clutch disc, `38 has a 1 1/8" input shaft. I`m only half confused now.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted December 22, 2019 Author Share Posted December 22, 2019 12 hours ago, pont35cpe said: ........... I`m only half confused now.. Well I'm totally confused! Did the changes as to input shaft diameter and elimination of the bearing retainer take place mid model year? Or has my tranmission been modified? Or.......??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pont35cpe Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 40 minutes ago, John said: Well I'm totally confused! Did the changes as to input shaft diameter and elimination of the bearing retainer take place mid model year? Or has my tranmission been modified? Or.......??? John, by the looks of your trans I would think its never been apart to be modified. Maybe Buick was using the remainder of 1 1/4" shafts and clutch discs in the earlier `38 production before changing to the 1 1/8" shafts. So your trans must be a `38(no bolt holes for retainer) but would need the matching clutch disc. `39 went to column shift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pont35cpe Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 (edited) John, there is what I think is a stamped production number(7digit) just to the rear of the shifter plate. `38 production numbers 3219848 to 3388537, does your number fall in this range? If so it is a `38 trans. Edited December 22, 2019 by pont35cpe (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffH Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 Great feedback... maybe the production number will clear this up. Certainly possible that there was a mid-year change. Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted December 23, 2019 Author Share Posted December 23, 2019 Probably won't get to it until after the holidays, but will post what I find, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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