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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Shifting Gears - Rules of Thumb

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Discussion Topic: Shifting Gears - Rules of Thumb

Garrison202

04-21-2022 @ 7:01 PM

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Member
Posts: 36
Joined: Apr 2019

Hello Friends,
I’m almost too embarrassed to post this question as it means I’ll have to admit never having learned to drive a stick!
But my ‘36 Phaeton is almost entirely overhauled. Mac Van Pelt has the transmission and I’ll have it back after a complete rebuild in just a few weeks. The LAST tbing I want to do is allow my ignorance to cause the transmission any needless wear and tear.
So, ad embarrassing as it is, I can’t help but ask:

* if you were teaching your son or daughter to drive your early Ford V8, what things would you want them to know and understand before touching the shift lever for the first time?

* Ate there any rules of thumb… any nuggets of wisdom… any do’s and don’t’s that you’ve gleaned in your years of driving stick?

* Generally speaking, are there any good resources you’ve run across that describe how an old transmission works and how best to operate one?

Thanks so much! You’ve already played such an invaluable role in getting this car back on the road.

Best,
John

zeke3

04-21-2022 @ 7:14 PM

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Posts: 101
Joined: Apr 2011

The first rule of thumb that comes to mind is don't try to shift into first or reverse with the car moving, there will be a lot of grinding and damage to the gears if done enough. See also the recent discussion about grinding when putting the transmission in first on this forum, https://www.earlyfordv8.org/forum/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=18&Topic=15611

To launch the car from a dead stop, slowly let out on the clutch pedal until the clutch starts to engage, you will hear the engine start to slow down, then depress the throttle slightly to increase the speed of the engine as you let the clutch out the remainder of the way.

Do not "ride" the clutch pedal by leaving your foot on the pedal after completing a shift. Riding the clutch pedal can lead to premature failure of the throwout bearing or the clutch plate.

Downshift from 3rd gear to 2nd gear after making a turn. Some people also downshift to allow the engine to slow the car when coming to a stop.

When stopping the car, I do not push the clutch pedal in until the car is almost completely stopped to allow the engine braking to assist the car brakes in slowing the vehicle.

The transmission is a mechanical gearbox with three forward speeds and one reverse speed. The input shaft and cluster gear are always spinning when the clutch is engaged, the clutch pedal is out, depressing the clutch pedal disengages the transmission from the engine allowing the selection of the transmission setting to be changed.

First gear and reverse gear are selected with a sliding gear at the rear of the transmission. There is no synchronizer on this gear, so the output shaft of the transmission must not be moving, the car must be stopped, when trying to engage first gear or reverse.

Second and third gear are selected by a sychronizer, so selecting between these gears when the vehicle is moving is much smoother.

All the gear selections of the transmission determine which gear of the cluster gear is transmitting the engine power to the output shaft of the transmission.

Good luck, enjoy driving your old Ford.

This message was edited by zeke3 on 4-22-22 @ 7:49 AM

TomO

04-22-2022 @ 8:06 AM

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Posts: 7386
Joined: Oct 2009

I would find a friend or fellow club member and have him demonstrate driving an old Ford standard transmission and have him coach you on the use of the clutch. Having an experienced person in the car with you the first few times out helps a lot. He can coach you and also watch out for any safety concerns as you lean the technique.

Tom

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