I am stuck and need guidance:

I am taking an early 4 speed transmission (monkey box) apart. I am stuck with the housing.

So far I have the front bell housing and middle housing off.

The tail section is not coming off. I have the speedo and reverse switch as well as cotterpin and crosspin at the shifter.

I have a spare B transmission and tried removing the speedo fitting (the one with the hod down clip) but it does not turn out.

Any tips are welcome.

Thanks!

Blue, I had a 5 speed apart a number of months ago. Those are a 3 piece tranny with the front(incorporated w/bell housing), the center (appx 1" wide) and the tailpiece. I don't know if the type A tranny is the same, but I just looked under my roadster (same monkey motion shifter but a 5 speed) and it also appears to have the 3 sections-not counting the bell housing as a separate section.

I remember having to hold the center section in a vise ( I made a bracket to hold it) and tap/pound on the tailpiece with a hammer and wooden buffer. It is likely that a sealant was placed between these sections when it was put back together. You can also try torqueing on the tailpiece in between taps to break it loose. Maybe you can post a picture of where you are to solicit more input.

Thanks!

I had to tap the tail section off but at the same time, drive the selector shaft towards the front of the transmission. It seems the 0-rings were holding it up.

I also took out the speedo unit.

Not sure how I'll "easily" put it back together. I can see that the selector shaft was welded (non-factory) at the 90 degree bend.

Anyone have a spare selector shaft?

Phillip, this is a 4 speed you are working on, not a 5 speed as the title suggests? If so, I don't have a spare selector shaft, but I do have a complete spare early 4 speed transmission. I know it's reasonably good, as I had it in my car for several weeks while I rebuilt the original. Shipping it to NJ might be expensive, though...

Sorry, yes it is the early 4 speed. Thanks!

I have two B version 4 speeds here but it is the original owner who wants the resto and all original (A Type). I had even offered a 5 speed but no go.

I'll edit the title for you.

I'm OK with staying with the original monkey-motion. After all, I rebuilt mine rather than swap to something non-original.

Did you do anything with the o-rings where the striker bar passes when you rebuilt?

No. I bought replacement o-rings, but didn't use them. Decided it wasn't worth the effort since the originals weren't leaking. I have not regretted that decision yet, it's been almost 4 years now.

Made it work. The problem was the striker bar. It was binding in the sleeve in the tail section and that was causing the reassembly problem... so I filed the bindy-bit and it worked fine.

Closed the mid and rear and went through the gears and no reverse, opened it up again grrrrrrr and everything seemed ok... then I noted the reverse safety stopper/spring... it was too tight.

Took the mechanism off the rod off then apart. Had to scotch brite the sliding shaft and cut 2 coils from the small spring that pushed a locking ball bearing. For testing I could barely work it by hand which seemed ok. Before I cut the coils I could not budge the stopper.

Reassembled and all is well... 4 speeds + reverse!

Pics in article section soon.

Edited July 4, 201113 yr by Blue