You may have noticed, I haven’t posted anything new in a while here on the ’53 Chevy Custom Belair blog. Well, that’s because in Florida, we have the best weather of the year between September and May, so I’ve been DRIVING her! This is the time of year that I try not to do any big projects on the car so I can enjoy driving the wheels off of her.

Well, fate had other plans in mind. A couple of weeks ago while taking a nice drive up Sunset Strip in Sunrise, Fl…she stalled out on me going about 35 mph. This hasn’t happened in years…and when it did in the past, I usually just threw in the clutch then popped it back, and she’d start right up. Eh, not so much this time. As I coasted to a near stop, I tried it again…but for some odd reason I threw it in second instead of first. And the car did NOT like that. I heard a clunk, and bye bye second gear.

I got the car home shifting from first to third with no problem, but I stripped out second. Just one of those things I guess.

Anyway, I was lucky enough to find a replacement second gear on ebay for fifty bucks. Chevs of the 40’s supplied the gaskets and needle bearings needed to finish the job. I’m thinking maybe next week, when I have all the parts here, I’ll drop the transmission, put it on the bench, and start taking it apart.

Just as lucky, was this video I found on YouTube from a really great guy who was nice enough to video the entire process of disassembling and assembling this type of Chevrolet transmission. He shows how to take the thing apart without using the special tools, that would cost hundreds of dollars, if you can find them.

I’ll post photos and progress as it goes. Wish me luck!