4 speed parts

[Old Crow]

For reasons too numerous to go into, I find myself in need of internal hard parts for a '54 granny low 4 speed for the torque tube driveline.
Spent a while with Google, but he wasn't very friendly today.

Anyone got any sources for parts for this old boat anchor? I need at least the front bearing support and input shaft. Rest of the internal stuff looks good at this point, but as I get it further apart that might change.
Looks like Jim Carter has the small parts kit and bearings, but no hard parts for the '54.
List of sites I've been to already:
LMC
Brothers
ClassicParts.com
Classic Industries
Eckler's Trucks
Patrick's
Jim Carter's

[nvrdone]

Check out All American Classic in Vancouver WA. They are a wrecking yard & parts house and have been a great help to me over the years

[OrrieG]

Just a couple of thoughts. Around here the complete trans show up pretty regular for probably less then the parts will cost. I am pretty sure even the later models can use the tube output housing, but based on my recent track record could be wrong. Might also be a good opportunity to swap to an open driveline to get a better rearend ratio.

[Old Crow]

Orrie, I'm at this exact same decision point on my wife's truck, and I've been talking with my local wrecking yard about the T-5 for her.
Unfortunately for me, the one I need the trans parts for right now is a customer vehicle.
I tried from the very start to switch him to an automatic trans, or at the very least the T-5 with an open driveline. He wants it stock. We've already re-geared the closed driveline with the Patrick's kit, so we're kinda invested in this at the moment. Started on the trans rebuild Friday, and discovered the snout of the input shaft is tapered badly where it goes into the pilot bushing, and as a result of the vibration happening there(?), the bearing retainer is cracked in 2 places.
I looked at Patrick's kit to adapt a Saginaw 4 speed to the torque tube, but they want like $475 for the kit and then I still have to buy a transmission.
I'll be calling my wrecker this morning looking for a complete old style trans. Seems like the simpler way out.

Didn't think of All American. I've used them before on an Impala we built. Thanks for the reminder.

[mach92bill]

Too bad you're so far away. I have a complete transmission just taking up space. If you know someone from Alaska headed your way,.....

[Old Crow]

LOL! As a matter of fact I do know someone headed this way in a few months. Don't think he'll want to haul that big ol' cast iron hunk on a Harley, though.

[_Ogre]

hopefully someone on this forum can ship you one they are only going to get scrap price for
(hint hint)

[Old Crow]

Gotcha. Might go there, but I'm still working on one locally. The wrecking yard about 6 miles from the house probably has a dozen of them...it's just a matter of getting him out of his chair to go look for 'em.
Dude is kind of a hoarder. He's got a complete '54 5 window, so any parts specific to '54 he won't sell. If I can use an earlier year, he'll let me have them. Kinda a PITA when I'm building not one, but two '54 ADs.

[crossfire84]

Not sure if this will help, but if you need something off this lump you can have it just let me know.

[_Ogre]

^^ that's how we roll

[Old Crow]

All right, all right...you got me. We'll do it your way.
What I need are the input shaft and the front bearing support.
PM me and we'll figure it out.

Has anyone ever seen someone grind a taper in the portion of the input shaft that goes into the pilot bushing? That's what I'm dealing with here. It's not "machined" from wear. You can actually see where someone laid this thing on a grinding wheel and tapered it. I guess maybe they didn't have a clutch pilot tool handy?
Front bearing support is cracked in the snout...perhaps from running no support on the front of the input shaft?

[OrrieG]

I think you answered your questions. When you get the good shaft, check the fit with the pilot bushing with the pressure plate and clutch in place, it is probably damaged as well from the shaft moving around. Someone couldn't get it to work and made a mess of it. I haven't had a manual trans vehicle since 85 but still have a box full of old shafts and pilot tools just in case.

[Old Crow]

Oh yeah, new bushing for sure. It was already on the list before I noticed the transmission problems.

[MidLifer]

Late to this thread but I have a sm420 from a 1950 ad that is fairly complete except for top cover and flanges. Let me know if you still need anything.

[1project2many]

Has anyone ever seen someone grind a taper in the portion of the input shaft that goes into the pilot bushing?

No. I have seen substantial damage caused by a bearing (vs bushing) failing in the crank. The rollers are harder than the input shaft and they tear up the shaft as they break up. IMO always use a bushing.