Originally Posted by HillRider
You mean International still had a crash change first gear in 1967? The Big Three (ok, former Big Three) had all-synchro 3 and 4-speed trannys several years before that. Even VW had an all-synchro trans in the Bug by 1961.
The last non-synchro first gear trans I had was a '60 Chevy and, yes, it took some skill and timing to shift into first while the car was still rolling. The pedal placement absolutely prevented heel-and-toe work too which didn't make it any easier.
Those old "3 on the tree" trannies had a sliding gear 1st and reverse as opposed to constant mesh. This made matching the gear much more critical for smooth engagement than a constant mesh non-syncro type which are in wide use today in class 8 trucks.
The skilled professional driver can shift a non-syncro transmission without touching the clutch, so those drivers (of which I was one until recently) would not thank you for putting syncros in those boxes.
Dan Burkhart
www.boomerbicycle.ca