Hi guys - sort of a newbie here. My '31 transmission sounds like marbles in a heat duct - anyone know what year tranny will be bolt in replacement? or how to find gears for the one I have?

Are you sure that you need gears? Maybe you have a bad bearing instead.

Thanks for the reply - I took the tranny out last week end - looks like the case was half full of water for some number of years - car sat since 1982. Bottom half of gears is rusted - lots of scaling and pits. Gears move freely, no sign of play in bearings or shaft bushings. I'm guessing knarled gears are source of noise but am not totally sure.

Yep, it sounds like you are due for a total rebuild on your tranny. Some new old stock or excellent used gears are available. You will have to contact the obsolete parts suppliers to locate them or run an "parts wanted" ad in the Generator & Distributor if you are a member of the VCCA. The bearings are available through your local bearing dealer.

That's the way I look at it too - any info on what year tranny will bolt in? That torque tube looks imposing - rather not mess with it for now. Car is intended to drive, not necessarily perfectly stock. Thanks.

As for straight bolt in, it is 1931 or '31. Gears, shafts, etc were used for several years prior. Some back to the mid-20s. Others only a couple of years. The bolt pattern for earlier transmissions is totally different.

Major changes in 1932. '32 and newer transmissions will bolt up to the clutch housing but are different overall length. So can not be used without also changing the torque tube or whole rear end assembly.