Thanks Paul, you are really a great source on knowledge, back to silly questions, the 122 I can gety is an old one with skinny wheels,how do I know it has an the gear box I need, all 122S came with 4 gears?
Cheers
Daniel

This web site ...

http://www.sure-vent.com/M40Trans.htm

has some good information on adapting
the M40 trans. to the earlier model -
(pre B18/20) engines.

Cheers!
OK

Excellent information. Nice site. Thanks for the link.

Bob S.
--
"62 PV544 (B20, M41), "71 142E, "93 240 Classic Wagon.

Very Nice!

Paul

Paul,
What intrigues me is the following statement found in that write-up:

A B18-B20 should have a 4.56 - 1 rear axel ratio
when using M41, I had a B20 - 144 that I installed a M41 with "D" OD with 4.10 axel gearing and it was much to high. It was quieter at cruising speed but less economy and always had to shift down for any acceleration!

I have a J-types in both, the PV and the 142E. Both cars have 4.1/1 rear ends, both have B-20s. The one in the PV has a carbed F head with enough removed from the head and the deck to bring it about halfway between an F and an E. The 142E is, of course, injected. The funny thing is that the PV accelerates like crazy in all gears and feels like it would be perfectly happy having another gear beyond the OD - first gear is almost superfluous. The 142, on the other hand, needs to be carefully rowed through the lower three gears (even more so than my 245), but once it's in fourth, and definitely in OD, it really starts to grow legs and can be driven at speeds where the PV begins to feel unstable and still have enough left for safe passing. My only explanation is the difference in weight.

Bob S.


--
"62 PV544 (B20, M41), "71 142E, "93 240 Classic Wagon.

Daniel,
The engine in your 1953 PV444 is probably a B14 (B14A, if it has dual carbs). I have a 1954 owners manual on a CD, and that says that particular PV came with a 1420 cc B14A engine and a three speed box with only second and third synchronized. It is unlikely that the 4 speed transmissions that came in the 122s with the B16 engines will match up with your engine, for the reasons Planetman mentioned. On the other hand, I wouldn't be at all surprised if in Uruguay you'd be able to find an old-time mechanic and a machine shop that could make the necessary modifications, but if the input shaft is different from the one on your three speed gearbox, I doubt it would be worth the trouble. What's the deal with that 122 you mentioned: is that a car you already own, or is it one you are thinking of acquiring for parts? Either way, why not transfer the the B16 engine with its M4 gearbox to the PV44. You may still run into a problem with non-matching drive shaft flanges, but a machine or drive train shop can fix that easily enough.

BTW, if you don't have one already, you may want to order a CD with PV service manuals and parts catalogs from Tadeusz.Malkiewicz@plusnet.pl.

Bob S.
--
"62 PV544 (B20, M41), "71 142E, "93 240 Classic Wagon.

Is there a tag on the bottom of the transmission?

M4 transmissions will work on a B16 engine.

M40 transmissions will work on a B18/B20 engine.

Paul

But I think mine is a 1400 cc engine,(1953 444)
Cheers
Daniel

Hello,

Since your car is a 1953, it originally came with a H5 or H6 transmission.

I looked at my parts books and found that the original bellhousing appears to be updated to the later B16 part number and that leads me to believe that you should be able to use a M4, which is the designation for the B16 4 gear transmission, as a direct replacement for your 3 speed.

You will probably have to shorten your front driveshaft half to accomodate the M4 as it is longer than a H5 or H6. If you do so, make sure to get both halves balanced correctly.

The u-joints should be the same.
--
Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90501

Hello Daniel,

I know that almost all cars imported into the USA came with 4 gears and reverse for the manual transmissions.

In Uraguay, I am not sure.

In Sweden, the 122 did come with 3 gears and reverse transmission as did 544.

The original transmission for your car, whether it be a 3 speed or a 4 speed, has a different mounting flange bolt pattern than the 3 and 4 gear transmissions that came on B18 and B20 engines.

So it is important to know which engine is in the car to answer your questions correctly.
--
Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90501