Building a transmission from parts

[CraigArizona85248]

I've had a perfect Nov 1946 cast date transmission case and kicker cover on the self for over 20 years. I started going through all my transmission parts and found about 95% of the parts needed to assemble a complete transmission.

I had a good set of shafts and a close ratio gear set. I had to buy a few bits of hardware (kicker cover nuts/washers/studs, lid screws, and a few one-time-use lock washers). Also needed a period correct hand shift lid, and a one piece kicker arm. So I'm about $250 deep at this point. Not bad for a transmission that currently sells for $2000-$3000 in often worse condition.

Main shaft gear set.
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New needle bearings for the main drive gear and the counter shaft 3rd gear cluster.
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Added the counter shaft gears.
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Checking the counter shaft gear endplay.
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I got this one piece kicker arm off eBay for $65. That's cheap because one of the previous owners had stripped out the kicker pedal bolt. Then, rather than fixing it with an insert repair, they welded the bolt to the kicker arm!  Lucky for me, their welding skills were poor as was the penetration of the weld. I was able to grind down the weld and use an EZ-out to remove the remnants of the pedal bolt. I installed a helicoil (3/8-24) to get the stripped hole back to OEM spec.
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Almost complete. Just heed the lid screws and the lock washer that goes on the kicker end of the main shaft. Then I can button it all up.

[turboprop]

Very cool. Is there any value in having those castings vapor blasted or would removing the patina cause a decrease in value?

[CraigArizona85248]

Yeah, a lot of guys like the natural aging of the sand cast aluminum cases. I do too. I don't mind them clean, but I don't want them to look new.

This case started out in black paint.

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[CraigArizona85248]

UPDATE:

I put this transmission up for sale on eBay at a "top of market" price. The right buyer came along. A guy in Germany doing a restoration of a 1947 Knucklehead needed a transmission. He's going all out. I'm replacing the close ratio gear set with a brand new set of Andrews gears with the stock gear ratios.  This transmission is going to be amazing when it's all buttoned up. Buyer is purchasing all the new parts and I'm buying back the close ratio gear set.

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[CraigArizona85248]

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[CraigArizona85248]

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[FSG]