[Kurt in NJ]

The rear can drop out if there is a vacuum leak (look at the speedo changer diaphram), the trans is spur gears, no syncros, it is important to have thick enough oil in there , I used to use 140 weight, you will clash them sometimes, with practice you will get better.
I used to have a 46 V8 truck with the 2 speed rear for Hershey, and other flea markets that we sold at, I put in a 49 Merc engine, it was a miracle, could climb any hill --and the wipers stayed working (vac pump on the fuel pump)---it also had the heavy grille guard --that and the dual straight pipes would keep most intersections cleared, and slow cars in the right lane usually moved over whern they looked in the mirror.