At 06:37 PM 1/13/2009 -0700, John Podeszwa in New Jersey wrote:
"In looking at the synro rings for 2nd gear, one is brass and the other is steel. I know that the improved 2nd gear takes a steel ring. Okay, how do you tell which ring goes with which 2nd gear?

When you put the later steel synchro ring over the cone on the early gear they will touch face to face and provide no braking drag. That's why the steel ring does not work without the correct matching gear.

When you put the early brass cone on the later gear the ring will sit high amd proud of the surfaces of the gear.

When you get them on the correct gears the both sit at about the same level around 0.030" to 0.040" apart face to face.

I believe there is a difference in the cone angles, but I don't have the actual angle measurements at hand.

At 12:01 PM 11/6/2009 -0700, Tim trevithick wrote:
"The modified steel type 2nd ring set up (often found in 'gold seal box's) is easy to visually I.D.   The cone on 2nd gear has a black ceramic like coating on it, so if it shines and has brass, it takes brass, but if it's black, brass is out of whack".