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1937sedandelivery
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-- 06-30-2017 @ 4:07 PM
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Hello,
Can anyone tell me the purpose of the slotted opening in the tranny cover of a 37 Ford (see attached pdf)? I am planning to cover it up as part of the new floor mat installation. Doesn't seem like a good idea to have an exposed opening between the engine area and inside of the car.
Thanks,
Gregg
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ford38v8
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-- 06-30-2017 @ 6:22 PM
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Gregg, you should leave it. Although no longer relevant in today's world, those slots were used back in the day as suggestion box slots for use by Fordists to communicate their motorcar thoughts and desires directly to Henry Ford, who would review suggestions as retrieved by Ford Factory Mechanics during scheduled maintenance of Ford Motor vehicles. They were the source of many thoughtful and original ideas on what the old man could do to himself, and how he could do it.
Alan
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nelsb01
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-- 06-30-2017 @ 7:05 PM
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Come on Alan -- why don't you just tell him it was Ford's first attempt at a standard heater. The heat from the engine would travel back from the engine compartment and this slot was how it got into the cabin of the vehicle. And since all vehicles were constructed the same to keep costs down, the standard heater was more relevant for those in the northern climates than those in the warmer ones.
This explanation is far more believable than the suggestion bin.
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len47merc
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-- 06-30-2017 @ 7:19 PM
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I find Alan's recall of factual events both insightful and refreshingly on the mark Bruce! Come on - heater!? REALLY? I know a set of those original suggestion cards that came in the glove box are almost impossibly hard to find but that's no reason to take advantage and diss Alan's historical subject matter expertise!
Steve
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1937sedandelivery
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-- 06-30-2017 @ 8:03 PM
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Let's see, where do I start...
I fell into Alan's trap for awhile but then quickly read nelsb01's reply. Oh, but then Steve's response left me hanging.
hmm, maybe nobody really knows???
I want to believe Alan's response, but come on, really!
In any case, I am going to do something with it, don't need the extra heat here in Tucson. Already breaking records for the most days with triple digit temps.
Perhaps I will mount a solenoid actuated flapper over the slot and control it with the heater switch, which sits directly above it (though not installed in the picture).
Another thought occurred...perhaps it is an inspection port to determine if the transmission is installed. That would be important to know prior to driving the car!
gregg
This message was edited by 1937sedandelivery on 6-30-17 @ 8:07 PM
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ford38v8
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-- 07-01-2017 @ 12:11 AM
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Bruce, The genius that was Ford had it both ways for the price of one. Those in the North Central could warm their fingers, and those who could write, did. 
Alan
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TomO
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-- 07-03-2017 @ 10:40 AM
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Gregg it was really put there to let you know when your rings are shot and you have excessive blowby. It allows the fumes to come into the car and burn your eyes, so you will take the car to your friendly Ford dealer for an exchange engine. This feature was present from the early years of the V-8 to 1940.
Tom
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len47merc
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-- 07-05-2017 @ 3:00 PM
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Well Gregg - with all these 'facts' on the table, just like the show 'What's My Line', which 'Line' is it? We're on pins 'n needles waitin' for your decision...
Or perhaps there's another...(?)
Steve
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1937sedandelivery
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-- 07-05-2017 @ 9:29 PM
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Hey Steve,
Well, they are all valid ideas, any one makes as good as sense as the other.
After some more thought about how hot the engine runs and how to keep things cool, I could totally see that Henry made this slot to provide cooling for the tranny. Instead of all that heat building up around the tranny, it can vent into the cabin and out through the rear windows (when they are down).
hmm, or it could be for something else???
gregg
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TonyM
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-- 07-06-2017 @ 8:19 AM
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Ok. I can't believe no one has told you the correct answer by now.
That slot is there so that the trans number can be read without removing the trans cover. You can gently tap down the metal tab/cover so that it is relatively flat. Back in the day if someone wanted to check that trans number against the frame number, then the tab was pried up and the technician could look in there and see the number stamped on the transmission.
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78-730B
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1937sedandelivery
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-- 07-09-2017 @ 12:43 AM
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Wow, I really didn't know what the slot was for. Thank you for letting me know. Now I can deal with it. In the meantime, I had left it open and cover it with some Dynamat so as to not allow the under-hood fumes into the cab area. Next time I pull up the floor mat I plan to remove the dynamat junk and tap the slot top closed, then apply some minor caulking to seal it.
Thanks for closure and real deal (though the other responses were entertaining).
gregg
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