Amazon gearbox M40G ?

[Volvo_133]

A few years ago i bought some parts as a job lot, as i needed the heater unit.
In these parts came a gearbox marked " M40G, part no 254584, fab no 317701, it also has a large flywheel of 170mm ish diameter output flange.Can anyone explain its history, reason for flywheel?

thanks,
Chris.

[agent_strangelove]

I was hoping someone else would jump in on this one...

I have seen these gear boxes with a big rear flange on the early b18 cars. It's almost like the driveline flange was sort of contained in the counter bore in the flange. Was it some sort of safety measure if you broke the driveline bolts???

Chris

[Volvo_133]

Hi Chris,

The person i bought this from suggested it had been removed from a 1969 Amazon!!
I wondered if somewhere along the production years this had been fitted as a second flywheel to assist with the smooth running.
I was hoping someone would have replied, maybe i should have placed this in the general section,this is what happens when you have had a drink.!!!
I suppose the internals will still be the same as the common smaller flanged units.

Thanks for your reply and interest.
Chris.

[thx569]

A picture is worth a thousand guesses. My guess is a drum for the E-brake band, just like on my 1950 Plymouth

[Derek UK]

I've never read a definative answer as to why these were fitted. Whereas the normal connection is called a companion flange, these are called a flywheel companion in the B18 parts book. Not in B20 book. There are two types for the fine and coarse spline types. Fitted to the M40 and the M30 3 speed box. M30 came back on the scene with the Favorit for mainly the Danish market around 1967. A cheap model to get under tax regs and to be competitve with similar cars. Many were fitted with the 4 speed as an extra when ordered. Maybe the factory thought that they smoothed out the driveline a bit, perhaps the wide ratios in the M30 needed a bit of help, and fitted them to a batch of M40's amd M30's for the short run of the Favorit and they got fitted to whatever came down the line at the time. Answers on a postcard please. They can be swapped for a standard flange with the correct spline and I doubt if you'll notice any difference.

[agent_strangelove]

I finally pulled out an early b18 gear box with the flange on the back that I *think* is the same as what you are talking about. We never got amazons beyond '68 in this country so I know it's not from one of those. As I said earlier, I have seen these in the early b18 cars ('63-ish).

See the attached photos and it does have a different part number (#254668) so it might be different. The flange is just about 6 1/4" OD.

Chris

[thx569]

Chris, your turning into my hero. I think I'll have to come and visit your stash of goodies in the summer.

Pete

[Volvo_133]

Thanks for the replies and comments. The unit Chris has shown in the picture is identical to mine.
Thanks again,
Chris.

[agent_strangelove]

If you want a 'normal' flange for that gear box, I think I have a few of those around and one would be easy to mail across the pond.

Pete et al.- Your more than welcome to stop by if I am around. I know a few Canadian always make their way down here for the IPD sale/swapmeet in May.

Chris

[Volvo_133]

Hi Chris,
Thanks for the offer of the ordinary flange.I too have gearboxes complete and some in bits for parts.I was just curious as to why the flywheel type flange had been used.As has been suggested, i think it was for "smoothing" the transmission.
regards,
Chris.