Stock & Super Stock 4-speeds

Jim Caughlin · 05-06-2014, 06:44 PM

As long as we are on the subject of obscure racing transmission history. The whole face plate and clutchless technology (which was a huge improvement over the old dog teeth that were constantly wearing out and burring over) was first being experimented on in the 70's in what was called the Phalanx Coupler. I don't recall the name of the guy that designed and built this but he retrofitted a Toploader to a clutchless design with an early faceplate design. The parts were too small and weak to survive for an extended period but the concept is what we are still using today. Actually, I think there were motorcycle transmissions that had the design earlier than this but the Phalanx unit was the earliest version that I know of that integrated it into a full blown automotive race transmission. Does anyone have any further history on this?

Jim Caughlin
SS 6019

05-06-2014, 06:44 PM	#14
Jim Caughlin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Woodburn, Or Posts: 685 Likes: 84 Liked 805 Times in 245 Posts	Re: Stock & Super Stock 4-speeds As long as we are on the subject of obscure racing transmission history. The whole face plate and clutchless technology (which was a huge improvement over the old dog teeth that were constantly wearing out and burring over) was first being experimented on in the 70's in what was called the Phalanx Coupler. I don't recall the name of the guy that designed and built this but he retrofitted a Toploader to a clutchless design with an early faceplate design. The parts were too small and weak to survive for an extended period but the concept is what we are still using today. Actually, I think there were motorcycle transmissions that had the design earlier than this but the Phalanx unit was the earliest version that I know of that integrated it into a full blown automotive race transmission. Does anyone have any further history on this? Jim Caughlin SS 6019