Freewheeling?

[Tom Boehm]

Hello, In the latest Self Starter there is a small box explaining the freewheeling feature on the 1932 Cadillac. I want to see if I understand this correctly. When the freewheeling device is used, you can take your foot off the clutch pedal and the engine remains disengaged from the drive train. This enabled the car to coast down a hill. Do I have  that right?

[35-709]

Yes, and you want to make darn sure those 1932 brakes are up to handling that downhill ride!   

[Steve Passmore]

No Tom, that's not the way it works. With free wheeling the engine is still engaged. You still have drive if you press the accelerator but you have no engine braking if you back it off allowing the car to coast.  It was popular here in earlier years but virtually outlawed because it really is dangerous as 35-709 said, everything relies on the brakes and on long down hill stretches the early cars would burn their brake up.

[Martin Michaels]

Didn't they have free wheeling in 1964 Cadillacs? Marty

[Steve Passmore]

Never heard of a freewheel in an automatic transmission Marty but then, I never owned a 64.  Freewheeling was a feature on the early overdrive transmissions as it was necessary for the solenoid to engage.