Old mechanic in Carolina used talk about business coupe with done up flathead, 3 so with overdrive and 2 speed rear axle. Used to drive a lot at night. It got in 30+- mpg also.
Really enjoyed viewing this it brings back a lot of memories. at 17 years old (in 1960) I had a 49 Ford with a 286 cu in flat head with isky cam , Mallery magspark ign. dual carbs. shaved and flycut heads, 4:11 gears. It could really move out but those old 3 speeds tranny's were pretty fragile. I would strip the cluster gear about every 2 weeks it seems. I could buy a used cluster from the local wrecking yard (Midland auto wrecking) for $5, tear the box down and replace it! lol ....I worked for my dad back then who had an auto repair shop so I did have a meager income to do that.
I think most of the manufacturers offered an OD option back then. I know you could get a 55 Chevy with a V8 or I6/OD. The rear gear ratios were crazy IMO. The Chevy came with a 4:11 rear gear which, seems to me, negates the idea of overdrive. You basically had the same final drive as the same car without overdrive but they would really "dig-out" off the line. We had a 64 Rambler American 6 cylinder with OD (prob 3:91 rear gear) and I would shift it (this would be late 70s) like Ed described. The OD shifted depending on the speed of the vehicle. I'd wind out first to 28 (approximately) MPH and let it shift into OD then row on through 2nd and 3rd. Still, I was barely doing 50 by then. That little 6 was really wound out in first gear. But it sounded like a 4 speed. LOL I think I read somewhere that the ODs were all (Ford, Chevy, AMC etc) basically all the same BorgWarner units (maybe some mounting differences) except for Chrysler that had its own.
You have the essential advantage over my situation (e.g. a fairly stock ‘51 ford F1) with your decades of parts accumulation on your overloaded shelves. I don’t have such resources nor much luck in finding honest vendors. With limited abilities to wangle alternative drive line components into my truck, I decided not to attempt any changes. Just to be satisfied with ford’s blessed originality and slow down.
Chevy and Fords both had a overdrive option. They had the four ten rear or four eleven. I traded a kid a regular three speed for an overdrive three speed. With a corvette cam and dual four bbl it would get 21 mph.
Quick question for Ed... I want to run a T5 in my '49 club coupe with the 8ba. I got the Merc bellhousing already and I was looking on Speedway's site to get the adapter. They're saying if I want to use my original clutch pedal and release bearing I have to use the Ford pressure plate. I prefer to use an S-10 or Astro van pressure plate but they say to do that I need to use a hydraulic release bearing. My question is, is that correct or is there a Ford release bearing I can use with the Chevy pressure plate?
Hey Barry so I guess I called the shop and said they don't have any heads in stock I guess when I called months ago might of been a different story or might of been something else I don't know but yeah still looking for eq protopline Rhs dart 200cc heads or less Ed knows someone who has a set that isn't ported
Amazing tips and Builds 🙏😎🤙
Man, Barry. Thank you for capturing these living legends on camera. Ed's drag racing story had me grinning ear to ear. Fantastic video!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! 😄 thanks for the compliment 👍👍🙏
The stuff I learn watching the old pros is awesome 👍
Old mechanic in Carolina used talk about business coupe with done up flathead, 3 so with overdrive and 2 speed rear axle. Used to drive a lot at night. It got in 30+- mpg also.
That’s impressive mileage!
Really enjoyed viewing this it brings back a lot of memories. at 17 years old (in 1960) I had a 49 Ford with a 286 cu in flat head with isky cam , Mallery magspark ign. dual carbs. shaved and flycut heads, 4:11 gears. It could really move out but those old 3 speeds tranny's were pretty fragile. I would strip the cluster gear about every 2 weeks it seems. I could buy a used cluster from the local wrecking yard (Midland auto wrecking) for $5, tear the box down and replace it! lol ....I worked for my dad back then who had an auto repair shop so I did have a meager income to do that.
Thanx guys , I enjoyed this one
Glad you enjoyed it
I think most of the manufacturers offered an OD option back then. I know you could get a 55 Chevy with a V8 or I6/OD. The rear gear ratios were crazy IMO. The Chevy came with a 4:11 rear gear which, seems to me, negates the idea of overdrive. You basically had the same final drive as the same car without overdrive but they would really "dig-out" off the line.
We had a 64 Rambler American 6 cylinder with OD (prob 3:91 rear gear) and I would shift it (this would be late 70s) like Ed described. The OD shifted depending on the speed of the vehicle. I'd wind out first to 28 (approximately) MPH and let it shift into OD then row on through 2nd and 3rd. Still, I was barely doing 50 by then. That little 6 was really wound out in first gear. But it sounded like a 4 speed. LOL
I think I read somewhere that the ODs were all (Ford, Chevy, AMC etc) basically all the same BorgWarner units (maybe some mounting differences) except for Chrysler that had its own.
You have the essential advantage over my situation (e.g. a fairly stock ‘51 ford F1) with your decades of parts accumulation on your overloaded shelves. I don’t have such resources nor much luck in finding honest vendors. With limited abilities to wangle alternative drive line components into my truck, I decided not to attempt any changes. Just to be satisfied with ford’s blessed originality and slow down.
Fair enough! Enjoy!
I have a 52 merc flathead in a 48 F1 with a speedway motors adapter and a T5 from an S10.
Sounds like a great setup!
Chevy and Fords both had a overdrive option.
They had the four ten rear or four eleven.
I traded a kid a regular three speed for an overdrive three speed.
With a corvette cam and dual four bbl it would get 21 mph.
Quick question for Ed...
I want to run a T5 in my '49 club coupe with the 8ba. I got the Merc bellhousing already and I was looking on Speedway's site to get the adapter. They're saying if I want to use my original clutch pedal and release bearing I have to use the Ford pressure plate. I prefer to use an S-10 or Astro van pressure plate but they say to do that I need to use a hydraulic release bearing. My question is, is that correct or is there a Ford release bearing I can use with the Chevy pressure plate?
I'll ask Ed about that!
I thought overdrive wasn’t available in the fords until the 51 model year?
Borg Warner 1949 👍
Hey Barry so I guess I called the shop and said they don't have any heads in stock I guess when I called months ago might of been a different story or might of been something else I don't know but yeah still looking for eq protopline Rhs dart 200cc heads or less Ed knows someone who has a set that isn't ported
I’ll pass that on to Ed! 👍👍🙏🙏
I scrapped the transmission altogether and hooked the engine directly to the drishaft.
Here you go
Why is the gearbox off set with all those spaces