Transmission Rebuild
My friend who is a gear wizard with early Ford stuff (mixing and matching stuff that's not supposed to work together, amazing adaptations of overdrives, etc.) called me early this morning to see if today would work for him to come by and help me rebuild my '39 (for lack of a better year) transmission. I said sure, since I hadn't anticipated him coming by for a few days. In the span of just a couple of hours, some of which was spent catching up and showing off my project, he had virtually singlehandedly rebuilt the transmission, with me basically watching and learning (admittedly, there's not much to it; not enough for two guys).
What I started (and ended) with is a '37-'39 transmission case (they're all the same) with a '39 shifter top (double-detent; the rails on which each shifting fork slide have ball bearings pressing from each side, thereby supposedly holding the transmission more firmly in gear) and the correct fork for the later (better) synchro; and late ('46-'48) gears. My particular transmission had seen duty backing up a small block Chevy (I think a 283) and consequently had stripped teeth on the cluster and low-reverse sliding gears, so today's "rebuild" simply consisted of replacing those gears with some good used ones. The synchro brass was in good enough shape to retain, as was the rest of the brass and bearings. Since I'll likely subject this transmission to some missed shifts and other accidental abuses, rebuilding with good used is good enough.
'41 Rear End
After spending the afternoon working on the front brakes, my other friend (the one who assembled Twice Lucky's body) called to let me know he'd picked up the complete '41 rear end he'd told me about a few days ago. This came from an old guy early Ford restorer who knows his stuff and restores correctly. Only, he'd changed out the running gear in his '41 to Chevy stuff, and was unloading the offings. While the engine and trans had already gone down the road, he still had the complete rear end, which he offered up for a very favorable price.
Needless to say, I jumped at the chance. While this particular rear end may not go under the Model T, it may very well end up under the RPU. I don't have a complete rear end for that car (long story) and can therefore use the parts I was going to use for the RPU, along with a rare 4.44 ring and pinion and matching banjo, to build a third rear end for whatever (maybe even a homebrew quickchange!). When my friends showed up with the rear end (entirely in the back of their full-size Dodge pickup - I was impressed) I was stunned at the condition. Very clean and rebuilt correctly, down to the safety wire on the torque tube.
Has early ('39-'41) brakes with the lower eccentric adjusters (I'll lose those; too hard to adjust from what everyone tells me), the complete brake lines, emergency brake, torque tube and correct for '41 short radius rods, speedo gear, and bell assembly to the transmission. All painted and pretty, too. Apparently only had 1,000 miles or so on it. Oh, and it's (for me) the more desirable 3.78 ratio (rather than the somewhat common 4.11). I almost hate to cut it up (which I'd have to do for the T, but less so for the A: only shortening the torque tube).My friends and I then spent the rest of today's very pleasant evening weather standing around old cars and shooting the bull. I think they'll be able to help me make up my lake headers, as it turns out! One thing at a time, though...
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