Guest James Cook Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 I now have my 41 Zephyr up and running thanks to help from this forum. The car runs good but at 50 MPH, the engine revs very high. I would like to get it to be a better cruiser. What is the best approach, OD transmission, Columbia 2 speed or a higher ratio rear end. Also, are these rear axles like the V-8 Fords i.e.. is the ratio stamped on the axle somewhere. The one in the car feels like a 4:11. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abelincoln Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Congratulations on a running Lincoln. My observation is that the OD is more reliable and easier to use. However, if you want to keep things strictly stock, try to find a Columbia. They seem to be scarce. If you can't find either, a Luv truck T-5 can be used with a Ford adapter and conversion to open drive shaft. Abe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mssr. Bwatoe Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 41 LZ HAD BOTH AVAILABLE..I would try to find an overdrive unit....but even with my recent 2 speed overhaul..either one would be great..od trans is cheaper.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Knapp Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 (edited) The 1941 Lincoln Borg-Warner transmission overdrive is different from later models, AND you will need the entire transmission with a shorter driveshaft and torque tube. PLUS, you will lose originality since the VIN is stamped on the transmission bell housing and on the chassis in 2 places - NOT on the engine block!Columbia axles show up on ebay from time to time, but the '41 Lincoln has a wider tread width than earlier Lincolns so you will need the right side axle housing for a '41 Lincoln ONLY. I found a 1940 Lincoln Columbia axle in Bristol, VA which was completely rusted solid. I used about 1/2 gallon of KROIL to loosen it up and sent it to the Columbia expert of the Early Ford V8 Club in California, who bullet-proofed it for me. He also had the correct 1941 rear axle housing.Do a google search for "Columbia 2 speed axle". There's a lot of information out there. Check out: "Columbia Two Speed Parts, Inc" Temecula, CA. 951-719-4077 columbiatwospeed@earthlink.net WEBSITE: www.columbiatwospeedparts.com(By the way, the axle ratio is 4.44:1, so these cars really DO need an overdrive!) Good luck with it! Edited October 8, 2014 by Phil Knapp (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beltfed Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 When Jim Durall bullet proofed my Columbia he checked and said it was 4.33:1 in standard and 3.11:1 in overdrive. He could have miss it a touch or because it a Ford Columbia, that might be the difference. Either way, I agree with Phil Knapp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Knapp Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Ford Columbia axles were usually 4.11:1. Lincolns were 4.44:1, probably because of the Lincoln standard tire size of 7:00x16 opposed to Ford's 6:00x16.Lincoln V-12 engines ranged between 110 to 120 hp in a 4,000 pound (sedate) car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beltfed Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Maybe be a silly question but....why would the width of a rear tire have anything to do with the ratio. I don't think anyone is going to 'smoke' the tires with a 120 HP?Sorry if I stole this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Knapp Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 It's not the width of the tire, it's the circumference that makes the difference.My '41 Continental had 15 inch wheels with small radial tires when I got it. That poor old V-12 engine was spinning it's heart out at 50 MPH.Fortunately, it came with the original 16 inch wheels and I put a set of 7:00x16 tires on it.That helped quite a bit, but I still needed the Columbia to keep up with some of the slower Texas traffic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockitdoc Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 Ford Columbia axles were usually 4.11:1. Lincolns were 4.44:1, probably because of the Lincoln standard tire size of 7:00x16 opposed to Ford's 6:00x16. Maybe the lower ratio was put in Lincolns to give them similar acceleration since they would have been heavier than Fords? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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