spooker

[Guest spooker]

The next caretaker for my 1936 Ford deluxe coupe will probably be my Son in Southern California.  The car already has all of the desirable upgrades that have not changed the original appearance.  It, also, has a Ford Ranger LT transmission nicely added, that uses the original shift lever.  The transmission already gives us somewhat of an overdrive, but the car still has a highway "sweet spot" of about 55 mph.  This is fine for Iowa secondary roads, but California does not have a lot of secondary roads anymore, and the car could use a little more highway cruising speed.  The car has the original 85 hp flat head engine, and I want to keep it.  My question:  Would a Columbia rear end be a good option, or would high speed rear end gears suffice?  Thanks, spooker.                

[F&J]

Not really enough info to give advice:

 

We need to know what rear axle ratio it has now, and what percentage of overdrive on that modern transmission.

 

Also, we don't know if the car still has the enclosed driveshaft or was it converted to open drive for that transmission?

 

 

If it is open drive now, you can figure the rear axle ratio easy.  Jack up one rear tire.  Put an accurate mark on the driveshaft where you can see it from that rear wheel.  Now mark the tire at bottom and a mark on the ground for reference.  Rotate the tire TWO exact turns while counting the driveshaft turns.  If it is a 4.11, then the shaft will turn a little past 4 turns.  If it turns about 3-3/4 turns, you have the 3.78.  I think there was a 3.54, which would have the driveshaft turning just a tiny bit past 3-1/2 turns.

 

 

If your car is still closed drive, then the motor needs to be turned by hand with a mark on the front crank pulley, with trans in 4th gear which on most OD 5 speeds, is direct 1:1 ratio...(if you have a 5 speed?)

 

Some of the Ford V8 rearends have the ratio number stamped on the center housing, but the gears may have been changed to a different ratio now, so you can't rely on that.

 

Ford Barn website might be the best place to ask, or HAMB?   My preference would be higher speed rear gears, IF the car now has the 4.11.  Switching to 3.54, if available, should work out.