Please School Me On Hone-0-Drive Overdrives

I've been looking at Hone-O-Drive Overdrives, the universal model 300. I haven't been able to find the instruction/installation sheets.

I'm thinking about putting one behind my flathead Cadillac, so that I can keep a good rear end ratio, and yet keep the RPM's down on the highway.

Has anyone used these? Can anyone tell me pros or cons on these?

 

Had one in a 77 Chevy PU. While it worked well, the mount system was less than adequate. I carried a standard shaft with me so I could just drop it out when it worked loose. Mine set in a notched cradle with a couple u bolts to hold it in. It would break the bolts on a regular basis. Once I got it so the bolts would hold, the cradle pulled out of the crossmember. I finally gave up.The whole assembly is still setting on the shelf in the warehouse.
It had a short shaft between the trans and OD about 6 inches long.

 

Hmmm. really? Well, it would do more good on my car than your shelf!

I appreciate the info. Any problem shifting it into overdrive on the fly, or do you have to shift before you start moving?

 

It's going to stay right where it's at. Shifting was never a problem at any time.

 

HaHa! Thanks for the info!

 

I don't think those things are still made a friend of mine Jim Weaver (aka knobs) he put one in his brand new 70 z-28, after he put additional cooling on it, it worked good till the car was stolen from his home in lakewood,ca. But the hone knob and the 4 spd knob sticking out of the floor was a bit much. He also carried the stock driveshaft with him. I have 5 cars with gearvendor units they work fine,no extra floor shifts etc. Roger

 

I looked at gearvendor, but decided to find an old Hone-o-drive.

Anyone have the install instructions, or any info?

 

Don't put too much torque to it...they can break

Getting rid of the driveline vibration is the big problem. I guess it's not a problem if you mount it to the Ford rearend center section, like it was originally designed for. Hanging it off the back of a transmission with a U joint between the trans and OD is hard to get working right.

It has a synchro...you can shift on the fly...if you have a clutch! putting an automatic in neutral doesn't work very good as a clutch.


Speedo cable is fun too. Uses funky Ford stuff.

 

You don't sound very impressed with these units.

I was thinking of putting this between a 37 Lasalle tranny and a 3.54:1 posi Jag rear. Any other add on overdrives that anyone would suggest?

 

see if you can find some 3.07ish gears for the rearend?

 

That I can do. I just didn't want to lose that smokin' wheel spinnin' ability with the flathead, if I could have both!

 

You could try the Hone and see how it works. With an IRS you might be able to get the driveline situation under control, since the rearend does not move.

 

I had half of one that bolted directly into a Ford 9 inch.The pinion was inside the back half of the unit. The gearing was 5:13's! I don't know what it changed to when the unit was put into operation though. It came out of an old Anglia drag car.Apparently they were used in Motion Baldwin cars so I'm sure they were able to take punishment....

 

Baldwin Motion.....not Motion Baldwin....

My uncle had one in a postal jeep... and had a roof rack on it for ladders and the driveshaft... That must have been a normal deal.....

 

Thanks guys.

If I can locate one, I'm going to try it.

 

I've got one that's been adapted to the back of a Muncie, the tailshaft housing is welded to the Hone-O-Drive. Rosen used 'em in Motion's and ,I believe campers had 'em (that's a hint on where to find one!) so I'd imagine they're plenty able to handle some torque.

 

I still have one of those around here someplace. They are either straight through (1:1) or in overdrive (0.7:1) I ran one with 3.89 gears, which works out to 2.72 in overdrive. The type that fits onto the front of a standard Ford 9" diff has zero vibration problems.

 

Rather have you mad at me for not selling it to you than for selling it to you.

 

That's good info, thanks.

Well, the '38 has a ford 9" in it now, and I'm still looking for one.....

 

I will see If I can dig it out from under all my other junk and take a look at it. It has been at least thirty years since I last used it. Problem is, Colarado is kind of a long way from Australia.

 

Can't blame me for trying!

Oh, not that far! On my '38 build, I have quite a few parts that were custom made in Perth, and more on the way. The hone-o-drive is also for the '38

 

There are two different types of Hone overdrive. This is the less common type, that is a straight bolt-on onto any Ford nine inch diff. Any ratio 9" pinion fits into this overdrive, and the overdrive fits where the original pinion carrier fitted, using the same pinion depth shims. There is a shift rod next to the drive flange that shifts from direct drive, to overdrive. The hole at the back is for the speedometer drive gear, which runs direct off the pinion shaft. That way the speedometer reads correctly when either in direct or overdrive. This type of Hone overdrive does not suffer from the same vibration problems that are common with the more usual unit that sits in the middle of the tail shaft. http://www.stangerssite.com/honeodrive.html

 

This does look like a better option than the universal drive. Sounds like this would take care of the vibration problems talked about above. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

 

I have one of these going on Ebay tomorrow.... starting bid at $999 if anyone is looking for one.