Looking for some advice here. I now own a 52 F1, unmolested. Engine runs, well, after a stuck valve problem. It sat for 30 years and I had to pull the left head to fix the valve. 36000 on the clock, .030 on the pistons with 0 ridge. I suspect the motor was done and then parked. I want to run this on the highway so do I swap our the rear end for more favourable gears or swap out the column shift for a BW od unit. not interested in T5 on this as the column guts are as new. I understand there may be some frame surgery required as Ford did not offer this od unit in trucks till 53. My master cylinder is also pooched so relocating that to a dual unit is also in the works. I have located an R10 unit that I am leaning toward. Thanks!
I think the truck trans now in your truck has the large round front where it bolts to the bellhousing. and the clutch release bearing & shaft are attached to the transmission. I am pretty sure? What you will need is a Mini Bell fron a big truck, and that can be adapted to the early overdrive side shift trans. then the rear mount will need fab work and a different driveshaft. Ive got a mini bell someplace and the over drive trans . I will try to take a picture or two if you want?
'49-'50 Mercury 3.speed with overdrive is the common fix for F1 pickups. Column shifted, direct bolt up to the engine, rear mount & drive shaft are easy fixes.
We just built one for a 41 Ford sedan. What they have said above is correct about using the 49-50 Mercury overdrive transmission. It's a direct bolt up to your F-1 flathead V8. The Merc trans has the big round bolt pattern and goes right onto the truck bell housing like it belonged there in the beginning. The Merc shift levers would probably fit your truck's shifter rods just fine, but it's easy to change them over to the truck levers. Your biggest problem (and it's a fairly easy mod) is to fabricate or modify your transmission support cross member. The driveshaft slip yoke is the same but you'll need a shorter driveshaft. Obviously, you'll need to have the solenoid, relay, kick down switch, control cable, etc. The BW overdrive gives you a 70% reduction in engine rpms so you and your engine would love the benefits.
42 merc is correct. those trans are probably rarer than hens teeth. Not very scarce at all, I have a couple in the garage as we speak.
My ****** bolts to the bellhousing. Release bearing is part of the "mini bell". I also have a 3 speed top loader style that would also bolt up.
Ok it took pictures of the mini bell I have and the overdrive trans from a 59 ford wagon. the mini bell can be drilled tapped & machined and adapted to accept just about any transmission you want.
I believe that is the bell housing that I have! And the ****** picture looks like what I am trying to buy. Thanks!
you could use the p***enger-car bellhousing and trans. much more common, but you'll have to do some adapting to get it to work. you can find both on ebay and elsewhere.
I once owned a steel p***enger car bellhousing. It came from a 53 merc. The clutch release on it was much different than what the trucks used. He already has a Mini Bell so he is already half way there.
Seems the bell I have is not the same as shown above. Mine has the release bearing in it but uses a fork style arm to activate it. I need the style shown above which rotates the arm to activate the bearing. What is this bell out of? I need to find one!
The"mini bell" pictured in post #9 adapts H.D. transmissions to '52 and earlier trucks, and is commonly referred to as a "hogs head". It bolts directly to pre-'48 trucks/pre-'49 cars, and to the later 3" cast iron '48-'52 truck 1/2 bells, along with the '49-'50 Mercury stamped 3" version.
If you walked up here I would sell it to you. However I really **** at shipping. If I cant ship through the post office I just don't ship anything.
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