Technical Late 30s 3 speeds

I realize late 30s ford 3 speeds aren't great candidates to put behind an ohv application (303 olds in my case) my question for the guys who know....if i swap 46-48 ford side shift guts into my 37 case, will that make it stronger/better for this? Or is all I'm getting better synchros and smoother shifts in a still gutless package? Pic of my stock 1950 303 to help the gears turn. Also, i recognize there are many threads that skirt around this but i haven't managed to find anything that directly addresses this

 

The materials were the same in the early and late gears. Not stronger. Just better syncros like you knew.

To do the swap it will require a post-39 tower and fork to fit the later gear set. But it will all fit in the earlier case. If you decide to do this I highly recommend buying VanPelt's book as some early cases require a little bit of out of the ordinary ***embly to fit the later parts in. He shows how to do it.

 

As long as the trans is good shape, the differential has no play, and you run 5.60 X 15" tires that you NEVER try to spin, you stand a 40% chance of driving it for a year and saying "See, I told you it would work!".
I'm sure I'll get flamed for saying that, but I've seen plenty of mild flatheads eat '40s Ford running gear, so that wouldn't be my first-choice combination. YMMV

 

I figured as much... its just driving me nuts, i have one! And the only on topic transmissions that are worth a dang cost 3 times what i have in the entire project!

 

I just got all the **** together to put a lasalle behind a flathead. It was fairly expensive. Only reason I bring it up is because in my search for a flathead adapter I seemed to always see olds to lasalle adapters. And when I did they were way cheaper than what I had to buy haha. You might consider looking into it

 

The adapters to lasalles aren't bad, its the lasalles themselves...1600 bucks in my neck of the woods. I have an olds to flathead trans adapter, its just an aluminum plate. Idk the buick trans are hard to find. Ill just keep hitting swap meets and see what i can find

 

You really want to keep the REAL early old school flavor . I get that . If your right foot gets that “urge” you may gain experience on that 1937 trans . If you want to play , you have to pay. Just saying if you want get down on it with dependability you may want a 60’s/70’s car four speed . You also have the option of dependability but a slower shifting transmission like a Muncie truck SM465 . Heavy duty , tough and normal shifts. But that depends on how low you going with the car.

 

I drive the **** out of my ford 3 speeds. I do not have the power you will have (flathead ford) , but I dont think you have to drive it like a pinto either. Look at Marts video's for smokin tires on pavement, no broken parts that I am aware of yet.

 

The 1953 Oldsmobile 303 with a 4 barrel has 155 hp and 275 foot pounds of torque. A hot flatbed head with a Merc 4” crank can match that easy. Just get an adapter and run it. The lighter the car the better and 5-6” wide rear rims and 75 series tires of today will help it live. You will probably break the rear first. Gook luck and have fun.

 

Another good reason to be a hoarder

 

The rear is 54 olds so idk if ill break it... open diff too. 33 dodge coupe, pretty dang light. I may just need to give it a go

 

Maybe a Ford 3.03 with a Jeep T150 top. It’s from the 60’s though.

 

Yeah thats a good option

 

Do you need a bellhousing?

 

Don't do it to yourself over priced **** transmissions , I have 3 cars with these trans constant head ache jump out second gear , and not strong in any gear , find another trans and put it in your car ,

 

Yeah olds to lasalle...orrr olds to something else. Also wanna know what you want for those valve covers! Sent ya a message

 

The bell housing you want for Lasalle transmission/ Olds engine is a stock/originally equipped bell housing from a 1950 Olds. stick setup. These are one year only, 1950. I have several of these for $200.00 each plus the ride. They are cast iron.
Eddie 478-967-3362

 

1600 bucks for a good Lasalle is pricey but not out of hand if you use power a lot..303 Olds may have only 150 stock hp but it's torque that stresses gearboxes..But the Ford should be ok...

 

Had a 78 case with side shift guts and a ‘39 shifter behind a mild 303 in a 24 T roadster and it held up ok. I didn’t baby it but I didn’t do burn outs or shift hard either. It did like to pop out of 2nd but the guy who rebuilt the trans was a hack (that’d be me!). Ran it though a quick change and big tall Firestones and drove 70-75 mph on a regular basis. I’ll probably never use another one, but I’m not saying you shouldn’t.

 

All I can say is I have had very good luck with a 1950 Ford F-1 top shift.(basically the same)...
That transmission lived behind at least one flathead and two 302s. 2nd gear was a blast. It would pop out of 2nd coasting but I believe they were apt to do that when they were new. I had a great time with it. With that said I did not abuse it.
Part of the personality of a car, a old car, is the transmission. That was one of my favorite things about that truck was the top shift 3 speed.
With that said, I think the choice of the V8 Ford topshift/Olds combo in your '33 Dodge is...."unlikely" from a period perspective....
With the Dodge/Olds combo I doubt they would use a Ford top shift. It's possible...

What I believe is the most likely "period set-up" for your parts is.....
The Olds backed with a 4 speed Hydro....
This would be a great set up today, especially if you had a good hydromatic.
The downside of the Hydro in 2021 is support and anyone who knows anything about them.

I could go on and on with is but....
I think you need to go automatic.
https://transmissionadapters.com/co...ldsmobile-303-to-chevy-automatic-transmission
Another option is a GM manual....
http://wilcap.com/olds.html
NOTES; We can supply this kit complete or just the parts you need. Shown is the plate type adapter using GM Throw out bearing forle Alternatively, we can supply a bellhousing that uses the early Ford cross shaft and fork. We can supply the fully hydraulic throwout bearing in addition to a steel or aluminum flywheel for your project or recondition your stock flywheel. Complete instructions are included. We do not supply information regarding engine or transmission installation in to specific frames, bodies, etc. This is the responsibility of the customer and care should be taken to address the issues of motor and transmission mounts, driveline, body and frame clearance, gear ratios, etc. BEFORE the purchase ofthe engine to transmission adapter

I would strongly consider a hydro-clutch....

Wilcap has the "hydro clutch" stuff for the Olds/GM set up....
These are just some options.....With the Ford Transmission unless you go Hydro-Clutch, you'll have to use the Model A style "twist fork"....
1. Olds with 4 speed Hydro...
2. Olds with GM manual
3. Olds adapted to later GM automatic
4. Olds to Early Ford V8
Consider the "Ansen" style Chevy Truck clutch/brake master pedal ***embly and use a hydro clutch...

There's many many ways to go....

 

You know mark ... you have some amazing one of a kind customs...your 40 is still by far my favorite of your cars though. That things gorgeous! Im gonna run the ford first. I have it, i dont drive like a teenager anymore(often) and if it breaks ill either fix it or swap to a lasalle then

 

I had a hopped up Chevy 283, camel humps, cam, four barrel, good ignition, etc with the column shifted 3 speed and a 3.78 geared banjo in a '48 Mercury coupe.

I wasn't especially nice to it but it never fell apart on me. Only thing I didn't care for was the non-synchro 1st gear but honestly it did its job well.

I will be using one again, have a couple stashed away for future projects.

 

I dont want an automatic...i had an olds hydro, the original one from behind the 50, had it for sale for 2 yrs and then i s****ped it. Nobody around here would even give me 50 bucks for it! I realize the average guy in the mid 50s wouldnt have stuck a 30s ford 3 speed behind an olds in their dodge...i am however on a budget and i have one! I have the adaptor all i need is a bushing, an open driveline setup and i believe a ford pickup clutch and my hotrod can drive! Seems to me to be the least expensive option for right now so i can sink the rest of my limited budget into sheet metal and other various necessities

 

One of our neighbors when I was a kid had a 303 Olds in a '49 Ford pickup with stock trans and rear, truck looked bone stock until you opened the hood. Essentially the same trans, same case and same guts, just the open driveshaft version. He used it like a truck and didn't baby it, had 6 ply tires on it so he could haul stuff, thought nothing of putting the sideboards on it and putting a load of firewood as high as the top of the cab on it. Never broke anything. Only outward clue that it wasn't bone stock was the dual exhaust with bigger pipes that the stock Ford.

 

I think its worth running. Mean time i may keep my eyes open for a nice deal on a lasalle

 

I've done a few customer jobs using early Ford trans to different OHV V-8's. I tell them No Big Sticky tires, period! Make sure you can spin them and there's your safety link. If the tire don't stick you'll be hard pressed to brake a gear set. Sounds like you will also need the open drive tail housing and shaft. I can help you out with that stuff if so.

 

Oliver, what are your plans to convert the Ford trans to open drive? You know it will require the rear output shaft and rear mount from an F-1, right? You might be getting into a bit more cost and parts searching than you planned on.

If the build you describe was mine, I'd just use an iron Saginaw and nobody would ever be able to tell it wasn't from the right era. Put a three-speed knob on it to fool everybody.

 

Yeah i need the open drive tail and slip yoke!

 

I was just lookimg at flatty bell to gm trans bells...seems like i could use my olds to flatty ring and a flatty to gm bell idk definitely another option