I've been on the fence for a while about doing SOMETHING to the Model A concerning the gearing. It's a late 50's Y block with a 60's 3-speed toploader. The rear is a Dana 41 with 4.27 gears and 29.5" tires. Currently, 65 mph is 3161 RPM. I don't really LOVE that. It's really a lot of the around town driving, though. Second gear is still "cruising" around town at 35 around 3000 rpms...and I'm getting TAILGATED...so a shift to third brings it to 1700... You get where I'm going.... I was thinking a T5, then keep reading from some people that they're kind of "delicate." Then I was thinking about a 9" swap but with the transverse leaf, I'm not sure how that would work out with ME doing it... Then I was thinking about a gear swap with the Dana 41 to 3.48...that would bring my 80 MPH RPMs to about 3170...it seems like I'd be able to use more of the power band (if you can even say that a Y block HAS one! LOL). So...Does anyone have any recommendations for reputable, knowledgeable places who might be able to do help me get SOMETHING sorted out?
Dana 40 series confuse me, I’ve been told too many different things about what interchanges and what doesn’t. I’d suggest a call to Randy’s Ring and Pinion (now randysworldwide). They were local to me, and seems to be able to get anything I needed for my Dana 44. https://www.randysworldwide.com/rin...MIgLy-mpen-wIVdR19Ch3okwhhEAAYASAAEgIMQfD_BwE I owned a 44 with the 4.27 gears back in the 60’s. Came out of a 56 ford 6 cylinder wagon with the T-86 o/d. I had a 312 with a T-85 o/d in front of it. Sweet combination. In a light car a T-86 R10 o/d would probably live just fine if it fits in an A without a ton of work. Might be a workable alternative. Great combo.
I would absolutely love a T85/od combo. I have a link on my laptop for a place that sells gears for the Dana 41. I’m wondering if it’s Randy.
I’m trusting my memory here, which isn’t always smart. I’ve had 4.11, 3.3? and 3.7?’s in mine. There’s a carrier change at the 3.7? . In mine, which is a posi unit. Don’t know for sure about an open rear end. Might ask before you order gears.
I talked to Chuck today down in Hamden and he seems like he knows what he's doing. Seems like a real good guy. I ran him through the scenarios and he agreed that the transmission I already have is much stronger than the T5...He said he could swap the gears in the Dana but that it's very time consuming, and would need to wait until spring...when he told me HOW time consuming I asked about option #3- going with a 9 Inch and he said that if he was spending the money, that he would swap into a 9 inch just because they're bulletproof and plentiful and parts grow on trees...Not to mention, swapping gears is as easy as getting another third member and there's a much wider range of choices for gearing. Looks like that's probably the way I'll start planning on...I'm going to head out and start measuring. Thanks again. Oh- he said that he's really short staffed so I asked if I was allowed to help...he basically invited me down to help work on anything at any time. What's cooler than that?
He is an expert on Marmon Herrington 4wds. I have an F3 that was converted. MH all wheel drive was a factory authorized accessory both pre and post war. He is very gracious with his time on the phone. I do believe he is a one man show.
When I lived in Connecticut I went to Chuck's Trucks shop several times as we were trading carburetors and carburetor parts back and forth. His is a one man, but very talented shop. He knows of what he speaks. Pay attention.
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