Technical Early V8 gear ratios and highway manners

I have a 41 Lincoln zephyr trans and od in my AV8 coupe. 4.11s. I bought the trans when I lived in Abilene KS, delivered, for $500. Shortened the TT and wired and cabled it up. I had a 46 side shift ford before so I stayed with the column shift. I dont use the od out here in new hampshire, but the 4.11s and zephyr gears work great at the drag strip. 10 sec flat in the 1/8th mile.

 

Both my Falcon and my Model A have 6-speed transmissions, with two overdrive gears.

You can drive yesterday's car, but you are going to have to do it on today's roads, with today's traffic.

 

@gimpyshotrods what transmissions are you using in them if you don't mind my asking.

 

Hey, it can happen! Ask me how I know lol

I've got 3.54's with 7.00-16s on the rear - does pretty well in general, '42 239. Not gonna lie, it can get a little bogged down straight from a stop, and it's not winning any drag races, but it'll cruise at 70 all day and pretty much flies in high gear.

 

FWIW, when my 40 coupe had a stock flattie it would run 70 with its 3:00 Maverick rear.
Just don’t ask it to pull any hills, even small ones. On long grades it was downshift and wind it up at 45 just to get to the top.
So. it was trying to do something it wasn’t designed to do. A 3:25 would have been better, and a 3:54 even better, just not an interstate cruiser at 70.
A moot point now as the flattie overheated and let go pulling long hill. RIP.

 

Well said!

@theHIGHLANDER , think of it all in terms of "86%". This works as long as top gear is 1:1.
3.78 gears x 86% = 3.25 gears....
therefore 2993rpm at 70 x 86% = 2506 rpm at 70....
Now for the bad part.
Acceleration/hill climbing ability will be down to 86% of what you have now.
What can you live with? What can you live without?
An overdrive gear will get you the best of both worlds.

 

My Falcon has a T56.

The Model A has a 6L80E.

 

My current project in avatar came with a chev rear end,,,recently opened it up,,4:10 ratio so thats what im using, last project got 3:73 as thats what came with the donor vechicle.

 

”With a 4-barrel carb and a dual exhaust,
With 4.11 gears
you can really get lost.
It's got safety tubes, but I ain't scared.
The brakes are good, tires fair.”

 

....paging @TomT
He has lots of real road experience with a flatty and mine is all banger or I-6 nonsense

 

Just for the record I'm keenly aware of how the poker hand changes given certain cards. I've had so many different cars underfoot with all manner of drive systems. I'm getting closer and closer to the end with mine, and being a planner and thinker (the latter being "dangerous" at times) I thought about how easy it would be to access the rear axle while I have the back fenders off to give it new fender welt. And also my intangible goal of when it's done it's done with the exception of tuning and other "adjustments." Right now there's no gas tank, only 1 side of the exhaust (the tailpipe still loose) and I'm older with a ½ crippled spine. Easy is attractive to me. Save yourself from the "...it's a Ford..." "...they're easy..." "...no big deal..." advice. I'm working on a 34 Packard (go figure), a Speed33 street rod, next week a Coey Bear and a 31 Model A pickup, and in the coming weeks a 33 Packard, 53 Vette (another, again), potential return of some Auburns. Seems I might even be on my 3rd time around the block.

Having driven so many cars in my lifetime and yet only 1 Ford flathead V8 in a 34 3w, my endgame here was to seek the real/real. Some references seem to be past memories and we all know how much better or worse those are. But here in hallowed shop space of the HAMB there's actually current experiences to share. I've decided to round up what I can and see what kind of fruit the 2026 swap meet season bears by selling a buncha ****. If I can muster a bushel of said fruits the HAMB exploration will be in the tombs of the Columbia. I've already got a manifold n carbs, ignition is already in. I've even got an adapter, flywheel and front motor mount for a SBC conversion, including a good motor... something flys by and hits the wall behind . I dunno who threw that, I didn't say that was a sure thing, I want the flatty! And it does look fresh and new inside, confidence factor high. Anyways, just more of the raw thoughts that got us here, and I really dig the inputs and participation. Thanks to all of you hoodlums

 

One last thing, we have in the gang a 40 Zephyr sedan. Lovely car, drives beautifully, and before the week is out I need to see what ratio it has and measure the tire ht. It would LOVE a Columbia for extended highway duty based on the time I spent behind the wheel. Film @ 11:00, only on your HAMB Action News Network

 

A buddy of mine had a bone stock '39 conv with a Columbia. We did a longish road trip, it had good highway manners.... even on hills. Brakes at highway speed were kinda scary tho!

 

You make a very good point. At the end of it all the car is 1939 tech. Even though moderate enhancements have been made its still vintage Ford axles, brakes geometry, etc. Highway gymnastics are not strong suits.