My wife bought a 61 Falcon,did Falcons have different ratios for the rears with the four bolt,this is a 4:00.Also was there a three speed overdrive available?
According to the '61 Falcon sales brochure available on the Falcon Registry, the stick shift sedans came with 3.10 or 3.20, depending on the engine, and the 3.50 was an available option. All station wagons came standard with the 3.50 rear but the 4.0 was an option. Same with automatic cars; 3.50 standard, 4.0 optional. There's no mention of overdrive.
This is a stick sedan,the guy we bought it from said it was 4:00.I'm sure it is the 7.25 rear,has four bolt pattern.This is the small six.Is there a later overdrive that would bolt up?
If it's the original rear end, it probably is the 7.5 with a 4.0. BUT they also made 8" rears in the 4 bolt pattern, so that's why I asked. As for conversions. Do just like the factory did and bolt in a 260/289/302 using Ford mounts. Easy as pie
This is the inline 6 I had in my '63 Ranchero back in 1999. Although I initially installed the five lug rear end from a 1963 Sprint parts car, SoCal freeways that require 65+ mph necessitated a friendlier gear ratio, hence the rear end swap from a Ford Granada that bolted in without modification.
Funny you should say overdrive! I've spent the better part of the summer working with my buddy John Evans from here on the H.A.M.B. to create an adapter to go from a 170 6cyl to a Borg Warner T 50. He is a truly gifted machinist, and had no problem carving up an adapter to our needs. Soon he will be doing one for his own '64 Ranchero, too. Nice compact little trans that shifts very smooth and solid, with an internal rail shifter so it stays slim and self contained. The best part is the ratios - right at 3.40 for first, nice and evenly spaced throughout, and a .70 overdrive! Just like Retrospeed above in So - Cal, living in Phoenix REQUIRES a car that comfortably run 70 or so anytime your on a freeway. This will give much better acceleration off the lights, and the ability to run the freeways with ease. If your at all curious about this give me a call or John at 602-320-9575
The door plate if its orignal to the car should say what it is. my falcon manual says for 61 #3 3.10 #4 4.0 #5 3.2 j 3.5
I am hitching my wagon to this one...thanks so much. Now if I can just get the rearend changed and the suspension worked out. I will be the "cats meow"!
The adapter looks sweet and I definitely want one but the shifter location pictured looks too far back to fit in a 1960-63 Falcon. Will the adapter/BW T-50 Trans/shifter work on a round-bodied Falcon with a bench seat?
I found this today...very British review...LOL. http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/Borg-Warner-T50-Transmission.htm IF, you really want one for a bigger engine...go for a T-56 six speed that comes in the Viper!! But, you are really gonna have to have a badass engine to really use it...LOL.
I just saw Retrospeed's thoughts on the shifter location on my trans adaptation. It looks like it won't fit with a bench seat, but every measurement I have pulled on this says it will. The only thing I'm a little worried about is that I am building this trucklet for my girlfriend's daily use, ( got to get her out of that !@#$$%^&* Mercedes before my mind melts...) and I am worried that with the seat full forward, the shifter might get cozy. We are used to seeing Mustang style T5 trans used with an adapter to a six, and that will not fit with a bench in an early Falcon. This trans is about 5 inches shorter than the T5. As a matter of fact, with the adapter, it is the same length as the stock early three speed. I don't believe I will have to shorten the drive shaft or modify it at all, providing I can find a "conversion"style U- joint to fit. I just walked out to quadruple check the shifter deal, and it will come up well forward of the seat face in a normal "guy" position. If I have to, to accommodate her 5'2"ness, I will cut the shift arm where it exits the trans and move it forward a couple of inches. I will do a separate post on this in the next few weeks as I get this back together. Oh, and by the way, this adapter will work with the S10 T5 as well. I didn't use that one because the stick is so far forward it would conflict with our hang under A/C... This is AZ. you know!
1970-7? maverick 8 in rear is 4 lus and five http://www.rickwrench.com/index79.htm 07-07-05 4 lug 8" rear end installation 7-25-03 Falcon Transmission Updates 4-27-04 Alfa Romeo 215mm Pressure Plate Conversion
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