53 F100 how to go highway speeds ?

It should have a danna 44 gears should be easy to find.

 

The six isn't going to go 65 with a boat behind no matter what you do (well unless you spend crazy $$$$$ bucks).

Best and cheapest answer, junkyard 302 engine and trans, and a different rear end gear ratio.

If you are real lucky you might find a low mile 302 pickup that has been in a wreck but good drive train. Buy the whole truck, swap out what you need and sell the rest for scrap. This would be about the cheapest way to go as it gets you engine, trans, driveshaft, and all the little parts, battery, radiator, linkages etc.

I don't suggest going too big on the motor, you don't want to overmatch the old steering and brakes.

 

I don't know the details, but a guy a few years ago bought an aftermarket overdrive from a company out of a motor home magazine that went on behind the tranny with a shortened drive-shaft. Maybe that and some different rear end gears might get you to 65MPH....

 

Hope it's not this obsolete and super-expensive overdrive unit:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/HONE-O-DRIV...Parts_Accessories&hash=item53e7feebcd&vxp=mtr

 

You need to think this out. A sixty year old vehicle that came with a six banger and auto already had the highest rear-end ratio available for that year model. It only takes a little effort to find out what you have in it. I personally don't think a taller gear will help, and as much as I like 9" Ford rearends, they do take a little extra energy to turn; so you gain, and lose at the same time. My suggestion is to consider a goal that includes a whole series of improvements aimed at making it safe and reliable. Anything that goes faster needs to stop faster, so think about changes that compliment each other. Also, you need to steer well to drive well. Improvements in springing, shocks, and brakes compliment each other, as do engine, transmission and rear end changes. Some of the folks on here have solved their problems and some still seem have some, so take the good with the bad and let the devil sort them out. You'll know when someone is having fun at your expense, and when the ideas fit your problem. I wish you luck with your truck, just be objective about what it is. Sometimes an old vehicle can be like a boat, even if it's not a hole in the water.

 

As you have found out, Iffies weren't made to run at 55 or 65 stock from Ford. They were work trucks and built that way.
Look on the data plate of the truck. It's stamped with the factory rear axle ratio. As Doc said above go to F.T.E. and the guys will talk you through almost anything.
You could look for a three speed overdrive transmission. Ford made them for trucks back then but you just have to look for them.
Rear end swap is also cheap and easy!
Good luck!

 

I wonder if we would be having all this conversation if the truck was a V-8? The '53 six cylinder was rated by Ford at 101 H.P. @3500 R.P.M. The V-8 was rated at 106 H.P. at 3500 R.P.M. (This is per the '53 Ford Truck Shop Manual). I guess i'm suggesting that the two are near equals when it comes to the ability to tow a boat down the road. With the stock 28.5" tire and the 3.92 rearend gear, 60 m.p.h. is 2775 R.p.m. That's an entirely safe cruising speed (the engine is NOT ''screaming" at that speed). 60 is probably comfortable in that old truck. I believe this whole thing is a non issue.

 

Aod.

 

Even better. 302 and an AOD, keep the 3.9s. This is supposed to be a hot rod site afterall.

 

I have a trans I want to try in my '52, which I found out when I finally got the paperwork has a '54 239 Y-block in it (it was written on the old pink slip envelope, along with the number for the clutch slave cylinder etc.), three on the tree and the original 3.92 gears, as it was originally a Cost Clipper Six with a granny box. It's one of those 80's pickup 3spd w/OD toploaders, and I got the shifter assembly with it including the long truck handle- gotta get under there and see if it'll cypher out

 

My '52 dodge truck 218 I6 will run 65 all day and turns about 3000 to 3100 with the 3.23 ratio from a '76 D100. It came with a 4.11 originally but still has good start off power because my three on tree has a LO first gear. This truck does a lot of light to medium towing and hauling (currently Miller Bobcat 225 in back with JD Gator on trailer and no changes to the braking system).

 

Could always put some taller tires in the back. Thatll cut the gear ratio a lil. Not the same as a gear change but i noticed a 500 (give or take) drop in engine rpm goin from 205/55?14 to 235/75r15


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Several years back a friend had a 53 with a nice flathead v8 & stock 4 spd. He swapped in an O.D. trans from an 86 F100. It was a top loader so it looked close to stock and with some clutch disc mods it worked great. It did well on the highway after the swap.

 

My 53 runs 80mph all day long year in year out. It is powered by an 400sbc / trubo 350 trans i got from a wrecking yard for $450. It has a 9" rear end with 3.7 gears and will smoke the tires at will yet gets 17mpg on the hwy. I think if you look you can find a good used SBF /C4 of SBC / T350 for cheap. Erickson / Extreme Kustoms

 

If you put it in neutral at 60 and the engine slows 500-1000 rpm it sounds happier?

Does it have an all mechanical cooling fan ( no thermo or centrifugal fan clutch ).
Some fans are MIGHTY noisy and contribute noticeably to engine noise at higher engine rpms. Removing the fan and taking a quick trip down the highway would see how much the fan is adding to the engine "screaming" effect.

Similarly if the rpm are much under 4000 extra unsealed holes in the floor and firewall then noise may be entering the cab that is making you more uncomfortable than the en engine really is.

 

It seems like a lot of the replies didn't read the original posts. The truck runs fine and he's happy except for top speed rpm's. He has an old truck on the road! That's more than a lot of guys are doing and I commend him for that.

To the OP, listen to your gut and find a rear you can swap in and try it. A bit taller tires or the fan noise that people have suggested are good to try for a quick check to see if your problem is solvable easily. You can make it happen .

One last thing. Trucks were built to haul stuff, not to be hauled. Whoever suggested it could do highway speeds on a trailer behind a late model truck should be ashamed to be on the HAMB. Keep that old tin rolling.

 

First off thank you ! and second to me that what hotroding is about ! boats go on trailers and trailers behind trucks

 

Here's a suggestion I didn't find but may have been covered. The Borg Warner overdrive (solenoid on, R10 or R11 I think). If you can find one, it should bolt in. same 3 gears, overdrive. You'll need a working solenoid, kickdown, switch, etc. If you could find one in a scrap yard, it would be right up your alley.

 

second thanks for all the replys and shit keep them comeing !
but rember im shooting for a pre 65 hotrod here so no 2013 eco tec engine swap with twin turbo to superchargers for me. Im trying to keep all my parts 65 or later and as for my boat i can probly tow it with my moped 49cc so im not worryed about that doing anything but adding drag and as my truck sits right now pedal all the way down i do 65 ish and if im stuck to backroads cus thats maxed out after some mods well the highways will be alittle more boring then and ill be crusing along with my girl and my boat on the way to some lake no one will be at .

off my rant
so far plan is axle swap and check if the fan is making all the noise add some gauges for tuneing like a tac ect then taller tires if im just alittle off from where i want to be
thanks everyone again even the people who would only tow with a F250 diesel even if it was a canoe .. everyone makes good points and things to consider and watch out for like the drive shaft could be short

 

tell me more about this ! you have peaked my intrest i love looking for a odd part at a junk yard !

 

Just change the rear... My 57 Dodge truck had some really low gear stock ( not sure exactly what they were, but the 230 flat head at the time topped out at 40MPH, then I swapped a 8.75 rear with 3.55 gears with a suregrip (posi for you non-mopar guys) and Then it would do well over 100MPH, then I did put a SBM in it to fill the power void in the middle though . good luck with it.

 

thanks for the non mopar traslations !

 

thanks for reminding me that the factory ratio was on the plate i have a 3.92 ! and ya its a work truck its not wining any races !

 

As mentioned already it might have a hard time pulling the lower gear. I swapped a 8.8 in a o/t mustang(All mustangs are o/t though I guess lol) with 2.73 gears, but it still had the 2.3L. I was 16, and swapping the rear end first made sense...? lol It couldnt do more then 100kph or 60mph. Foot to the floor. Hills were brutal. It came with 3.55's and I didnt think about that, it wasnt my intent to get lower rpms, but I got that. My 5L powered car wouldnt care, but the 80hp 4 sure did.

I think what I am getting at is, dont get greedy with the gear ratio.

Its tuff to say to swap the engine. If you have no welder you'll have problems. Nothing ever bolts in, and it helps shit tons to be able to make little do dads. I'd put a 5.0 from a late 80's stang in it with some 60's 302 valve covers and an oldschool 4 barrel intake. If you put the distributor from a 85 mustang it will work with both the roller cam and the carb. It will look old, be quick, be cheap(my brothers 5.0 was $250) and have no problems with the highway. We beat the crap out of ours daily, and they like it.

 

i love the 302 but the reason im going pre 65 isnt just the looks its the thrill of the hunt so to say its more for my entertainment then it is to be cool i dig junkyard and looking for stuff otherwise what would i do with my time ! and as far as gearing goes im defintly going to have to do some math in the gears department so finding out what rpm im running at now is geting to be my first thing to do

 

I am with Falcongeorge and EXK.

You dont have to spend a million bucks but do it once and do it right, anything else will just be a patch up job.

See my thread
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=366906

I had a 223 in a 1960 f100 and it was great unloaded but even that struggle to do good highway speeds, I used to run the down hills in neutral just to gain some decent speed.
Not a practice I was truely happy with and not a good idea when hauling a trailer.

If you do prefer a patch up job target your tranny (4speed) and tire sizes first up and get a tacho to confirm what has changed.

Although the V8 version of the same year of your truck only had a few extra horses I figure it did have a slightly taller diff ratio.
Then your next step would be to consider appropriate diff gears.
Even a small trailer will make a difference to performance.

I am figuring if you stay in WI and surrounding areas hill climbs will be few but maybe head winds could be a challenge.

 

OK, the Borg Warner R10 looks like this.



And came in a lot of older stuff from the 30s to the 60s. The use a planetary gear set and mave a .7 overdrive. Weird to operate, a kickdown and a spal make the downshift and it won't overdrive until it hits 27 mph. So, you basically end up with a normal 3 speed where you get 1 2 2OD 3 3OD. They key components are a solenoid (6 or 12V, but I hear 6V work fine fed 12... I'd get one with a 12V solenoid already) a kickdown switch, relay, and a pull cable for an original fit.



You can also put this under your dash.



There is a way, apparently to skip the solenoid and use manual controls. Since they are basically an old ford 3 speed with an overdrive bolted behind it, it should slide in anywhere a light duty 3 speed was and 3 on the tree shifting should be the same. They seem pretty rare, but I have one in my 52 and I found one on CL for $100 complete that I may use in my 55 F600 when I put it together in a few months.

They are weird to operate, you can only park in revers and still you should use a parking brake. I wouldn't loan it to anyone without training because your truck might roll down a hill and into a lake if they don't know what they are doing.

Hope that helps.

 

I have a little personal experience with my '52 F-3 that had a 215. I swapped in a Dana 60 with 3:54 ratio and 265/70/60 tire(or something like that). I didn't drive it all that much in that configuration but it did alright. It did like to cruise about 55 mph, it would go faster, but just didn't seem happy, but the motor was wore out and burned oil like crazy. I have since swapped the 215 for a 223 from a '59 truck (up to a whopping factory claimed 139hp) with a dual carb intake and headers. That really woke the truck up, not sure on the relationship between the "new" motor and the speed parts as to how much HP was added, as it was done all at once. Guy on FTE dyno'd the exact same motor fresh rebuilt and speed parts and got 150hp. The only downside for me has been that sometimes I have to take off in granny gear instead of 2nd. It cruises down the freeway pretty nice, the rpm/gear ratio calculators tell me its turning about 2500 or so.

 

gearvendors overdrive unit added to your automatic if possible. radial tires.

 

True, I have a 9" from a '71 truck in my '54 panel with 3.00 gears (and 30" tall tires LT215/85R16) and it's pretty good on the freeway. I have a set of 2.47 gears that I'm going to put in, but it has a 390 in it. My '64 Chevy panel has a 230 6cyl with a 3spd o/d manual trans and it doesn't like pulling hills or inclines with weight in it in o/d, so maybe a 6 cyl might be tough.

Go with the 9" swap first and see were your at, the 9" swap is a added bonus for future adds anyhow.