39 up 3 speed open drive options

As the ***le says, looking for options to convert a closed drive 39 up 3 speed to open drive.

I'm building a low modified and want to keep the 3 speed if poss. I don't have enough space to run the rear wishbones under the ch***is to the torque tube and if I use hairpins/split bones mounted to the outside ch***is they would have to align with the gearbox/torque tube pivot which has them 6" up into the body, which although possible, I'm not sure of how good it will look. The other option is to convert to open drive, rear end no problem, but the gearbox could be.

So, what are my options?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Pete

 

if your running a flathead you could use a ford pickup trans ,42-52 there 3 speed open drive toploaders 51-2 were colume shift i think,bolt right up to pre 48 engines 49-53 engines require the truck bell housing

 

Thanks for the reply.

Pete

 

Are the gear ratios in those truck 3 speeds comparable to car ratios or is first really deep?


Don

 

Any of the ge****ts will fit either case, though the pickups often have the wider ratio 29 tooth setup. If keeping the 3 speed, consider drastically reworking the radius rods to a steeper angle into tube to keep fully flexable suspension setup. If going to open...why stick with a three speed?

 

Is your transmission one of the later ones (with the later style syncro)? If so, we should probably get together. I have a late style that I'm rebuilding now that I want to convert from open drive to closed. Should just be a matter of swapping the rear bearing retainer/mount and mainshafts with each other.

Bobby

 

Thanks for all the replies.

I'm kind of now thinking along the same lines as Bruce and going to try and modify the rear ch***is to allow radius rods and keep the torque tube, not going to be easy and will prob have to change alot of things by small amounts.

Bobby, thanks for the offer but alas we are on the oposit sides of the atlantic.

Thanks all, Pete