I'm in the proccess of putting a 53 Merc flatty / 3 speed with overdrive tranny into my 32 frame... problem is the o.d. solenoid goes deep into the k member and will take a lot of carving to make it fit...and i'd like it to look like some thought went into it rather than "rigging" it.. anyone know of any common solutions? without going tubular? Its a traditional build and i wanna keep that way..
That Merc OD trans may be a great solution but if the trans is strong enough for the job, the old zephyr is very like it but has a torque tube that may simplify the rear axle selection. Zephyr OD transmissions are usually around $800. They may be the most econimical OD out there. Be sure to get the mount. K member may be able to support the modification. Has to be better than the F1 method which jacks up the trans waaaaay too high. There is a lot to consider that you are not asking. OOps, just noticed the '53 trans may be stronger than the earlier ones, but little recommends that trans unless it's just cause you have it, not a terrible reason! How you going to shift it? I love column shift. By the time the '53 engines hit the junk yards, flatheads were pretty close to extinction. If they didn't nurse them along with special racing classes, like handicap parking, they would have vanished sooner. Easy to install alternatives were busy leaving them in the dust. Traditional? A lot of total BS travels in the myth of tradition. What's wrong with I like it that way? While having fun for sure. Good Luck: Fred A
The 1932 K-member isn't well suited for Borg Warner type electric overdrive. I don't know if it would help the fit or not but there is at least one old thread on this board about relocating the shift solenoid utilizing a home made rocker shaft set up similar to what Ford used on the convertible models with the X type frame in the early 50s. Most of them relocate the solenoid underneath the transmission but that may not work any better with a 32 K-member unless it fit behind the rear of the crossmember. That also makes a person wonder where the rear mount for the 53 trans will end up in relation to the K-member. More questions than answers I'm afraid. Definitely an uphill battle for a clean installation.
I have a fenton floor shift kit for the o.d. tranny still in its original box..my other consideration is the value of a k member...if i have to mutilate it too much i might as well pull it out intact and totally fabricate something different and sell it using the money to throw back into my project... i'll serch previous threads thank you
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