I am going to put a 1953 merc flathead with a stick trans in a hot rod with a 1940 ford rear axle. Look at the pics the rear driveshaft tube has been shortened. Basically i am looking for a universal joint to attach the trans to the enclosed drive shaft. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Here are some better pics of the rear. I am trying to use the existing torque tube I DO NOT WANT to get a speedway open drive conversion. thanks.
Save yourself a lot of work and don't use the 53 trans. Get a pre 49 trans with a bell housing adapter and you'll have a lot easier time using that rear end. Like this: but with a torque tube rear trans mount. The one pictured is an open driveline rear trans mount. Mike
A 49 to 53 truck bellhousing will bolt your motor to a 48 on back trans,I think 49 to 51 mercs used the same bellhousing too and if you get the bellhousing from a truck grab the waterpumps as they make it easier to bolt the 49 to 53 motor in a earlier chassis. Jeff
Here are some better pics of the rear. I am trying to use the existing torque tube I DO NOT WANT to get a speedway open drive conversion. thanks. OOPS
Nice banjo. Looks like the tube has already been shortened quite a bit. Are the tube and housings chome? Rich
Thanks it is vintage chrome, and the tube has been shortened. it is a very nice axle. I want to use all these parts together but i dont have any universal joint for either part. I am looking for a universal joint that has splines from the ford trans to the ford rear axle. any info will be appreciated.
The only way that has a chance of coming out the right length is about so, and it is all design and cut the details on your own! Remove whole tailhousing; adapt any '32-48 rear mount to rear. This means in most cases filling existing bolt circle on trans, redrilling it precisely centered with early Ford circle, recut early trans mount to retain rear bearing on late trans, cut off and respline output shaft. Some or all of these steps may be difficult or border on impossible depending on dimensions of previously unrelated parts. This is how racers used Cadillac trans in hotrods... Bottom line, it is NOT the way to go!!! The trans has NO advantages--it's a fairly weak three speed, no benefits over earlier Ford and LOTS of professional machine work needed to adapt. Also, it may turn out to be longer than early and require you to hack that nice tube. You will be $$$ and time ahead adapting an early Ford trans!
besides the work to adapt the trans to the torque tube you'll have to do major surgery to the X for this trans to fit.
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