sooooo being prity new to this ive been watching for a trans to go behind a flathead that will bolt up to the A enclosed driveshaft. who knows there stuff here about them? which is best. I have opportunity to get a compleat 1937 2 ton truck wondering about the trans
It's traditional to use a 39 passenger car transmission but you are going to have to modify the torque tube internal drive shaft to make it all work. And yes you do not want that truck trans.
"39" trans, just means it has the later, better, syncros inside. not necessary, but thats what all the folks want. that is, any top shift CAR case, 37 & up, you will find a small "78" cast in the back end of the case, and then any side shift tranny up to 48 has the good syncros and you put all those guts in your 78 case after you have bought mac vanpelts tranny book
Or, if you get tired of looking and the ones you do find seem to be ridiculously expensive and you want a overdrive, you can use a T5. That is what I am using. The adapter is here: http://vintagemetalworks.blogspot.com/ Now, it is not a bolt in, but it will allow you to use a model A closed drive. He also makes the adapters to use the later V8 closed drive.
Any transmission from a passenger Ford from 28-48 will hook up to the A torquetube. You will need to remove the outer clamshell clamp from the A and use the clamshell from 35-48. A bolt-on, simple connection. Mounting the rear of the transmission to the crossmember is not a bolt-on though as you will need to make your own rear mounting ears to attach the rear trans mount to. There are a variety of rear trans mounts, and you should study the many threads on building A-V8's here on the HAMB to see how you might prefer to build yours.
Vanpelts transmission book is currently out of stock unless you find it third party. http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_booksforsale.htm Best idea is homework and ask questions first as the "don't use that one" ones are just as important as the do this and look for that ones.
I purchased the Vern Tardel transmission manual. Its a good, simple, to the point disassembly and overhaul manual. As for what to use Id say from experience that the earlier transmissions work well and in some ways seem less finicky than the synchronised 39 transmission. I have a 34 trans in my coupe behind an 8ba. Love it. I have a couple 36ish transmissions as spares. I do also have a 39 box. I guess my point is that you'll hear that you need a 39 trans and that its the only way to go but really you just need a car 3 speed from any of the v8 years except 32 and you'll be in business. None of them are bullit proof but all are servicable when used appropriately. One other thing. My last model A coupe I ran a stock model A rear end, stock length torque tube, 38 and earlier transmission, with a 21 stud flathead with mechanical fan. All fit in A stock length model A frame. With the radiator (36 ford) in the stock location. Ford parts go together like Legos. Good luck
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