Currently i built a Rat Rod with a 1955 ford f-500 single speed rearend powered by a big block chevy and connected with a turbo 400 trans. Gear ratio in the rearend is somewhere in the six somthing range and with this set-up it is too low for highway driving. I am wanting to know what range of gears are available for this rearend or if any other third members will inter-change with a two speed set-up. An over-drive transmission is an option but would rather not go that route if i dont have to.

Thanks for any suggestion or solutions.
Max

 

A rat rod out of an F500? The best advise I would give you is to replace the rear with one out of an f250-350 in the 70's era. I'm sure there will be others by to tell you what years will fit. This will also help you get rid of the widowmaker rims.

 

Just go 9 inch. Many gears to chose from. No point in keeping a stock rear axle when the truck is full of chevy scrap iron.

 

If it's the stock rearend, it should be a Timkin C100. They were available in 3 different ratios, 6.80, 6.20 and 5.29. The R&P number for the 5.29 is TDAA4209C, Green Sales in Cincinnati supposedly has one in stock.

Just a word to the wise, cutting up an old fat fendered Ford for a Rat Rod is not popular here!

 

I'm gonna guess that you want to keep a big truck rear axle and bolt pattern to match what's on the front. I'd suggest finding a Dana 70 axle out of a 1970s era Dodge RM400 based motor home. Same 5 x 8" bolt pattern as your F-500, but will have a 4.56/1 drive ratio. AND, the motor home should also donate its 19.5" one piece wheels to replace your current widow maker two piecers. Stu

 

Thanks Stu. I didn't know there were any options like this for my 5.14:1 on my F4.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions, curious about the"widow maker" wheels. Are these a bad choice?

 

Do a Google search of that term, and my user name. There's pictures and lots of prior discussion about them. Stu

 

Very few things nicknamed "widowmaker" are ever a good thing. Congrats on the 55. Love the F500.

 

They are not so easy to find.

 

Yeah, Joe. After I read this I went looking online. Nada... zero... zip.

Oh well, I don't need to get anywhere in a hurry in Betsy anyway.

 

They are under the motor homes that donate their wheels to us. Just a matter of saving them. Problem is they are heavy as sin, and not easily moved, stored, or shipped. I've got one that I rescued for a planned F-4 project mated to my 460/C6 and dressed with my set of Alcoas. Stu

 

instead of searching for motorhome junkyard search for RV or Rec Vehicle, etc

 

I do multiple searches that general include Dodge 440 motors and 6KW RV generators, a lot of times they think that those are the only parts worth selling.
Of course I discussed one of those rear ends as an option with Chuck and he strongly advised against that high a rear with the flatheads.

 

That's interesting. I've got his 4.11/1 sets in my M-H axles. Same basic wheel size and tire outside diameter. Wonder why he thought they would work but advised not to use the D-70 with a 4.56/1? On the F-4 I'm planning there'll be no shortage of available torque. Stu