I've attached a couple videos with sound. The engine runs great.
The gears, movement, sounds like it 's geared super low.


Is this the way they all sound?


The videos are a sampling of the sound. In reverse, 1st and 2nd, I believe.


Any input is appreciated.


Thanx.

 

My F2 with 4:86 rear gears and the heavy-duty three speed sounds a lot like that in 1st gear. Always has too.

Tom

 

Have you adjusted the e-brake band?

 

The gears sound ok but heavily loaded, remember that these aren't helical cut gears so you will hear virtually every time the addendum of a gear tooth enters and leaves the root. That's the "whine" that you hear. A high viscosity, high shear strength gear oil helps this sound.

 

These spur gear transmissions have a distinct whine especially in 3rd gear, 3rd can get pretty loud. It sounds normal to me. It looks like you have a '40-'47 1 1/2-2 Ton truck steering wheel. They are not splined like the '48-'52, but have a single woodruff key. Do you have a earlier column or how is it fastened?
BTW, You should only need to start in 1st gear if the truck is loaded or on a steep grade. It should start in 2nd very easily.
Mark

 

As a kid I remember those big truck Ford transmission sounds, that's how we identified who was coming down the road.


My Dad's truck, it has been sitting in that spot since 1957.

 

someone suggested using gear oil, so I used 85W-140 gear oil. Does that sound correct.
And I probably should have said this is a 226 engine with standard 4 speed.
All the gears are there and shift great.
I start it in 2nd.
I can't seem to get the rear end into high gear though. I followed the procedure on the dash. Maybe a vacuum issue? But I don't tell a difference with the switch out (high) or in (low).

 

I took the steering wheel off when I pulled the transmission.
It was a single nut, with the wheel lined up with a key. As for the assembly, I haven't taken it all apart so I'm not about the rest of it.

 

Yep, I got out and verified that it is free moving (the drive shaft spins back and forth with no friction). So it' not dragging on that

 

You may have a bad diaphragm on the axle, or the shift arm on the axle is rusted in place and the diaphragm can't shift it. If you remove the diaphragm to check, the diaphragms a re easy to test. Hold it vertical with the fork for shift arm against the floor. Press down on the diaphragm to compress it, then place your finger over the hose port on the diaphragm. Lift the diaphragm releasing the pressure of the shift arm from the floor. With your finger on the hose port the diaphragm should stay compressed, until you remove your finger from the port. Block the wheels before you remove the diaphragm, the shift arm can move to "neutral" and the truck will roll. You will need to jack up one side of the rear axle to release the pressure on the axle to check the shift arm to see if it moves freely. It should move easily without the diaphragm and gear pressure.
Mark

 

Well the oil in the rear end looked good. But was 5 pints low. So I added more.
I've attached pictures of my high low device before, or if, I take it apart.
It seems stuck?


I believe it is in low based on the shop manual.
It could me not being able to perform the operation of switching it (complicated).
Should you be able to move it manually? I tried pulling it in, towards the base but it doesn't budge. Probably in gear or something? I just read again the previous post, I would need to jack up one side, etc...


Thanx.

 

You won't be able to move the shift arm with the diaphragm attached. Under the boot on the back side is a fairly heavy spring which keeps it in low gear until you shift it with the ****. Low gear is the "default" position and if you park the truck in high the spring on the diaphragm will try to shift it into low as the vacuum decreases. Jack up one side and release the hand brake, you should be able to move the arm if it is not rusted and stuck in place.
BTW, I wonder if your truck is an early '48 since it has a '47 or earlier steering wheel and steering shaft.
Mark

 

Careful..........The RCMP might write you a ticket for that busted headlight!!

 

Well I wasn't able to completely decode the vin on this truck. All the serial numbers match but show:


87HT29396


So if you have more info that would be great.

 

Is the front half bellhousing stamped steel, or cast iron? It appears to be stamped steel.

AFAIK Ford didn't put serial numbers on the trans in '48, but that number appears to indicate a '48. Trucks never used stamped steel clutch covers that I'm aware of.