Hello all! I have a friend who has a 1950 F-1 that would like some suggestions on the transmission. The truck is a 6cyl with a 3 speed manual and he wants to put a 4 speed in that he bought. The problem is the rear of the trans and the crossmember wont fit. Has anyone ever completed this conversion that could help. He would rather not cut anything, but if he has to he will.

Any help would be appreciated!! Thanks!

Dennis

 

What 4 speed is in trying to install? An '48-52 vintage? Or newer with O/D?

Either way he will probably have to modify the cross member. You might want to drop in on this thread going on now on this board:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...ine-mount.html

 

Its a 4 speed out of another 50 F-1, has granny low. Sorry I forgot to mention before.

 

Why does he want to install such a beast in his truck? The four speed with the granny first speed is a dog. I'm not knocking it, I have one in my F-2 and I like it for the charactor but most people would want to switch it out to a higher speed, easier to use transmission. It's also a bigger transmission than the stock three speed. I enjoy driving my F-2 and double clutching but most people, I have found, don't. Your friend woud be a lot better off installing a T-5 or a '87 and up Ford F-100 transmission with O/D. I would bet installing the old four speed would me almost as much work.

If he's set on the four speed he's going to have to find a F-2 or 3 to use the transmission cross member. I think he might also have to shorten his drive shaft.

 

He just putters around with this truck and wants to drive in parades and first gear in the three speed is to high, always having to clutch it where as the 4 speed has granny low. I will tell him about the crossmember and drive shaft, Thanks!

 

The granny gear is good for parades, and stump pulling, that's for sure. The few occations I had my truck in parades I left it idle in first, just occationally having to disingage the clutch to come to a stop.

I just don't think it's worth the time and effort to install the four speed but to each is own.

 

I have a 4spd pulled from a 51 F1 and it used the stock crossmember. The driveshaft is different than the 3spd unit. The 4spd requires the driveshaft with a sliding front yoke.

 

I am relatively certain the three speed used a different brace than the four speed. At least the F-2 and F-3s that had the four speed had a different crossmember, check out the link in my first post in this thread, but I could be wrong.

 

The 4spds in the F-1's had a 3spd style mount unlike the more conventional one used in heavier trucks.

 

Thanks for the replies! I talked to him today and you answed his questions. He bought this 4sp. from a guy that put a automatic in his truck. The 3sp currently in the truck has a chipped tooth in first gear. Since he wanted a 4sp anyway he bought it but ran into trouble fitting it in. He is either going to try to fix the gear or would trade the 4sp for a good floor shift 3sp or buy another 3sp and sell the 4sp. We live in central Illinois so if any one is interested in doing anything and is somewhat close, chime in and I will let him know. Again thanks for the help.

Dennis

 

Dennis,

If your friend cannot find a suitable 3 speed tell him to keep the "hogs head" from the 4 speed. It's the part of the bellhousing that the clutch shaft goes through. He can use this piece to mount the modern trannies I mentioned above. To see what I am talking about to a search of this board for "hog head" and "T-5". You should be able to find a few posts that will have the information.

 

Thanks, but from what he says he wants to keep it as orginial or date orginial as possible. He thought about putting a flathead V8 in at one time. It sounds like hes going to put the 3sp back in for now until he decides what to do, Its sitting in the middle of his garage right now.

 

Newt,

I am not an expert but I think, but not sure, that the first gears might be the same for some of the transmissions. Maybe your friend could use the four speed for the first gear parts. There are many more people on this board that give you a diffinate answer. I have drawings of the internals of the trannies but I can't figure out which gear is which. I would start a new thread asking about it.