I did an advanced search and found very little about the various adapter kits.
I like the idea of the Speedway kit-seems well thought out.

Here is the link for the one when you have your own trans:

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Flath...Kit,11051.html

Has anyone have experience with this? I love the five speed idea, but as this is the first project my wife has had any interest in being part of-well she wants to be able to drive it and manual transmissions are hard on her....
I am going to go with a 3.7 to 3.9 rear diff in a 9" Ford out of a 70 F150. From the calculations that should make the combo very happy for the old flathead (when fitted with a small four barrel to drive the TV cable)

Any thoughts or ideas?
Thanks to cougar54 for the link to a great cross member kit! My frame was missing the original cross member that the brake master cylinder mounts.
Doc

 

What axle do you have in it now? I would think a stock 3.92 would be close to ideal.

 

I wish it had that rear dif! It has a ( if I remember clearly) a 4:56 with a 4 speed trans). Just a little steep!
So, I am going to rebuild my first 9" Ford differential this winter!

 

DocMSavage,
Has your rearend been replaced? 9” rearends didn’t come in F1s. If indeed it is a 9”, and not a Dana, you can just replace the 3rd member. Only issue is getting a 3rd member with the correct axle spline count. Just an FYI the pinion yokes come in several lengths which will require you to swap the yoke or have your driveshaft adjusted to the correct length.

 

I used a Bendtsen adapter kit to mate a 4R70W to my 8BA flathead. It fit well with good instructions.




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No, the current rearend in the truck is the original one. I just have purchased a 9" to rebuild and install with my desired ratio.
I made the decision to go that route on cost and parts availability-maybe should have bought the one out of a new truck like Pete has?!

M

 

Thanks Michael but mine wasn't new. It is an 8.8" out of a 2001 Explorer Sportrac but it was a real rust bucket that has seen many a salty, Michigan winter. I had to cut the drums off with a plasma cutter. I have never had to do that before. Lots of descaling, wire brushing and black 2x Rustoleum. It was worth the effort as it works great.

 

Is the 4r70w an electric shift Pete is there a controller for that, reason I ask is I can get a drive train from a 94 F150 but have been hesitating because I didn't want to get too involved with electronics.

 

Yes, it is all electric which eliminates the temperamental and critical throttle control cable adjustment. Also the PRNDL, backup lights and neutral safety switch functions are included in the range sensor mounted on the left side of the trans. Baumann (U.S. Shift) makes the controller kit including wire harnesses with connectors that just plug in to the trans and controller (see picture). Everything is well marked and preprogramed but you can change things with a PC and their free software. They even give you a USB cable to hook up the PC. The trans has a lot of features including a temperature sensor that reads out on the controller. You can adjust the speedometer readout also to compensate to axle and tire changes.




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Thank you for that information. I think I may be grabbing that freebee drive train in the spring when all this snow disappears..

 

I noticed that the Speedway kit is for a C4, and not the AOD. Physically it will bolt up, but do some research on the flywheel. I put and AOD behind a 302 with a C4 flywheel, and had HORRIBLE vibration problems. I'm not sure what the differences are between the 2 flywheels (it's been about 3 years since I did this), but it wouldn't hurt to make sure before you install it. It's a lot easier to start with the correct one!

 

I checked with Speedway, they said it worked great with the AOD. Just have to check the diameter of the convertor.

 

Suggest that you call Monster Transmission and ask what they would recommend and the price.