I purchased a 49-53 Flathead engine with the 8RT casting on the heads. This transmission was attached. Research showed the 8RT was pretty much the same as the 8BA block, only out of an F1 truck. i assume this to be a 3 speed truck transmission with column shift linkage. Its my first flathead and being repurposed into a 1928 Model A chassis for building a hot rod.

What exactly is this transmission? Who manufactured it and is is worth going through to use in my little project? What rear ends mate up to this thing? Can a floor shift be adapted? Car will be used for cruises, not racing so i am not opposed to a column shift setup.

Thanks

 

Ford manufactured Light Duty 3 Speed column shift transmission. It may have had very large letters 3CS painted on it which would confirm identification.

 

It appears to be a trans from a car with a closed drive line. Not a problem if you keep the original rear axle and suspension, but won't work with an open drive without an adapter.

 

Welcome!
This setup has been adapted before you got it. Column shift in trucks came around circa 1950. Torque tubes were long gone by then. The last pickups with closed drivelines were the 41 models. 42 went to open drivelines. The output ratio in high gear is 1:1

 

But the same trans, afaik, was used in cars with the closed driveline through 48. My guess is the whole mess came out of a 40-48 car that had the later flattie transplanted into.