Looking to improve the driving performance of my 1950 F3. 239 CI Flathead V8 with a 4 spd spur gear transmission. What transmission can be retrofit into this truck to improve performance? Would a 3 speed from an F1 48'-50' "bolt up" without any modifications? (4spd spur gear requires double clutching and is not all that fun to drive). Looking to keep this truck as original as possible...
Thanks
Vic

 

Welcome to the board!!! You are definatley going to get some interesting replies to an opened ended question like that. I hope you are up for some good natured teasing.

first, what are your plans for the truck. Are you trying to keep it close to stock or are you going for major custom stuff (or what we like to call here...."the Darkside")?

There are as many options for your truck as there are members on this board. When you get a chance take some pics of your truck and make a gallery so we can see what you have (we love to ogle the other guys trucks)

Glad to have you
Bobby

 

Thanks Bobby... Planning to keep this truck as original as possible. However, the 4spd spur gear tranny is not all that fun to drive. Thinking of going with a stock 3 spd from an F1 (unclear if this would be a fdirect replacement w/o mods). I believe that does not require double clutching (helical gears). This truck is in excellent original condition. The previous owner was has shared his plans to upgrade the untire driveline for better highway performance. Really not concerned about highway speed....

 

Cool. Sounds like a neat project. There are several guys around here doing pretty much the same thing. I think that several of them have adapter the T5 trans to the flattie with decent luck. Getting rid of the "crash box" tranny would sure make it nice huh?
You could probably change out the rearend gears also to get a better cruising speed.

I'm sure one of the big truck guys will be along and have some good suggestions for you.

Take care
Bobby

 

Is the T-5 (Borg Warner) the mosel for the F1 3 spd?
Thanks again
Vic

 

First, double-clutch is not that big a problem - lots of big trucks have the same requirements. It is easy enough to learn to shift without using the clutch at all - just use your throttle to match your engine speed to what the trans needs. I have driven over 500 miles with a 10 speed trans and never touched the clutch after I got the truck moving.

I like the factory floor-shift 3 speed - it is authentic, but has syncro between 2 and third only - going to first is the same crash and grind you have now. My brother is changing one over now, but they are getting very hard to find. On his it is a bolt in replacement.

I think the T5 is a chevy luv 5 speed - some are beefed up enough for a ford truck. Somebody is making an adapter.