I just bought a 46 ford with no engine or tranny and a 2spd rear end. This is a bigger truck, a 3/4 ton, I suppose, I actually dont know what to call it yet. I was wondering what anyone thought I should do with it. I'm kind of thinking of putting a V-8 with an automatic and maybe change that rear end to. I'd like to be able to cruise on the freeway 65 no problem, and thats about it, it doesnt have to be fast or anything. Right now I've got a 292 sitting around, is that a good idea? I like original, but i think im going to modernize the drive train because its missing anyway.

 

I tell you what you gotta do man, what you need brother is a 428. I put one them in my 42 that I got and she smoke tires all day long. that truck is more wild than a moose, and them mooses is a crazy animal I'll tell you I was huntin once in Wyoming, shootin down buffalo left and right and I seen a moose, well I climbed up into a tree and was up there for near 10 hours, crazy. trying to knock down the whole tree...well anyways like I said that 428 is a bad engine, you get that goin with that three carb setup and get your self goin 165...yeah man and those things haul, but they also haul a lot of tourque too...I pulled 7 trailers behind me once with that thing like it was nothin, cop pulls me over and says man I don't know whether to give you a ticket or ask you where the you got that engine from, I don't know nothin that can pull 7 trailers at 85 miles per hour before today...anyways I gives him my uncles business card and I was back on my way. Like i says tho, go with that 428 and ain't ya never gone reget it.

 

Magicbus, I have a 292 in my 46. The application has turned out to be difficult. Rather than that, I would suggest you put in a 302 with C-4 automatic. It won't burn up your tires like a 428, but it sounds like that isn't your objective anyway. For changing out the rearend go over to the 48-60 forum, and they have all the particulars already on what rears are best to use.
Post you VIN here and someone will tell you what you have.

 

Does the truck have 20" 5 bolt wheels? Sounds like a 1 1/2 ton if you have a 2 spd rear end. I just brought one home today with a 289 and 4 spd

 

Like mentioned, that's a 1.5 or 2 ton truck. The 1 tons did not have a 2 speed rear axle, on the bigger trucks it was an optional item. Bigger trucks would have a wheelbase of 134 or 158". The small block Ford is a much better item than the big block if all you want to do is cruise at 65. A SBF will do that easy, combine with a C4 and you'll have a durable package that cruise all day at 65, plus you'll get better mileage than with a 428.

 

Ok, guys, so do you think I should just keep that 2 speed rear on it? I'm going to get the VIN number on here once I find it, does anybody know where it is? I think its stamped on the frame, but maybe one of you guys could narrow down my search. Heres what I'm thinking: a 302 or a 289 with a C-4, and keep the old rear. That will save me all the hassle of hooking up the clutch linkage.

 

The rear leaves a lot to be desired for today's highway use. You are better off going with something like an 8 or 9 inch Ford rear. Parts will be easy to find, and you have your choice of many highway friendly gear ratios, something like a 3.25 is a good rear for decent acceleration and good highway RPM's.
The VIN numbe is stamped on the frame rails, driver's side, about over where the front axle is located. It will start with a star and end with a star. You may have to do a good amount of scrubbing as they were hand stamped, and not always very deeply.
Your engine choices are good ones, the 302 probably being a little better than the 289 as it had a bit more power. Another option is a 351 Windsor, a little more power, and only an inch wider than the 302, and will still bolt up to the C4 trans.

 

I agree with 46 ford on the 302 and the 351 and the C-4. You can find a C-6 that will bolt to them also but the C-6 takes more horses to run unless you are towing or carring very heavy loads and need the extra strength I would pick the C-4

 

OK so lets say you have a 1 1/2 ton...It will have 20" wheels and lets say 7.50 x 20 tires that are 36" dia.Im thinking you should stay with a big truck rear end.It has budd wheels,how do you bolt them to a 9" rear?I would think you can find a higher ratio 3rd member to bolt in.You also have huge rear brakes,that are suited to your ton and a half.Also keep in mind that a high gear ratio (in the 3's) will be super high with the addition of 36" tires.I am in a similar situation,about to put a 302 with a t-18 4 spd trans.I also have the 2 sp rear end.Most of my driving will be on this island with a 45 mph top speed limit so I'm in good shape there.Does anyone know what the ratios are on these 2 spd rear ends?

 

Rear end ratio for 2 spd rear:

Bevel Gears = 5.83:1
Reduction Gears = 8.11:1 (steep!)

Standard Rear Single speed has 6.67:1 ratio

These are the stock ratios listed from the operators manual

I would say that if you use the 2 speed rear(5.83:1 ratio) with the tires of about 36" diameter you should get some decent speed probably around 65 mph at around 35-3600rpm or so.

 

Well I really would like to put on the 9" ford rear, but like mentioned above, would it work? I've got some hefty tires on this baby, can I find rims that would bolt onto it that would be big enough? If thats not possible, then theres no choice but to keep the original rear or try to find some newer industrial rear.

 

Eandaauto,

This is not the HAMB board. The people on this site are able to express themselves without gutter language and those who can't don't have anything important to say anyway. If you can't post without the four letter words I suggest you move on.

Vern

 

Think about later model 8 lug axles.Many ratios there.I think the 1 tons went to 8 lug in '48.I recently sold a 51 1 ton and I bet that front axle would work well,you need one set up for duals with the offset spacers.For the rear,A modern one from a wrecking yard would be great(most any 1 ton) but it should be from a dually for correct width.Now,with the 8 lug you have many options for wheels and tires.I like the 255 85 16.These are right around 34" tall and will further help your gearing.I assume you will run duals.If you want to keep it closer to stock look,I have a set of 19.5 wheels(duals,1 pc. wheels) which are 8 lug.I also have a set of 17" 8 lugs for a single wheel application.With 750x 17"s are 34" dia.Anyway, these are some options.....I'm gonna stick with my 2 spd.How about 8.25 rubber on your 2 spd.These look really HD and are easy to find.I bet they are 38" dia.There is a formula for determining engine rpm @ 60 mph think I can find it....ok get out your calculater tire dia times 3.14 divided by 12,then divide into5280,nextmultiply by gear ratio = rpm at 60 mph....This has helped me out over the years as I'm always fooling around with tire/wheel combinations In re reading this, I am rambling all over the place, but I hope this info is of some help to you.I am now heading outside to start my checklist and begin measuring for the removal of the nailhead buick and dynaflow,and install my newfound (beautiful running) 302 and 4 spd man tran. GB

 

GB I will let you know about any info i can find out on your truck..

 

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