The Ford Barn - View Single Post

rotorwrench · 04-02-2017, 09:44 AM

Ford light duty transmissions generally only have small casting numbers on the lower back side of the case. Engine numbers may or may not be on the top of the bell on the flat above the inspection port there.

Transmissions that are side shift from 1940 through 1948 have all the right stuff with the exception of the lack of the top shift tower that you would need (91A type). The light duty 3-speed pickup transmission remained top shift and open drive from 1942 through 1950 with all the same gears through that time frame. There was a new set of gears after that for a short period but they have to be used in sets only since they aren't completely interchangeable with the pre 1951 gears.

A 1932 V8 transmission is the first of the light duty 3-speeds but they are shallow in the bell area and have to be used with the small clutch unless a person does some relief work inside the bell. They likely have strait splines and antiquated gear sets. You can put later stuff in there though just like the 38 case but the 38 case can take any gears you want to put in there and it has the deeper bell area. You also have to use the later shift tower on those old cases if you use the later gears. The 91A shift fork is available for retrofit into some of the earlier towers but not the early tower with the shifter that slants back. A person needs either the single detent straight tower or the double detent straight tower to easily use the 91A 2nd/3rd shift fork and the 91A or later sunchronizer assembly.

The three speeds are nothing like the 4-speeds. Nothing is interchangeable.

04-02-2017, 09:44 AM	#19
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: 1938 trans Ford light duty transmissions generally only have small casting numbers on the lower back side of the case. Engine numbers may or may not be on the top of the bell on the flat above the inspection port there. Transmissions that are side shift from 1940 through 1948 have all the right stuff with the exception of the lack of the top shift tower that you would need (91A type). The light duty 3-speed pickup transmission remained top shift and open drive from 1942 through 1950 with all the same gears through that time frame. There was a new set of gears after that for a short period but they have to be used in sets only since they aren't completely interchangeable with the pre 1951 gears. A 1932 V8 transmission is the first of the light duty 3-speeds but they are shallow in the bell area and have to be used with the small clutch unless a person does some relief work inside the bell. They likely have strait splines and antiquated gear sets. You can put later stuff in there though just like the 38 case but the 38 case can take any gears you want to put in there and it has the deeper bell area. You also have to use the later shift tower on those old cases if you use the later gears. The 91A shift fork is available for retrofit into some of the earlier towers but not the early tower with the shifter that slants back. A person needs either the single detent straight tower or the double detent straight tower to easily use the 91A 2nd/3rd shift fork and the 91A or later sunchronizer assembly. The three speeds are nothing like the 4-speeds. Nothing is interchangeable.