The Ford Barn

Mac VP · 03-08-2026, 07:26 PM

Picked this up at a swap meet. Anyone know what this is?

petehoovie · 03-08-2026, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mac VP

Picked this up at a swap meet. Anyone know what this is?

19Fordy · 03-08-2026, 08:44 PM

Could it be out of a tractor or special purpose vehicle?

38 coupe · 03-08-2026, 08:47 PM

That's a new one to me.
Did someone fit a 3.03 Ford gear set minus reverse into a toploader case?

pistonbroke · 03-10-2026, 06:40 AM

I think it's out of a lumber mill transport lift from the 30's40's . There was a mill near the oregon coast that had a few of these old flathead powerd lifts that would stradle the unit of lumber lift it and move it around the mill. By the time I saw them they were junk and the mill had been closed for years. If you had the shiter it would be esier to tell, it would have two levers. Tim

Terry,OH · 03-10-2026, 07:49 AM

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The serial number on the case may assist with ID.

Mac VP · 03-12-2026, 06:11 AM

This was an interesting exercise. Over the 20+ years of rebuilding the early Ford transmissions, we’ve had numerous inquiries about modifying or somehow creating from scratch a transmission that was fully synchronized, overdrive capable, etc. something that had the physical dimensions and interchange capabilities of the typical 1939 units. I’ve had to explain the limitations of such dreams many times. Believe me….if it could be done, using the early Ford gearbox, we’d have made the attempt.

This contraption that you see was a fun exercise in playing with assorted parts…..kind of like spilling the bag of Tinker Toys onto the bench and making something to fill the time on a rainy day. My goal was to cram as many gears as I could into this case and see what the guesses would suggest. Thanks everyone for looking at the picture and posting the comments.

For those who may still wonder if such a contraption could be designed and built, I suggest that to alleviate your frustrations, you may want to consider a second hobby. It sure looks like it could have worked….

squirefd · 03-12-2026, 09:37 AM

My dad put all the gears out of a 40-48 transmission into his 37 case and it worked great.

Bored&Stroked · 03-12-2026, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squirefd

My dad put all the gears out of a 40-48 transmission into his 37 case and it worked great.

That is extremely common - many of us have done it. BUT, it still isn't a fully synchronized transmission, and it is still quite weak.

03-08-2026, 08:44 PM	#3
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 11,916	Re: Trying to figure this one out…. Could it be out of a tractor or special purpose vehicle?

03-08-2026, 08:47 PM	#4
38 coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,135	Re: Trying to figure this one out…. That's a new one to me. Did someone fit a 3.03 Ford gear set minus reverse into a toploader case?

03-10-2026, 06:40 AM	#5
pistonbroke Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Perry Mo. Posts: 838	Re: Trying to figure this one out…. I think it's out of a lumber mill transport lift from the 30's40's . There was a mill near the oregon coast that had a few of these old flathead powerd lifts that would stradle the unit of lumber lift it and move it around the mill. By the time I saw them they were junk and the mill had been closed for years. If you had the shiter it would be esier to tell, it would have two levers. Tim

03-10-2026, 07:49 AM	#6
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 5,394	Re: Trying to figure this one out…. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The serial number on the case may assist with ID.

03-12-2026, 06:11 AM	#7
Mac VP Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 1,465	Re: Trying to figure this one out…. This was an interesting exercise. Over the 20+ years of rebuilding the early Ford transmissions, we’ve had numerous inquiries about modifying or somehow creating from scratch a transmission that was fully synchronized, overdrive capable, etc. something that had the physical dimensions and interchange capabilities of the typical 1939 units. I’ve had to explain the limitations of such dreams many times. Believe me….if it could be done, using the early Ford gearbox, we’d have made the attempt. This contraption that you see was a fun exercise in playing with assorted parts…..kind of like spilling the bag of Tinker Toys onto the bench and making something to fill the time on a rainy day. My goal was to cram as many gears as I could into this case and see what the guesses would suggest. Thanks everyone for looking at the picture and posting the comments. For those who may still wonder if such a contraption could be designed and built, I suggest that to alleviate your frustrations, you may want to consider a second hobby. It sure looks like it could have worked…. __________________ VANPELT SALES LLC Cincinnati, Ohio Office: 513-724-9486 www.vanpeltsales.com www.classictransmission.com

03-12-2026, 09:37 AM	#8
squirefd Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: McMinnville, Oregon Posts: 37	Re: Trying to figure this one out…. My dad put all the gears out of a 40-48 transmission into his 37 case and it worked great.