The Ford Barn

RalphM · 11-05-2016, 08:05 PM

Was cleaning up the shop, impossible task, and came across this. A 49-53 camshaft with a 32-48 gear on it. What gives?

Bored&Stroked · 11-06-2016, 06:45 AM

Well - there is nothing to stop one from running the earlier gears on a 49-53 camshaft and crank. I actually like having the thrust back towards the block (so I make sure my thrust clearances are correct and run the earlier gears). Also, I've definitely seen folks put a late camshaft and distributor setup into a pre-49 block . . . so that is another possibility.

Bruce Lancaster · 11-06-2016, 05:59 PM

Also...the book says that early '49 Mercs used the early gears. Never checked the Ford book to see if Ford did too.

RalphM · 11-06-2016, 10:11 PM

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Didn't really think about that. Makes sense though running in an early set up, but why wouldn't you change the gears to later ones if upgrading to the 49-53 dist?
I guess it would save time by not dropping the pan and changing crank gear.

11-06-2016, 06:45 AM	#2
Bored&Stroked Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 5,223	Re: Odd one Well - there is nothing to stop one from running the earlier gears on a 49-53 camshaft and crank. I actually like having the thrust back towards the block (so I make sure my thrust clearances are correct and run the earlier gears). Also, I've definitely seen folks put a late camshaft and distributor setup into a pre-49 block . . . so that is another possibility.

11-06-2016, 05:59 PM	#3
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: Odd one Also...the book says that early '49 Mercs used the early gears. Never checked the Ford book to see if Ford did too.

11-06-2016, 10:11 PM	#4
RalphM Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 2,661	Re: Odd one Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Didn't really think about that. Makes sense though running in an early set up, but why wouldn't you change the gears to later ones if upgrading to the 49-53 dist? I guess it would save time by not dropping the pan and changing crank gear.