F150 tranny with overdrive

[AL in NY]

Missed a photo for post #245:

[harleytoprock]

Speedo won't need calibration with the F150 overdrive because the speedometer is driven off the drive shaft. A change in rear end ratio would require a calibration change.

[wensum]

Originally Posted by harleytoprock

Speedo won't need calibration with the F150 overdrive because the speedometer is driven off the drive shaft. A change in rear end ratio would require a calibration change.

It's interesting that because the gearbox has an electronic take-off for the speedo, I was told that an expensive solution was required.
However a Ford Falcon speedo cable fitted perfectly.
Also, with the 42% overdrive the speedo reads 75mph when the car is doing 62mph (100kph in NZ)

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by wensum

It's interesting that because the gearbox has an electronic take-off for the speedo, I was told that an expensive solution was required...

You must have a different transmission than I have (which is a Tremec RTS), mine does not have an electronic take off for the speedometer.

... Also, with the 42% overdrive the speedo reads 75mph when the car is doing 62mph (100kph in NZ)

My transmission is 27% overdrive (4th gear). And since the speedometer take off is the original Model A gear, aft of the transmission, it has no bearing on what gear it is in as to how it reads.

[F1_1950]

I realize this is an ancient thread on the T170FT RTS. No where does anyone talk about shortening the output shaft for the torque tube adapter plate and universal. Are you all buying a kit that has the output shaft splined and cut and then re assembled back into the case? I understand that the torque tube, driveshaft, and radius arms need to be shortened. Any info appreciated on shortening the output shaft or does someone sell an already modified shaft? I have the 27% OD trans. Like to put it in my 30 Tudor.

Thanks, j

[MALAK]

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Originally Posted by F1_1950

I realize this is an ancient thread on the T170FT RTS. No where does anyone talk about shortening the output shaft for the torque tube adapter plate and universal. Are you all buying a kit that has the output shaft splined and cut and then re assembled back into the case? I understand that the torque tube, driveshaft, and radius arms need to be shortened. Any info appreciated on shortening the output shaft or does someone sell an already modified shaft? I have the 27% OD trans. Like to put it in my 30 Tudor.

Thanks, j

I am in the process of installing a T170 in one of my A's currently. I'm doing all the machine work/fabrication myself and documenting the process. Also, this trans will have the "Goldilocks" ratio mentioned on the Fordgarage website. This trans will have 3.01 first and 27.0% OD vs 3.25 first and 27.6%OD for the stock RTS trans. I'll probably have an extra output shaft or whole transmission (or 2) for sale, when done but not kits. Currently working on the trans outputshaft/torque tube interface. Once I get my numbers figured out I cut/re-spline the output shaft and while I have the mill set up I'll do at least a second and maybe a third shaft while I'm at it.
I did have a little bit of a setback (literally yesterday). I pulled the torque tube, driveshaft, and pinion, and well, see the pictures. I wasn't expecting to have to rebuild the rear end. It wasn't making any noise so I only expected to have to shorten the driveshaft.
For those wondering it is possible to create the "Goldilocks" ratio (I'll be documenting how) but I think I have the only 2 gearsets, on the planet Earth, to do it. ☺

[CarlG]

I bought the complete kit with all the machine work already done. All I had to do was just bolt it in.

[jayvee34]

Originally Posted by CarlG

I bought the complete kit with all the machine work already done. All I had to do was just bolt it in.

Did you have to shorten the torque tube and drive shaft?
Rather than have shorten the torque tube and drive shaft, would the open drive shaft kit be an option? Just asking. Speedway motors has them, Part #9191111.
John

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by jayvee34

Did you have to shorten the torque tube and drive shaft?
Rather than have shorten the torque tube and drive shaft, would the open drive shaft kit be an option? Just asking. Speedway motors has them, Part #9191111.
John

Shortened drive shaft, torque tube, & radius rods all came in the kit. Open drive line was never a consideration.

[jayvee34]

Originally Posted by CarlG

Shortened drive shaft, torque tube, & radius rods all came in the kit. Open drive line was never a consideration.

Seeing as how you have had your kit for awhile, what do you think it was cost for the same kit today, and who from?
Thanks,
John

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by jayvee34

Seeing as how you have had your kit for awhile, what do you think it was cost for the same kit today, and who from?
Thanks,
John

Message sent to your eMail

[rotorwrench]

To go open drive, it takes more than just modification of the rear axle input. The rear axle will need suspension components to allow it to move but stay in the right place. This generally takes a new set of stronger radius rods to include a strong torque arm or a set of semi-elliptic leaf springs to hold the axle in position. This adds a lot of work to this type of modification. Keeping the old buggy type transverse spring saves a lot of further modification if a person can find the right machine shop, drive shaft shop, or kit fabricator to modify parts to work a torque tube.

[Ed Saniewski]

I am trying to remove the tower on my OD trans, and wondered dose the trans need to be in any particular gear to take the tower off? I have it in neutral , but cant get the forks to clear. thanks.

[The Master Cylinder]

Originally Posted by Ed Saniewski

I am trying to remove the tower on my OD trans, and wondered dose the trans need to be in any particular gear to take the tower off? I have it in neutral , but cant get the forks to clear. thanks.

I remember someone mentioning the trans had to be in reverse? But I could be wrong because I'm not sure. But I do remember it had to be in gear.

[rotorwrench]

T-170 RTS hard parts are not easy to come by. Folks generally have to purchase a whole used transmission and hope the parts are still good.

[shew01]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

T-170 RTS hard parts are not easy to come by. Folks generally have to purchase a whole used transmission and hope the parts are still good.

That’s my understanding as well. I have one in my Victoria, and parts (like gears) seem scarce.


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[MALAK]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

T-170 RTS hard parts are not easy to come by. Folks generally have to purchase a whole used transmission and hope the parts are still good.

This is true but parts are out there.

By total random chance, I got lucky and found a brand new cluster, the one needed to make the Goldilocks ratio, mis-listed on eBay as a Jeep cluster; none of the Jeep versions of this trans had OD. I could tell by the seller's pic and the relative size of the gears on the cluster that it was NOT a Jeep cluster. Had him send me a tooth count and sure enough, it was the 31-34-23-15 Ford OD cluster, and I got it for $90 . I also found a new 22T input shaft on ebay(to mate with the cluster) for a reasonable $119 and a used 19T OD gear from a used transmission parts dealer. I've also made a new 19T OD gear (not for the faint of heart). For reference the elusive 31-34-23-15 cluster on left and the RTS 27.6% cluster on right. They look the same but there is 1 tooth difference in the input shaft position and the OD position. The elusive 19T OD gear on left and the 19T OD gear I made on right.

With this cluster and OD the gear the ratios are:
1st = 3.01
2nd = 1.78
3rd = 1.00
4th = .79 = 27.0%

As far as parts are concerned it seems half the battle is knowing what you're looking for and the other half chance (luck).

Tom

[JRN1967]

Don't forget about the T170's ugly sister SROD she may not be as sexy but she shares a lot of the same internals.

[rwh]

MALAK,

Any information how you "made" the 19t gear?
I think I am close to being down to the OD gear to build the "Goldilocks" ratio transmission to have all the parts.
Thanks again for your help.
RH

[MALAK]

Originally Posted by rwh

MALAK,

Any information how you "made" the 19t gear?
I think I am close to being down to the OD gear to build the "Goldilocks" ratio transmission to have all the parts.
Thanks again for your help.
RH

Well if you must know. It's not for the faint of heart. You'll need:

1. Jeep T177, J8132401 / T170-16S
   INPUT SHAFT JEEP 19T (this will become the new 19T OD gear)
   
2. A commonly available 4th OD gear (any tooth count, to be used as a donor, there are plenty of these on eBay)
3. A lathe with carbide tooling (or a machine shop to do this work)

The Jeep input shaft is bored-out and parted off leaving only the gear and cone clutch/splines.

The donor gear is turned down producing a shouldered sleeve that is pressed into the bored-out Jeep gear.

I could have just made the sleeve but chose to use a gear as a donor because it already has the critical dimensions (length and ID) and metallurgy needed.

Here's a photo album of the process. There's a couple pics that show the bushing with a spacer washer. This was only needed as I miscalculated the depth of the shoulder on the bushing. If I made another one I'd just make the shoulder that much thicker and not need the little washer.

As a bonus, the last 3 pics show the repurposing of what was left of the Jeep input shaft. The bearing and seal areas are perfect for making a tool for driving the Model A rear axle shaft seals.

If you click on the pics to show the pic info, there are descriptions on most of the pics

https://photos.app.goo.gl/HNpewbYbRsrd3Eoe6