Ford 150 OD Transmission install in 31 Roadster

[kenparker]

Old31. When I was building kits I considered installing a bottom drain plug a time or two. Electd not to due to the thickness of the casting on the bottom and the posssibility of not enough thickness for sufficient threads to stop any chance of leaking. Also, if the original design, with no drain plug, was good enough for a 1980's truck and the abuse (speed, towing, miles) they were put thru n the 80's and 90's - I took one out of a truck at a wrecking yard that had over 200,000 miles - a drain plug was not needed for a Model A and the relative easy way we drive them today.

[rotorwrench]

A person would have to TIG weld a bung on the bottom to get a plug in there. It's pretty thin. Using a suction gun will work just fine as long as you run the vehicle a while to stir the particulate that might be in the bottom up enough to hold it in suspension. You can draw out a lot and maybe as much as would go out through a drain plug. There is no guarantee that particulate will not catch on the castings or gears before going out a drain plug.

[JRN1967]

There's a place at the bottom where's it pretty thick, not at the lowest point though. I wanted the option to drain the oil in the future, so I used a 1/4-18 NPTF tap. Not sure if you can see in this picture or not?

[Ron W]

When I did mine, I removed the magnets and welded a bung on the bottom and used a plug with a magnet. Ron W

[CarlG]

When I installed my transmission, I bought only enough oil to fill it and have a spare quart to add if needed. So far I haven't needed that as it is still full, hasn't leaked any, and from what I can see, it's still clear as the day I installed it. Don't see the need myself. It's not like I am putting 100,000 miles a year on the thing!

[JRN1967]

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The length of my OD Transmission with the AA bell housing to the retainer is 18.3125". Does anyone know the length of a 1930 A stock bell housing, transmission to the retainer?

I think I can use these two measurements to determine how much needs to be cut off my driveshaft.

Thoughts?

[CarlG]

The AA bell housing has provisions for the wishbone but not the pedals.