The Ford Barn

stuar24 · 07-02-2013, 08:51 PM

Will a 3 speed tranny replace a 4 speed tranny. I have a 4 speed in my 30 A pickup and want to put a 3 speed in it. Please give me details

Reds34 · 07-02-2013, 09:11 PM

Yes, but you will need a new universal and u-joint cap if I remember correctly. Make sure you hang on to everything you take off, I believe the u-joint and cap are hard to find. I almost forgot to say welcome to Fordbarn!

Red

glenn in camino · 07-02-2013, 10:04 PM

I think the 4 speeds use a AA bell housing. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Bob C · 07-02-2013, 10:09 PM

Glenn is correct, you will need to change the bell housing.

Bob

CarlG · 07-02-2013, 10:42 PM

That first gear on a 4-speed truck tranny makes a great parade gear.

stuar24 · 07-03-2013, 05:14 AM

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Thanks guys. I will try to post pictures soon.

stuar24 · 07-03-2013, 05:27 AM

Do you know of any transmission/engine combos that would directly fit in my existing model a frame

Rowdy · 07-03-2013, 07:36 AM

Beings it is a pickup it should have had a 3 spd to begin with. Take care of the AA 4 spd bellousing as they bring around $125 if not cracked or have any chipped bolt holes. They are used by many to put T-5 transmissions in Model A's. Rod

stuar24 · 07-03-2013, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reds34

Yes, but you will need a new universal and u-joint cap if I remember correctly. Make sure you hang on to everything you take off, I believe the u-joint and cap are hard to find. I almost forgot to say welcome to Fordbarn!

Red

Thank you. My 4 speed is rough so I have a 3 speed and want to put it in instead. So I can unbolt my tranny and housing and put the 3 speed and housing right to it? What do I need to order or find to make this happen?

Jordan · 07-03-2013, 11:26 AM

Are you taking out a model A 4 speed, or a 4 speed overdrive unit out of a more modern pickup?

James Rogers · 07-03-2013, 12:20 PM

My question is, are you working with a Model A truck or an AA truck? There is a difference.

stuar24 · 07-03-2013, 01:52 PM

Its the original 4 speed out of a 30AA

rollingsculpture · 07-03-2013, 11:00 PM

so what ratio rear do you have ? the aa rear is diff than a car/truck

Ron in Quincy · 07-04-2013, 12:23 AM

Change your bell housing to passenger car type; also change the u-joint housing to passenger car type.

As said before, save the 4 speed bell housing, transmission and u-joint as people are looking for these parts and you may be able to recover some of your expense.

Ron

modeleh · 07-04-2013, 12:45 AM

I'm not sure if the intermediate shaft will still be the correct length. Is your AA 131wb or 157"?

Tom Wesenberg · 07-04-2013, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modeleh

I'm not sure if the intermediate shaft will still be the correct length. Is your AA 131wb or 157"?

I believe he has the Model A rather than the AA, so there should be no intermediate shaft.

James Rogers · 07-04-2013, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuar24

Its the original 4 speed out of a 30AA

Not the question. Is the truck an A or an AA? That will make a difference.

1931 flamingo · 07-04-2013, 07:05 AM

If you go back to the 1st post it sounds like he has an A p/up with an AA 4speed tranny in it and wants to go back to a 3 speed. JMO
Paul in CT

BRENT in 10-uh-C · 07-04-2013, 07:15 AM

There was an option where Ford supplied a regular Model-A chassis with a AA 4-speed transmission in lieu of a 3-speed. I actually purchased a chassis out in the panhandle of north Texas a decade or so ago. These were sorta popular with a farmer that wanted a slow gear to feed out of, --or as in the case with this chassis, there was a PTO and a shaft going out the back to power a belt pulley.

Truthfully, the biggest value that is there is the AA bellhousing that folks like to use when converting to a S10 transmission. Otherwise there is plenty of these conversions still floating around to supply the demand.

steammech50 · 07-04-2013, 08:09 AM

Will the change from AA to A change the length of the drive shaft ?

07-02-2013, 08:51 PM	#1
stuar24 Junior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Louisa VA Posts: 9	4 speed out and 3 speed in? Will a 3 speed tranny replace a 4 speed tranny. I have a 4 speed in my 30 A pickup and want to put a 3 speed in it. Please give me details

07-02-2013, 09:11 PM	#2
Reds34 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Eastern, CT Posts: 527	Re: 4 speed out and 3 speed in? Yes, but you will need a new universal and u-joint cap if I remember correctly. Make sure you hang on to everything you take off, I believe the u-joint and cap are hard to find. I almost forgot to say welcome to Fordbarn! Red Last edited by Reds34; 07-02-2013 at 09:11 PM. Reason: Welcome

07-02-2013, 10:04 PM	#3
glenn in camino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camino, CA. Posts: 3,086	Re: 4 speed out and 3 speed in? I think the 4 speeds use a AA bell housing. Correct me if I'm wrong.

07-02-2013, 10:09 PM	#4
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 8,755	Re: 4 speed out and 3 speed in? Glenn is correct, you will need to change the bell housing. Bob

07-02-2013, 10:42 PM	#5
CarlG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 9,115	Re: 4 speed out and 3 speed in? That first gear on a 4-speed truck tranny makes a great parade gear. __________________ Alaskan A's Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska Model A Ford Club of America Model A Restorers Club Antique Automobile Club of America Mullins Owner's Club

07-03-2013, 05:14 AM	#6
stuar24 Junior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Louisa VA Posts: 9	Re: 4 speed out and 3 speed in? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks guys. I will try to post pictures soon.

07-03-2013, 05:27 AM	#7
stuar24 Junior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Louisa VA Posts: 9	Re: 4 speed out and 3 speed in? Do you know of any transmission/engine combos that would directly fit in my existing model a frame

07-03-2013, 07:36 AM	#8
Rowdy BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gothenburg Nebraska Just off I-80 Posts: 4,893	Re: 4 speed out and 3 speed in? Beings it is a pickup it should have had a 3 spd to begin with. Take care of the AA 4 spd bellousing as they bring around $125 if not cracked or have any chipped bolt holes. They are used by many to put T-5 transmissions in Model A's. Rod __________________ Do the RIGHT thing - Support the H.A.M.B. Alliance!!!!

07-03-2013, 11:26 AM	#10
Jordan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ft. Worth Posts: 1,006	Re: 4 speed out and 3 speed in? Are you taking out a model A 4 speed, or a 4 speed overdrive unit out of a more modern pickup? __________________ Cowtown A's

07-03-2013, 12:20 PM	#11
James Rogers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 3,104	Re: 4 speed out and 3 speed in? My question is, are you working with a Model A truck or an AA truck? There is a difference. __________________ http://www.model-a-ford-4bangers.com/

07-03-2013, 01:52 PM	#12
stuar24 Junior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Louisa VA Posts: 9	Re: 4 speed out and 3 speed in? Its the original 4 speed out of a 30AA

07-03-2013, 11:00 PM	#13
rollingsculpture Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Takoma park md Posts: 271	Re: 4 speed out and 3 speed in? so what ratio rear do you have ? the aa rear is diff than a car/truck __________________ Rust and roll will never die

07-04-2013, 12:23 AM	#14
Ron in Quincy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Quincy, CA. Posts: 1,708	Re: 4 speed out and 3 speed in? Change your bell housing to passenger car type; also change the u-joint housing to passenger car type. As said before, save the 4 speed bell housing, transmission and u-joint as people are looking for these parts and you may be able to recover some of your expense. Ron

07-04-2013, 12:45 AM	#15
modeleh Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Nanaimo BC Posts: 242	Re: 4 speed out and 3 speed in? I'm not sure if the intermediate shaft will still be the correct length. Is your AA 131wb or 157"?

07-04-2013, 07:05 AM	#18
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: 4 speed out and 3 speed in? If you go back to the 1st post it sounds like he has an A p/up with an AA 4speed tranny in it and wants to go back to a 3 speed. JMO Paul in CT

07-04-2013, 07:15 AM	#19
BRENT in 10-uh-C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern Tennessee Posts: 11,520	Re: 4 speed out and 3 speed in? There was an option where Ford supplied a regular Model-A chassis with a AA 4-speed transmission in lieu of a 3-speed. I actually purchased a chassis out in the panhandle of north Texas a decade or so ago. These were sorta popular with a farmer that wanted a slow gear to feed out of, --or as in the case with this chassis, there was a PTO and a shaft going out the back to power a belt pulley. Truthfully, the biggest value that is there is the AA bellhousing that folks like to use when converting to a S10 transmission. Otherwise there is plenty of these conversions still floating around to supply the demand. __________________ . BRENT in 10-uh-C . www.model-a-ford.com ...(...Finally Updated!! ) .

07-04-2013, 08:09 AM	#20
steammech50 Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: louisa va. Posts: 42	Re: 4 speed out and 3 speed in? Will the change from AA to A change the length of the drive shaft ?