The Ford Barn

Brentwood Bob · 11-27-2011, 02:23 PM

Thought someone on this forum mentioned a conversion made from a truck high/low box for use as an overdrive. Could that be posted? Send me a PM with the contact info. for the guy who makes them up. Thanks, Bob.

CarlG · 11-27-2011, 06:17 PM

An article in the N-D'11 Restorer, page 24 & following describes a car with one of these installed. The article says that it was modified by John Laaker, but not much more than that.

Doug in Maryland · 11-27-2011, 07:18 PM

I saw that too and it piqued my interest! Looks like it would be a fun, period appearing way to have an overdrive in an AA.

Brentwood Bob · 11-27-2011, 08:40 PM

anybody know John Laaker. I will check the mafca roster. thought i saw this on fordbarn. senior moment again. bob

SteveB31 · 11-27-2011, 09:11 PM

John Laaker is a good friend of mine-known him for 30 years. He lives in Longmont,CO. He is a 30+ year Mafca member, and has built several of those overdrives including the one in that car (in the latest Restorer). These underdrives turned into overdrives work pretty well, but a bit noisy, as they are a planetery gear transmission, turned backwards. They are a good low cost overdrive alternative. I have driven them, but never owned one.
Steve Becker
Bert's Model A Center

Brentwood Bob · 11-28-2011, 03:25 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

pm sent. Bob

Chris Haynes · 11-29-2011, 01:33 AM

They are not High Low. They are direct drive and underdrive. I would think a Mitchell Gear Splitter would be a much better idea.

CarlG · 11-29-2011, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Haynes

They are not High Low. They are direct drive and underdrive...

The article I referred to in post #2 indicated that this device was turned around 180 degrees, so that it then became direct drive and "overdrive".

sqweaka · 03-12-2012, 05:04 PM

can anyone post more info on running a AA underdrive, run reversed to make it an overdrive?

spdway1 · 03-12-2012, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Haynes

They are not High Low. They are direct drive and underdrive. I would think a Mitchell Gear Splitter would be a much better idea.

Sloooo Dooooown! Read Everything! LOL

I ALSO would think a Mitchell Gear Splitter would be a much better idea.

columbiA · 03-12-2012, 08:19 PM

For an AA it may be practical to turn the Dual-High trans around & have an overdrive as they are so slow,even with the so called high-speed gears.But for an A,I dont think its very practical as they are a heavy unit & would be noisy in OD. OMO.

sqweaka · 03-13-2012, 05:24 PM

im not to worried about the noise, has anyone got any first hand info on the conversion?

Chris Haynes · 03-13-2012, 05:57 PM

The original post read;
"Thought someone on this forum mentioned a conversion made from a truck high/low box for use as an overdrive."
I simply stated "They are not High Low. They are direct drive and underdrive." Is that not correct?

SteveB31 · 03-13-2012, 09:39 PM

They are turned around backwards to become an overdrive, although Ford installed them as an underdrive in the 1928-1929 AA trucks. They do work , they are a bit noisy, but given the choice, I would have a Mitchell. Those that buy them form John Laaker, generally buy them simply because they cost much less then the Mitchell. I have driven several Model A's with them installed, and , if it were my car, i would save my $$ and buy a Mitchell.

Brian T · 03-13-2012, 10:39 PM

I cant see that you could turn a high-low unit around backwards in a 29 AA where you could really use one,as the brake cross shaft passes over the skinny end of the casing, am I missing something?

sturgis 39 · 03-13-2012, 11:05 PM

I have been thinking about this conversion for a long time. I would be interested in trying one.

vonpahrkur · 08-22-2018, 12:24 PM

I have one of the boxes if you wanted to try converting it yourself. I want $435 for it.

Bob C · 08-22-2018, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vonpahrkur

I have one of the boxes if you wanted to try converting it yourself. I want $435 for it.

There's an add in the swap section for three of them for $60 for all
three and no takers.

SeaSlugs · 08-22-2018, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob C

There's an add in the swap section for three of them for $60 for all
three and no takers.

Yup - they are rather stout things that i dont belive ever got used a whole lot besides the 1:1 straight thru and not alot of demand for em. Ive paid at most $40 for one.

I have heard they can be used as an overdrive but yes are noisy and run hot after awhile as previously mentioned are planetary gears being run backwards.

FYI the planetary gears have no bearings - just an oil bath and an oil hole so you can see how they would heat up over time if driven backwards.

11-27-2011, 02:23 PM	#1
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,251	Overdrive from an AA truck hi-lo box Thought someone on this forum mentioned a conversion made from a truck high/low box for use as an overdrive. Could that be posted? Send me a PM with the contact info. for the guy who makes them up. Thanks, Bob.

11-27-2011, 07:18 PM	#3
Doug in Maryland Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 100	Re: Overdrive from an AA truck hi-lo box I saw that too and it piqued my interest! Looks like it would be a fun, period appearing way to have an overdrive in an AA.

11-27-2011, 08:40 PM	#4
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,251	Re: Overdrive from an AA truck hi-lo box anybody know John Laaker. I will check the mafca roster. thought i saw this on fordbarn. senior moment again. bob

11-27-2011, 09:11 PM	#5
SteveB31 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Englewood, Colorado Posts: 1,372	Re: Overdrive from an AA truck hi-lo box John Laaker is a good friend of mine-known him for 30 years. He lives in Longmont,CO. He is a 30+ year Mafca member, and has built several of those overdrives including the one in that car (in the latest Restorer). These underdrives turned into overdrives work pretty well, but a bit noisy, as they are a planetery gear transmission, turned backwards. They are a good low cost overdrive alternative. I have driven them, but never owned one. Steve Becker Bert's Model A Center

11-28-2011, 03:25 PM	#6
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,251	Re: Overdrive from an AA truck hi-lo box Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) pm sent. Bob

11-27-2011, 06:17 PM	#2
CarlG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 9,116	Re: Overdrive from an AA truck hi-lo box An article in the N-D'11 Restorer, page 24 & following describes a car with one of these installed. The article says that it was modified by John Laaker, but not much more than that.

11-29-2011, 01:33 AM	#7
Chris Haynes Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camarillo, CA and Pine Grove, CA Posts: 2,836	Re: Overdrive from an AA truck hi-lo box They are not High Low. They are direct drive and underdrive. I would think a Mitchell Gear Splitter would be a much better idea. __________________ 1921 Runabout 1930 Tudor Early 1930 AA Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?

03-12-2012, 05:04 PM	#9
sqweaka Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: northumberland, UK Posts: 2	Re: Overdrive from an AA truck hi-lo box can anyone post more info on running a AA underdrive, run reversed to make it an overdrive?

03-12-2012, 08:19 PM	#11
columbiA Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,746	Re: Overdrive from an AA truck hi-lo box For an AA it may be practical to turn the Dual-High trans around & have an overdrive as they are so slow,even with the so called high-speed gears.But for an A,I dont think its very practical as they are a heavy unit & would be noisy in OD. OMO.

03-13-2012, 05:24 PM	#12
sqweaka Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: northumberland, UK Posts: 2	Re: Overdrive from an AA truck hi-lo box im not to worried about the noise, has anyone got any first hand info on the conversion?

03-13-2012, 05:57 PM	#13
Chris Haynes Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camarillo, CA and Pine Grove, CA Posts: 2,836	Re: Overdrive from an AA truck hi-lo box The original post read; "Thought someone on this forum mentioned a conversion made from a truck high/low box for use as an overdrive." I simply stated "They are not High Low. They are direct drive and underdrive." Is that not correct? __________________ 1921 Runabout 1930 Tudor Early 1930 AA Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?

03-13-2012, 09:39 PM	#14
SteveB31 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Englewood, Colorado Posts: 1,372	Re: Overdrive from an AA truck hi-lo box They are turned around backwards to become an overdrive, although Ford installed them as an underdrive in the 1928-1929 AA trucks. They do work , they are a bit noisy, but given the choice, I would have a Mitchell. Those that buy them form John Laaker, generally buy them simply because they cost much less then the Mitchell. I have driven several Model A's with them installed, and , if it were my car, i would save my $$ and buy a Mitchell.

03-13-2012, 10:39 PM	#15
Brian T Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: San Diego,Ca Posts: 1,377	Re: Overdrive from an AA truck hi-lo box I cant see that you could turn a high-low unit around backwards in a 29 AA where you could really use one,as the brake cross shaft passes over the skinny end of the casing, am I missing something?

03-13-2012, 11:05 PM	#16
sturgis 39 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lead. South Dakota Posts: 963	Re: Overdrive from an AA truck hi-lo box I have been thinking about this conversion for a long time. I would be interested in trying one. __________________ IF IT CAN NOT BE FIXED WITH BLASTING WIRE, JB WELD OR DUCT TAPE ---IT CAN NOT BE FIXED Do not get me started on the stupidity of ethanol. I think one of the monitors is from Iowa and he will delete the thread.

08-22-2018, 12:24 PM	#17
vonpahrkur Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 480	Re: Overdrive from an AA truck hi-lo box I have one of the boxes if you wanted to try converting it yourself. I want $435 for it. __________________ Looking for original 1932 3-window coupe parts to complete my project. Also looking for 1936 ford roadster body /parts. Lots of 1941 Mercury convertible parts for sale.