The Ford Barn

DMontague · 02-27-2018, 05:49 PM

Hey guys, I'm working on my 28 AA and I'm thinking about putting a Mitchell it it. I was wondering if anyone else has done that and how they like it?
Thank you!

Synchro909 · 02-27-2018, 06:33 PM

The local spare parts vendor here has done that. He drives that truck to swap meets all over the country (and it's a big country!)

emf · 02-28-2018, 08:48 AM

I have a 28 AA with the 3 speed transmission and 5:1 rear. Before the Mitchell, I could do 25 mph, but the engine was screaming... I installed a 36% Mitchell and love it. I now can do 45-50 on the open road. I have two problems with it, My 20 mph brakes need some time to stop, and there are more bugs in my teeth. It's an open cab...

Frank

DMontague · 02-28-2018, 12:27 PM

That's a beautiful truck!! How hard was it to install? I'm thinking about getting the 36 % over. Currently the truck tops out around 35 mph
David

emf · 02-28-2018, 05:42 PM

It was much easier than I thought. I pulled the entire rear end out radius rods and all, left the springs on the frame. The new gear splitter comes with new torque tubes, front and rear, new drive shafts, and really everything you need. The only thing I did not like was the shifter linkage. They prefer to use a cable that attaches to the main transmission shift lever, but I did not like the looks of it. I had an additional problem of a large water pump being right in the way of the linkage. I chose to connect the Mitchell shifter to the gear box with a rod and clevis set-up and it works quite well.

Frank

1crosscut · 02-28-2018, 09:34 PM

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Frank are you using the worm drive rear end or something different?

emf · 02-28-2018, 10:06 PM

5:1 ratio worm drive...

Tom Wesenberg · 03-01-2018, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emf

I have a 28 AA with the 3 speed transmission and 5:1 rear. Before the Mitchell, I could do 25 mph, but the engine was screaming... I installed a 36% Mitchell and love it. I now can do 45-50 on the open road. I have two problems with it, My 20 mph brakes need some time to stop, and there are more bugs in my teeth. It's an open cab...

Frank

The large AA brakes should stop you on a dime. The AA I worked on could stop fast enough to throw you through the windshield.

denniskliesen · 03-01-2018, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emf

I have a 28 AA with the 3 speed transmission and 5:1 rear. Before the Mitchell, I could do 25 mph, but the engine was screaming... I installed a 36% Mitchell and love it. I now can do 45-50 on the open road. I have two problems with it, My 20 mph brakes need some time to stop, and there are more bugs in my teeth. It's an open cab...

Frank

How much does that fire truck loaded weigh? Going 50 with a full load I can imagine how difficult it is to stop.

emf · 03-01-2018, 07:59 AM

The brakes may need further adjustment. I had them just right before the change, but now not sure. I'm going to go over them again to try for improvement. I need to get the truck weighed for sure. As soon as the weather breaks, first priority....

SeaSlugs · 03-01-2018, 09:19 AM

Firetruck has the same brakes as other AA's and they were designed to carry 1.5 tons...thus be able to reasonably stop 1.5 tons so unloaded it should do as tom said and put you into the windshield haha.

02-27-2018, 05:49 PM	#1
DMontague Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 9	Mitchell in a 1928 AA Hey guys, I'm working on my 28 AA and I'm thinking about putting a Mitchell it it. I was wondering if anyone else has done that and how they like it? Thank you!

02-27-2018, 06:33 PM	#2
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Mitchell in a 1928 AA The local spare parts vendor here has done that. He drives that truck to swap meets all over the country (and it's a big country!) __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

02-28-2018, 12:27 PM	#4
DMontague Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 9	Re: Mitchell in a 1928 AA That's a beautiful truck!! How hard was it to install? I'm thinking about getting the 36 % over. Currently the truck tops out around 35 mph David

02-28-2018, 05:42 PM	#5
emf Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Hudson, NY Posts: 511	Re: Mitchell in a 1928 AA It was much easier than I thought. I pulled the entire rear end out radius rods and all, left the springs on the frame. The new gear splitter comes with new torque tubes, front and rear, new drive shafts, and really everything you need. The only thing I did not like was the shifter linkage. They prefer to use a cable that attaches to the main transmission shift lever, but I did not like the looks of it. I had an additional problem of a large water pump being right in the way of the linkage. I chose to connect the Mitchell shifter to the gear box with a rod and clevis set-up and it works quite well. Frank

02-28-2018, 09:34 PM	#6
1crosscut Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 1,907	Re: Mitchell in a 1928 AA Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Frank are you using the worm drive rear end or something different? __________________ Dave / Lincoln Nebraska

02-28-2018, 10:06 PM	#7
emf Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Hudson, NY Posts: 511	Re: Mitchell in a 1928 AA 5:1 ratio worm drive...

03-01-2018, 07:59 AM	#10
emf Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Hudson, NY Posts: 511	Re: Mitchell in a 1928 AA The brakes may need further adjustment. I had them just right before the change, but now not sure. I'm going to go over them again to try for improvement. I need to get the truck weighed for sure. As soon as the weather breaks, first priority....

03-01-2018, 09:19 AM	#11
SeaSlugs Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central, IL Posts: 3,968	Re: Mitchell in a 1928 AA Firetruck has the same brakes as other AA's and they were designed to carry 1.5 tons...thus be able to reasonably stop 1.5 tons so unloaded it should do as tom said and put you into the windshield haha. __________________ 1929 Model AA - Need long splash aprons!