The Ford Barn

darrenct83 · 05-09-2010, 06:54 PM

I need a little help from a few of you old timers. I'm a certified auto tech, but I was born in to the fuel injection era so working on my old toy is a whole new ball game to me. I recently bought a 1946 1-1/2 ton Ford with a 226 straight six. I put a little marvel down the cylinders with some brake work, and I was able to bring the old beast back to life. The problem is that I'm so young I don't even know how the thing is supposed to drive. So I have a few questions.

Vibration:
When I rev the engine up the whole truck vibrates. I can only describe it as how an out of balance driveline feels. It vibrates any time the engine is revved up.(in or out of gear, clutch in or out.) Is this normal of these old engines? Are they just not balanced because they don't have to rev high at all? OR do I have something out of balance that needs attention?

Double Clutching:
I've been taught how to double clutch, and slowly but surely I'm getting used to it. Sometimes though it will always grind. Even at a complete stop going in to gear with the clutch in it will grind(Not every time though). Is this normal of old transmissions? OR do I have other problems?

Split rear end:
I try to engage the split rear end when I go above 30 mph. Sometimes while cruising with it engaged it just pops out and I can't get it to go back in. What's the trick? I get nervous every time I use the splitter now. Are there things I need to know about how to use it? Also: how is the speedometer reading affected by use of the splitter?

Thanks in advance for any help. If you want to see pictures of the truck, and read about some of the work I've done to it you can read my blog at:
http://darren.thiesen.us/my-first-farm-truck/

Brendan · 05-09-2010, 07:26 PM

i wonder if your clutch is messed up, it should not grind into gear when you are not moving, i had a car that had a bad vibration, i replaced the clutch and pressure plate and the vibration settled down quite a bit, good luck , Brendan

Stewart · 05-09-2010, 10:18 PM

I have a 47 Mercury 1-1/2 ton flat head V8. Shifting gears takes some time to learn. Dificult to get in 2nd at a stop is normal, you must be in exactly right position or the gears will grind. Down shifting is also an art. Engine speed must match the forward speed in the gear selected. Just practice it will come. Started working on these trucks when the were new so have sorrt of got used to their habits good and bad.
Have fun

jimTN · 05-10-2010, 06:26 AM

Shifting that transmission will take practice. There is no "splitter" in a 46 1 1/2 ton. What you have is an Eaton two speed. It should have a instruction tag on the dash or headerpanel that gives instructions. If it is poping out, you have a vacuum leak either in the diaphram on the rear end, one of the hoses or one of the hose connections. Grab each connection and see if it will move, if so it will leak and cause the rear end to jump out of gear.

darrenct83 · 05-10-2010, 10:01 AM

I've read the instruction tag, and I can get it to go in and out OK. My big concern is when it pops out. I will check for vacuum leaks in the line and diaphram. I have access to an automotive smoke machine, and it can find any vacuum leaks fast. How does the rear end stay in high gear when the engine is under load and there is no vacuum?

Mick/mo · 05-10-2010, 11:17 AM

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Maybe I shouldn't even respond to this as I'm not sure ,but I think there is a shifting fork that has a spring that flops over center when it's in either hi or low range. It takes a small amount of force to pull it out of gear.Don't bet to many beers on this . lol

F6Forrest · 05-10-2010, 11:32 AM

Check the vacuum to the speedo if it applies to yours.
Mine will "pop" out of high because of leaks,
downshifting is a matter of blipbing the throttle so it doesn't grind.

Double clutching is a learned art, requires a lot of practice.
Enjoy, the big ones are a hoot!

boman5 · 05-10-2010, 11:41 AM

Eaton 2 speeds are spring loaded to low and air/vacuum to high. the sliding clutch is torque locked into the high speed clutch plate in high range. the sliding clutch teeth may just be worn out causing your slipout.

darrenct83 · 05-10-2010, 08:55 PM

Thanks for the info on the rear end. Anyone have any thoughts about the engine vibration? I'm hoping it's normal for the old monster to vibrate at "higher" RPMs, but I'd like to hear it from someone who knows these old trucks better than me.

Henry/Kokomo · 05-10-2010, 09:15 PM

Is it possible there is a vacuum leak causing the engine to miss and vibrate? Might be related to the 2 speed slipping out of gear? I've driven a number of the bigger trucks in years past and never noticed a severe vibration at speed. I'm sure there are others on here with more experience. Maybe they'll weigh in on this topic. With practice, you can shift the truck, up and down, with little or no use of the clutch except when stopping. Good Luck

Kurt in NJ · 05-11-2010, 01:31 AM

The rear can drop out if there is a vacuum leak (look at the speedo changer diaphram), the trans is spur gears, no syncros, it is important to have thick enough oil in there , I used to use 140 weight, you will clash them sometimes, with practice you will get better.
I used to have a 46 V8 truck with the 2 speed rear for Hershey, and other flea markets that we sold at, I put in a 49 Merc engine, it was a miracle, could climb any hill --and the wipers stayed working (vac pump on the fuel pump)---it also had the heavy grille guard --that and the dual straight pipes would keep most intersections cleared, and slow cars in the right lane usually moved over whern they looked in the mirror.

05-09-2010, 06:54 PM	#1
darrenct83 Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coeur d'Alene, ID Posts: 29	A few questions about my '46 truck I need a little help from a few of you old timers. I'm a certified auto tech, but I was born in to the fuel injection era so working on my old toy is a whole new ball game to me. I recently bought a 1946 1-1/2 ton Ford with a 226 straight six. I put a little marvel down the cylinders with some brake work, and I was able to bring the old beast back to life. The problem is that I'm so young I don't even know how the thing is supposed to drive. So I have a few questions. Vibration: When I rev the engine up the whole truck vibrates. I can only describe it as how an out of balance driveline feels. It vibrates any time the engine is revved up.(in or out of gear, clutch in or out.) Is this normal of these old engines? Are they just not balanced because they don't have to rev high at all? OR do I have something out of balance that needs attention? Double Clutching: I've been taught how to double clutch, and slowly but surely I'm getting used to it. Sometimes though it will always grind. Even at a complete stop going in to gear with the clutch in it will grind(Not every time though). Is this normal of old transmissions? OR do I have other problems? Split rear end: I try to engage the split rear end when I go above 30 mph. Sometimes while cruising with it engaged it just pops out and I can't get it to go back in. What's the trick? I get nervous every time I use the splitter now. Are there things I need to know about how to use it? Also: how is the speedometer reading affected by use of the splitter? Thanks in advance for any help. If you want to see pictures of the truck, and read about some of the work I've done to it you can read my blog at: http://darren.thiesen.us/my-first-farm-truck/

05-09-2010, 07:26 PM	#2
Brendan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: At my kitchen table in Santa Rosa, Ca Posts: 2,903	Re: A few questions about my '46 truck i wonder if your clutch is messed up, it should not grind into gear when you are not moving, i had a car that had a bad vibration, i replaced the clutch and pressure plate and the vibration settled down quite a bit, good luck , Brendan

05-09-2010, 10:18 PM	#3
Stewart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Manitoba Canada Posts: 274	Re: A few questions about my '46 truck I have a 47 Mercury 1-1/2 ton flat head V8. Shifting gears takes some time to learn. Dificult to get in 2nd at a stop is normal, you must be in exactly right position or the gears will grind. Down shifting is also an art. Engine speed must match the forward speed in the gear selected. Just practice it will come. Started working on these trucks when the were new so have sorrt of got used to their habits good and bad. Have fun

05-10-2010, 06:26 AM	#4
jimTN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Powell, TN Posts: 2,509	Re: A few questions about my '46 truck Shifting that transmission will take practice. There is no "splitter" in a 46 1 1/2 ton. What you have is an Eaton two speed. It should have a instruction tag on the dash or headerpanel that gives instructions. If it is poping out, you have a vacuum leak either in the diaphram on the rear end, one of the hoses or one of the hose connections. Grab each connection and see if it will move, if so it will leak and cause the rear end to jump out of gear.

05-10-2010, 10:01 AM	#5
darrenct83 Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coeur d'Alene, ID Posts: 29	Re: A few questions about my '46 truck I've read the instruction tag, and I can get it to go in and out OK. My big concern is when it pops out. I will check for vacuum leaks in the line and diaphram. I have access to an automotive smoke machine, and it can find any vacuum leaks fast. How does the rear end stay in high gear when the engine is under load and there is no vacuum?

05-10-2010, 11:17 AM	#6
Mick/mo Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rock Port Mo. Posts: 65	Re: A few questions about my '46 truck Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Maybe I shouldn't even respond to this as I'm not sure ,but I think there is a shifting fork that has a spring that flops over center when it's in either hi or low range. It takes a small amount of force to pull it out of gear.Don't bet to many beers on this . lol

05-10-2010, 11:41 AM	#8
boman5 Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 7	Re: A few questions about my '46 truck Eaton 2 speeds are spring loaded to low and air/vacuum to high. the sliding clutch is torque locked into the high speed clutch plate in high range. the sliding clutch teeth may just be worn out causing your slipout.

05-10-2010, 08:55 PM	#9
darrenct83 Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coeur d'Alene, ID Posts: 29	Re: A few questions about my '46 truck Thanks for the info on the rear end. Anyone have any thoughts about the engine vibration? I'm hoping it's normal for the old monster to vibrate at "higher" RPMs, but I'd like to hear it from someone who knows these old trucks better than me.

05-10-2010, 09:15 PM	#10
Henry/Kokomo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kokomo, Indiana Posts: 1,731	Re: A few questions about my '46 truck Is it possible there is a vacuum leak causing the engine to miss and vibrate? Might be related to the 2 speed slipping out of gear? I've driven a number of the bigger trucks in years past and never noticed a severe vibration at speed. I'm sure there are others on here with more experience. Maybe they'll weigh in on this topic. With practice, you can shift the truck, up and down, with little or no use of the clutch except when stopping. Good Luck

05-11-2010, 01:31 AM	#11
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,158	Re: A few questions about my '46 truck The rear can drop out if there is a vacuum leak (look at the speedo changer diaphram), the trans is spur gears, no syncros, it is important to have thick enough oil in there , I used to use 140 weight, you will clash them sometimes, with practice you will get better. I used to have a 46 V8 truck with the 2 speed rear for Hershey, and other flea markets that we sold at, I put in a 49 Merc engine, it was a miracle, could climb any hill --and the wipers stayed working (vac pump on the fuel pump)---it also had the heavy grille guard --that and the dual straight pipes would keep most intersections cleared, and slow cars in the right lane usually moved over whern they looked in the mirror.