The Ford Barn

91A-77B · 10-07-2015, 04:10 PM

Need adapter. Putting into '40 Ford chassis. Want to adapt Ford rear trans mount to LaSalle floorshift case, to retain torque tube drive. Anyone out there done this, or have leads as to where I can find adapter? Tried all the adapter companies, no one has one.
Also, info on assembly/disassembly of trans would be appreciated. Email me at [email protected].
Thanks, guys
Bill

Bruce Lancaster · 10-07-2015, 04:24 PM

There are adapters of this sort for sale frequently on the HAMB. I found 2 old magazine articles (one very good, one terrifyingly incompetent) on the torque tube adapting, and both have been posted on the HAMB, AND there have been several good tech articles on the trans itself in there as well, written by people with experience.

Ol' Ron · 10-07-2015, 10:40 PM

We made several of these back in the late 50's from a 2" block of aluminun, as the input shaft is very long. However, we were using open drive rear ends.

91A-77B · 10-08-2015, 10:22 AM

Thanks, Bruce. Not familiar with how to retrieve posts and tech articles you mention on the HAMB. Would appreciate some assistance, if you have the time. Many thanks.

91A-77B · 10-08-2015, 10:28 AM

Thanks, Ol' Ron. I'm going to measure difference between length of Ford trans and LaSalle. If LaS is longer, the 2" spacer plus extra LaS length may mean shortening input shaft so location of front engine mounts and rear trans mount can remain in the same chassis location.

alchemy · 10-08-2015, 10:45 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 91A-77B

.... location of front engine mounts and rear trans mount can remain in the same chassis location.

Not gonna happen. Unless you can shorten the input, you will need to move the rear trans mount back, and shorten your torquetube.

91A-77B · 10-08-2015, 10:56 AM

I agree. Shortening the input shaft would be the answer, if it can be shortened enough. Don't want to mess with the frame, and shortening the torque tube would be a lot more work than doing the input.

Seth Swoboda · 10-08-2015, 11:22 AM

What it the advantage of the Cadillac/LaSalle transmission? I'm too young to have any experience with the Cadillac LaSalle transmission. I am assuming that it is a stronger transmission able to hold up under more extreme driving conditions? My grandfather had a '40 LaSalle sedan but it was gone by the time I was born.

Ol' Ron · 10-08-2015, 02:32 PM

Very popular in the late 50's and early 60's behind blown Olds.

woodiejon · 10-08-2015, 03:23 PM

The Lasalle trans is about 3" longer than the ford. You can remove the rear tailstock, remove the rear output shaft. It has to be shortened & resplined & drill & tap for a ford u-joint. Machine a ford trans mount to fit & bolt to the trans. Your drive shaft will have to be cut too. There are some old hot rod mag, specs on this on the hamb.If you want I will find them & post.

rotorwrench · 10-08-2015, 03:29 PM

Those old boxes were about as close to bullet proof as you could get back in the day but they are still a 3-speed.

expavr · 10-08-2015, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth Swoboda

What it the advantage of the Cadillac/LaSalle transmission? I'm too young to have any experience with the Cadillac LaSalle transmission. I am assuming that it is a stronger transmission able to hold up under more extreme driving conditions? My grandfather had a '40 LaSalle sedan but it was gone by the time I was born.

I'm not sure there is any advantage to a Caddy LaSalle behind a flathead other than the WOW/nostalgia factor. Back in 1958 I ran a Caddy LaSalle behind a 354 CI Hemi in order to deal with the Hemi's torque (390 lbft) and HP (325). It was the only trans available at that time that I could find that would stand up to that level of performance and take a beating in the process. For our flatheads there are other less pricey ways to deal with that today.

Ol' Ron · 10-09-2015, 08:58 AM

I think the T-170 is probably the best bet here, nice floor shift and OD to boot. Can be converted to torque, but the torque nust be shortened. OR convert to opend drive which I think is the better option.

91A-77B · 10-09-2015, 03:21 PM

I'm building a period flattie. Nothing newer than what an old-school rodder would have had to work with in 1948. I have a 1938 McCulloch supercharger, and am doing what the boys were wrenching before the overheads came in '49. Building a 59-A. Remember, REAL hot rods don't have valve covers! They also don't have billet anything, 4-speeds, etc., etc.

91A-77B · 10-09-2015, 06:26 PM

wododie john, if you could retrieve those articles, I'd really appreciate it. By the way, I have a LaS trans that has been converted to an Olds short tailshaft, but that's an open-drive option, which isn't my first choice.
Thanks,
Bll

expavr · 10-10-2015, 01:02 AM

You might get some info regarding an adaptor from these folks.
http://www.egmcartech.com/store/Cadi...657605810.html
The other possibility is modifying a Hogshead to fit the Caddy LaSalle transmission using it as the adaptor along with reworking the input shaft. Its not likely that whichever way you go the use of the Caddy transmission will fit the OEM trans envelope on the 40 chassis which means reworking both the X member and the torque tube/driveshaft. FWIW there were a lot of flathead and OHV powered rods running around with a Ford toploader and LZ gears back in the day which is in keeping with your build idea. Unless you are planning to do some serious racing you will have significant $$$$ invested in the Cad LaSalle modification that might be better used elsewhere. JMO.

George/Maine · 10-10-2015, 09:24 AM

Its nice to do old school but the rear-ends are still old and tapered shafts could brake easy. Most people could care less with that trans.
What was done in the day was use a 39 or truck trans.
This is what I did on my 47 put a truck case and tube back./or just use a 39 floor shift.

Ol' Ron · 10-10-2015, 09:57 AM

The last Cad/ LaSal transmission I bought cost 75 bucks, and I thought that waz very expensive. So we went to Buicks they were cheaper.

91A-77B · 10-11-2015, 09:26 PM

Cad LaSalle trans is my choice for 2 main reasons; ratios and bulletproof synchros. Anyone who's had experience seeing "gold flecks" in their gear oil after a few hard flathead trans shifts, knows the weakness of the Ford synchros. Anyhow, guys, the LaS route is the one I'm going to follow. I appreciate all the advice, but that's not what I need. If you look at my first post, I need an adapter, and any tech info on the mods I need to make. Anyone with experience rebuilding one?

Ol' Ron · 10-11-2015, 11:18 PM

The cad/ LaSale trans had several problems as I recall The first was the pin in the shift lever, it broke quite easy when speed shifting. This also lead to the shift levers bending. There was a shop in BP CT that made "W0w" pins and shift levers. Also the old cad/LaSale syncros were useless in a high RPM engine as they locked up around 4k. Probably why the pins broke and the levers bent. The side shift boxes had the same gears so things didn't get any better. However the Blown drag cars of the day used them, before B&M began producing their beefed auto transmissions. I know this dates me, I broke allot of Sh*t

10-07-2015, 04:10 PM	#1
91A-77B Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Niagara-on-the-Lake Ontario Canada Posts: 118	'37 Cad/LaSalle trans to 59A or 8BA Need adapter. Putting into '40 Ford chassis. Want to adapt Ford rear trans mount to LaSalle floorshift case, to retain torque tube drive. Anyone out there done this, or have leads as to where I can find adapter? Tried all the adapter companies, no one has one. Also, info on assembly/disassembly of trans would be appreciated. Email me at [email protected]. Thanks, guys Bill

10-07-2015, 04:24 PM	#2
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: '37 Cad/LaSalle trans to 59A or 8BA There are adapters of this sort for sale frequently on the HAMB. I found 2 old magazine articles (one very good, one terrifyingly incompetent) on the torque tube adapting, and both have been posted on the HAMB, AND there have been several good tech articles on the trans itself in there as well, written by people with experience.

10-07-2015, 10:40 PM	#3
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,857	Re: '37 Cad/LaSalle trans to 59A or 8BA We made several of these back in the late 50's from a 2" block of aluminun, as the input shaft is very long. However, we were using open drive rear ends.

10-08-2015, 10:22 AM	#4
91A-77B Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Niagara-on-the-Lake Ontario Canada Posts: 118	Re: '37 Cad/LaSalle trans to 59A or 8BA Thanks, Bruce. Not familiar with how to retrieve posts and tech articles you mention on the HAMB. Would appreciate some assistance, if you have the time. Many thanks.

10-08-2015, 10:28 AM	#5
91A-77B Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Niagara-on-the-Lake Ontario Canada Posts: 118	Re: '37 Cad/LaSalle trans to 59A or 8BA Thanks, Ol' Ron. I'm going to measure difference between length of Ford trans and LaSalle. If LaS is longer, the 2" spacer plus extra LaS length may mean shortening input shaft so location of front engine mounts and rear trans mount can remain in the same chassis location.

10-08-2015, 10:56 AM	#7
91A-77B Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Niagara-on-the-Lake Ontario Canada Posts: 118	Re: '37 Cad/LaSalle trans to 59A or 8BA I agree. Shortening the input shaft would be the answer, if it can be shortened enough. Don't want to mess with the frame, and shortening the torque tube would be a lot more work than doing the input.

10-08-2015, 11:22 AM	#8
Seth Swoboda Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 3,787	Re: '37 Cad/LaSalle trans to 59A or 8BA What it the advantage of the Cadillac/LaSalle transmission? I'm too young to have any experience with the Cadillac LaSalle transmission. I am assuming that it is a stronger transmission able to hold up under more extreme driving conditions? My grandfather had a '40 LaSalle sedan but it was gone by the time I was born.

10-08-2015, 02:32 PM	#9
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,857	Re: '37 Cad/LaSalle trans to 59A or 8BA Very popular in the late 50's and early 60's behind blown Olds.

10-08-2015, 03:23 PM	#10
woodiejon Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 26	Re: '37 Cad/LaSalle trans to 59A or 8BA The Lasalle trans is about 3" longer than the ford. You can remove the rear tailstock, remove the rear output shaft. It has to be shortened & resplined & drill & tap for a ford u-joint. Machine a ford trans mount to fit & bolt to the trans. Your drive shaft will have to be cut too. There are some old hot rod mag, specs on this on the hamb.If you want I will find them & post.

10-08-2015, 03:29 PM	#11
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,425	Re: '37 Cad/LaSalle trans to 59A or 8BA Those old boxes were about as close to bullet proof as you could get back in the day but they are still a 3-speed.

10-09-2015, 08:58 AM	#13
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,857	Re: '37 Cad/LaSalle trans to 59A or 8BA I think the T-170 is probably the best bet here, nice floor shift and OD to boot. Can be converted to torque, but the torque nust be shortened. OR convert to opend drive which I think is the better option.

10-09-2015, 03:21 PM	#14
91A-77B Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Niagara-on-the-Lake Ontario Canada Posts: 118	Re: '37 Cad/LaSalle trans to 59A or 8BA I'm building a period flattie. Nothing newer than what an old-school rodder would have had to work with in 1948. I have a 1938 McCulloch supercharger, and am doing what the boys were wrenching before the overheads came in '49. Building a 59-A. Remember, REAL hot rods don't have valve covers! They also don't have billet anything, 4-speeds, etc., etc.

10-09-2015, 06:26 PM	#15
91A-77B Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Niagara-on-the-Lake Ontario Canada Posts: 118	Re: '37 Cad/LaSalle trans to 59A or 8BA wododie john, if you could retrieve those articles, I'd really appreciate it. By the way, I have a LaS trans that has been converted to an Olds short tailshaft, but that's an open-drive option, which isn't my first choice. Thanks, Bll

10-10-2015, 01:02 AM	#16
expavr Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hansville, WA Posts: 776	Re: '37 Cad/LaSalle trans to 59A or 8BA You might get some info regarding an adaptor from these folks. http://www.egmcartech.com/store/Cadi...657605810.html The other possibility is modifying a Hogshead to fit the Caddy LaSalle transmission using it as the adaptor along with reworking the input shaft. Its not likely that whichever way you go the use of the Caddy transmission will fit the OEM trans envelope on the 40 chassis which means reworking both the X member and the torque tube/driveshaft. FWIW there were a lot of flathead and OHV powered rods running around with a Ford toploader and LZ gears back in the day which is in keeping with your build idea. Unless you are planning to do some serious racing you will have significant $$$$ invested in the Cad LaSalle modification that might be better used elsewhere. JMO.

10-10-2015, 09:24 AM	#17
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	Re: '37 Cad/LaSalle trans to 59A or 8BA Its nice to do old school but the rear-ends are still old and tapered shafts could brake easy. Most people could care less with that trans. What was done in the day was use a 39 or truck trans. This is what I did on my 47 put a truck case and tube back./or just use a 39 floor shift.

10-10-2015, 09:57 AM	#18
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,857	Re: '37 Cad/LaSalle trans to 59A or 8BA The last Cad/ LaSal transmission I bought cost 75 bucks, and I thought that waz very expensive. So we went to Buicks they were cheaper.

10-11-2015, 09:26 PM	#19
91A-77B Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Niagara-on-the-Lake Ontario Canada Posts: 118	Re: '37 Cad/LaSalle trans to 59A or 8BA Cad LaSalle trans is my choice for 2 main reasons; ratios and bulletproof synchros. Anyone who's had experience seeing "gold flecks" in their gear oil after a few hard flathead trans shifts, knows the weakness of the Ford synchros. Anyhow, guys, the LaS route is the one I'm going to follow. I appreciate all the advice, but that's not what I need. If you look at my first post, I need an adapter, and any tech info on the mods I need to make. Anyone with experience rebuilding one?

10-11-2015, 11:18 PM	#20
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,857	Re: '37 Cad/LaSalle trans to 59A or 8BA The cad/ LaSale trans had several problems as I recall The first was the pin in the shift lever, it broke quite easy when speed shifting. This also lead to the shift levers bending. There was a shop in BP CT that made "W0w" pins and shift levers. Also the old cad/LaSale syncros were useless in a high RPM engine as they locked up around 4k. Probably why the pins broke and the levers bent. The side shift boxes had the same gears so things didn't get any better. However the Blown drag cars of the day used them, before B&M began producing their beefed auto transmissions. I know this dates me, I broke allot of Sh*t