Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-06-2010, 02:57 PM   #1
John LaVoy
Senior Member
 
John LaVoy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rocklin, CA
Posts: 1,219
Default Open driveline on Model A

One time at the North West regional I saw a fellow selling kits to convert the Model A to an open driveline. Does anyone know his name?

Thanks,

John
John LaVoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-06-2010, 03:00 PM   #2
Chris Haynes
Senior Member
 
Chris Haynes's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Camarillo, CA and Pine Grove, CA
Posts: 2,830
Default Re: Open driveline on Model A

More importantly why?
__________________
1921 Runabout
1930 Tudor
Early 1930 AA
Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?
Chris Haynes is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 11-06-2010, 03:31 PM   #3
John LaVoy
Senior Member
 
John LaVoy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rocklin, CA
Posts: 1,219
Default Re: Open driveline on Model A

Why not? I plan on using an automatic transmission and it will make the installation easier.
John LaVoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-06-2010, 03:45 PM   #4
Chris Haynes
Senior Member
 
Chris Haynes's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Camarillo, CA and Pine Grove, CA
Posts: 2,830
Default Re: Open driveline on Model A

Perhaps a question that should be asked in the Hot Rod section.
__________________
1921 Runabout
1930 Tudor
Early 1930 AA
Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?
Chris Haynes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-06-2010, 04:05 PM   #5
john in illinois
Senior Member
 
john in illinois's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,181
Default Re: Open driveline on Model A

The conversion to a 5 speed Muncie transmission requires an open driveline.

The people that build the kits might be able to help with just the drive line.

LINKS http://munciekokomo.citysearch.com/p...torations.html


http://lainefamily.com/ModelAFiles/ModelAT5.htm
john in illinois is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2010, 06:57 AM   #6
brokenspoke
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Anderson, Texas
Posts: 274
Default Re: Open driveline on Model A

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by john in illinois View Post
The conversion to a 5 speed Muncie transmission requires an open driveline.

The people that build the kits might be able to help with just the drive line.

LINKS http://munciekokomo.citysearch.com/p...torations.html


http://lainefamily.com/ModelAFiles/ModelAT5.htm
No it doesent....I'm adding a 5 speed and keeping the torque tube
brokenspoke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-07-2010, 07:02 AM   #7
James Rogers
Senior Member
 
James Rogers's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Asheville,NC
Posts: 3,104
Default Re: Open driveline on Model A

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Haynes View Post
Perhaps a question that should be asked in the Hot Rod section.
I have seen this many times before. Someone asks a question about a mod that many are interested in and another poster tries to direct him/her to the hot rod board like they are in the wrong place. I wonder why this is when not a soul even mentioned the hot rod board when this string came up, http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16638 .

Kind of a one sided way of looking at things. I don't know why some are singled out to be berated and pushed toward the hot rod board and some are ignored when they are doing something that is obviously hot rod related.

Comments?
James Rogers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2010, 07:26 AM   #8
PeteVS
Senior Member
 
PeteVS's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: FP, NJ
Posts: 2,769
Default Re: Open driveline on Model A

Quote:
Originally Posted by James Rogers View Post
I have seen this many times before. Someone asks a question about a mod that many are interested in and another poster tries to direct him/her to the hot rod board like they are in the wrong place. I wonder why this is when not a soul even mentioned the hot rod board when this string came up, http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16638 .

Kind of a one sided way of looking at things. I don't know why some are singled out to be berated and pushed toward the hot rod board and some are ignored when they are doing something that is obviously hot rod related.

Comments?
I'm working on a Model A based traditional hot rod. (I'm not molesting a restorable car- look at my avatar picture.) I generally ignore this board 'cause I have been made to feel not welcome. The Early V8 group is somewhat more forgiving and many would respond to putting an open driveline in an A. (By the way, is that an A rear end you want to modify? If so, you might want to consider going to a rear with at straddle mounted pinion.)
__________________
Don't never get rid of nuthin!
PeteVS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2010, 11:00 AM   #9
dan
Senior Member
 
dan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: McPherson, KS
Posts: 197
Default Re: Open driveline on Model A

Quote:
Originally Posted by James Rogers View Post
I have seen this many times before. Someone asks a question about a mod that many are interested in and another poster tries to direct him/her to the hot rod board like they are in the wrong place.
...
Comments?
Giving fellow barners the benefit of the doubt, I ascribe it not to some sort of "orginal A snobbery" but to a genuine spirit of helpfulness.

Let's face it, there's a higher likelihood that your post will be seen by someone who has made this type of change on the "rod" side of things than here. That's because a lot of rodders make changes like this when switching over to a different motor, transmission and rear end--so possibly the majority of the members of those boards have something relevant to say. On this particular forum, I'd guess that this type of modification has been done by a very small percentage of members.

That's not to say that these types of questions can't/shouldn't be asked here, just that you're more likely to get useful information from the forums where more folks have first-hand knowledge.

But that's just my rose-colored-glasses view.
dan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2010, 11:37 AM   #10
JoeWay
Senior Member
 
JoeWay's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Quincy CA
Posts: 752
Default Re: Open driveline on Model A

Quote:
Originally Posted by Earle View Post
...And, "...original Model A wishbones were a little weak" (?). I don't recall a rash of rear wishbone failures in the literature or on this site. Do they fail under "normal" driving conditions or when abused in some way? What's the "failure mode"?...Earle
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo View Post
Earle: re: "weak wishbones". If splitting and mounting to frame and putting MUCH more HP to the drive train is what I was referring to. Sounds like john is just trying to "refine" "orig" A with an automatic.
Paul in CT
The OE wishbones are completely adequate in conjunction with the OE torque tube. If the torque tube is removed, however, the wishbones are called upon to do much more work than they were designed for, even with a stock engine.

Joe
__________________
1929 Tudor
since 1962
Feather River A's
JoeWay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-06-2010, 04:05 PM   #11
JoeWay
Senior Member
 
JoeWay's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Quincy CA
Posts: 752
Default Re: Open driveline on Model A

Speedway has one.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Ford-O...-Kit,3770.html

Joe
__________________
1929 Tudor
since 1962
Feather River A's
JoeWay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-06-2010, 04:39 PM   #12
quickchange
Senior Member
 
quickchange's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Nelson. New Zealand
Posts: 1,999
Default Re: Open driveline on Model A

John, Hi from NZ, Hotrod works & speedway motors do one, Some smaller tractors use a 6 spline PTO coupler for drive to to impliments, seen them used , In order to create a cheap seal on orig rear bango you can cut the end of orig torque tube & fit seal inside, , Hope this helps, Cheers Derek.
quickchange is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-06-2010, 05:21 PM   #13
Cool Hand Lurker
Senior Member
 
Cool Hand Lurker's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: So Minn
Posts: 1,565
Default Re: Open driveline on Model A

I have not tried it, but I have heard that the F-1 pickup pinion shaft will interchange. With that you
can put on an external U-Joint. And I don't care why you are doing it.
Cool Hand Lurker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-06-2010, 05:25 PM   #14
zzlegend
Senior Member
 
zzlegend's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Reseda, Calif.
Posts: 2,188
Default Re: Open driveline on Model A

John, i dont know if this will help but here is another site. Mark.
http://www.flat-o.com/carproducts/flatomatic.htm
zzlegend is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-06-2010, 06:54 PM   #15
denis4x4
Senior Member
 
denis4x4's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Durango CO
Posts: 1,309
Default Re: Open driveline on Model A

Steve Becker just completed an open drive line A rear end for me. Bert's Model A in Denver 800/321-1931
denis4x4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-06-2010, 10:02 PM   #16
callcoy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Hendersonville TN
Posts: 180
Default Re: Open driveline on Model A

John;
Remember you can contact Art Moore down in Upland, I believe he has 5 "A"'s with open drive lines, auto trans adaptors also, call him at 909-982-7790, you can tell him I sent you!
__________________
Steve - Santa Rosa
callcoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-07-2010, 07:33 AM   #17
brokenspoke
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Anderson, Texas
Posts: 274
Default Re: Open driveline on Model A

The torque tube is an important part of the rear....If its removed another form of locating the rear end is needed to keep the rear end from twisting....
brokenspoke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-07-2010, 08:07 AM   #18
Earle
Senior Member
 
Earle's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wilmington, Delaware
Posts: 240
Default Re: Open driveline on Model A

Most of this was over my head. I hadn't heard this kind of Model A "modification" discussed before. What are the advantages of removing the torque tube? And like brokenspoke says, aren't you now allowing the whole rear end to "float" more and sending thrust and rear axle twisting/torque loads into areas where they weren't intended by design to go?

How do the benefits outway the risks?

Forgive the time-worn cliche, but Henry designed it that way - with a torque tube - for a reason! (in MOST cases, anyway... - when he wasn't doing things just to save a penny). He could have saved a lot of time and pennies by eliminating the torque tube! - but he didn't!

Earle
Earle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-07-2010, 09:21 AM   #19
John LaVoy
Senior Member
 
John LaVoy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rocklin, CA
Posts: 1,219
Default Re: Open driveline on Model A

The speedway motors looks like a good way to go. Thanks everyone for the input. Just for the record I have some subscribers that have requested we look into installing an automatic transmission because of health reasons they can not drive a manual transmission car and want to continue in the Model A hobby.
John LaVoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-07-2010, 10:38 AM   #20
denis4x4
Senior Member
 
denis4x4's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Durango CO
Posts: 1,309
Default Re: Open driveline on Model A

John

I'm working on my second A without a torque tube. The wish bones are easily modified with a 1/4" by 1" strap welded on both edges to the bottom seam of the wishbones. This was necessary to install a T-5 transmission. There is another piece that bolts to the crossmember where the shifter tower is located. Note the master cylinder location using the stock cross piece.

I often wonder if Edsel got a ration from the old man when made modifications to his Fords?
Attached Images
File Type: jpg MVC-006S.JPG (46.8 KB, 185 views)
denis4x4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:30 AM.