Columbia axle in 1934 1 1/2 ton truck
 

Here are a couple of photos of a truck Columbia axle that I saw at Petit Jean Arkansas show in June 1989. I have never seen another one like it. I didn't even know at the time that they exist. I should have taken more and better photos.
Attachment 465167

Attachment 465168

Re: Columbia axle in 1934 1 1/2 ton truck
 

I don't know about that columbia, but many of the aftermarket truck units were an underdrive, not overdrive. Lower gears to haul heavy loads and pull long hills.

Re: Columbia axle in 1934 1 1/2 ton truck
 

The big truck Columbia is mentioned in Dave Cole's article on the history of Columbia axles. The article definitely describes the axle as being an overdrive, instead of the more common underdrive two speed truck axles. This article is currently available as a pdf here: http://www.earlyfordv8clubga.org/His...-SpeedAxle.pdf

I noticed these pictures posted by 49fordV8f4 on another forum. I asked him to post these here since there are by far more knowledgeable prewar early V8 people on the Ford Barn than I have found anywhere else. I also emailed the Columbia axle advisor for the Early V8 Club about these pictures. He replied he had never seen one of these axles, and speculated Columbia never got passed the prototype stage.

It appears to me that the red hoses visible in the axle picture are the vacuum shift hoses, supporting Dave Cole's information that the truck axle used the same controls as the cars. Does anyone else have any information on a 1 1/2 ton Columbia axle?

Re: Columbia axle in 1934 1 1/2 ton truck
 

That would be a huge plus having an overdrive in the flat country. In some realms 'First to market gets the best price' was the norm. Some loads like chickens were't terribly heavy ( well there was 'Wolf Creek Pass') and I bet a '34 BB could do 55-60 mph on the flat with a young buck at the wheel. IIRC, '34 was the first year with the full floating rear axle. Was this one also a FF?

Re: Columbia axle in 1934 1 1/2 ton truck
 

GB, According to the article that Fred linked, this axle was made available in '35, so they all would have been full floating. This would have been a kit from Columbia like the ones for the car axles. The kit would have only had the left hand axle housing, internal parts and controls necessary to convert your truck axle to Dual Ratio.
Mark

Re: Columbia axle in 1934 1 1/2 ton truck
 

Very early 35 Columbia for cars do have fins very much like your photo.

Re: Columbia axle in 1934 1 1/2 ton truck
 

Early style Columbia axle under my '34 1/2 ton pickup.