"Dual Ratio" Columbia ID Help

[NealinCA]

I am gathering Columbia parts, trying to piece one together for my 32 sedan.

I have two different cases. The one on the left was ID'd by the brass tag as a late 46-48 era. I just picked up the black one. The casting is a little different, and it says "Dual Ratio" along with only 2 patent numbers rather than 6. I assume that makes it earlier? Can anyone confirm? Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Neal

[OLD...BILL]

Neil: The guy you want to talk to Is John Connelly at 951-719-4077 supper guy to talk to, he is just down the road in, Temecula, Ca, .............OLD.....BILL

[Bruce Lancaster]

While you are at it...look up the patents here: http://www.google.com/advanced_patent_search
It might be interesting to see details, and of course once you have name of assignee or inventor from those you might be able to find more Columbia stuff in there.
You will almost certainly find really neat design drawings, too. Did you see my posts on HAMB listing '32 Ford related patents?

[Randy]

The black one with "Dual Ratio" on it is an earlier one. I don't remember exactly the years, but I'm pretty sure that was correct for around '36. There's a great i.d. article in a series about Columbias in back issues of the V8 Times. If I can find the articles I'll post them here or maybe scan them and send them to you if you don't have them.

[NealinCA]

Randy - I don't have the back issues with the Columbia info. Scans of the articles would be great.

Thanks,

Neal

[fordman]

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the long cylindrical spline that slides over the axle, examine it closely for cracks. However if they break, they usually have a big spiral break. (you probably knew that)

fordman

[NealinCA]

Originally Posted by fordman

the long cylindrical spline that slides over the axle, examine it closely for cracks. However if they break, they usually have a big spiral break. (you probably knew that)

fordman

Thanks for the heads up...this Columbia stuff is all new to me. I'll check it out.

Neal

[ford38v8]

Neal, I don't know much about Columbias, but you shoud get them off that cheep import work table soon, or they prolly won't work on any Ford anymore.

[Randy]

I've moved and can't locate some of my backissues right now, but I'll keep looking. I did find my directory and it was a 4 part series on the Columbia in the March-October 1994 issues.

[4dFord/SC]

You can contact the EFV8 Club to check for availability of back issues at Email [email protected]

[Randy]

Sorry for the delay, but I finally found my box of backissues. The Sept/Oct 1994 issue shows a picture of an A-6 housing with the words "Dual Ratio" cast into it and the article describes that as "a 1935-7 A-6". You may have already found this out, but maybe it'll help. When I get a chance, I'll try to scan it in and post it.

It also has a picture of two others described as 1937-41 that look like your other one, one has the words "Two Speed Axle" and the other has "Overdrive Axle". It states the '46-'48 units had "Two Speed Axle" on them. The early ones could have numbers stamped into the A-6 that would designate the production date. Somewhere in mid-1939 they began riveting a brass tag to them, so if your other one doesn't have the tag, it's before that.

It does note that the "Dual Ratio" units had a 10 inner tooth synchro which was prone to breakage and they recommended replacing that with the later 8 inner tooth synchro.

Randy

[4dFord/SC]

According to the Columbia Two Speed Parts site, "Columbia Dual Ratio" was used from 1933-1936, "Columbia Overdrive Axle" from 1937-1941, and "Columbia Skyway Drive" from 1942-1948. http://columbiatwospeedparts.com/newproducts.aspx

[Randy]

I checked out the website and did not find any information that contradicted what the article from the V8 Times stated. Maybe I missed something?

The only reference I saw was the names they used on the front page of the owner's manuals/installation instructions. The question asked and the V8 Times articles were both referring to the actual wording cast into the A-6 housing.

[4dFord/SC]

The post was merely intended to confirm the time period in which the term "Dual Ratio" was used, not to contradict the V-8 Times article.

[NealinCA]

Randy - Thanks for the info. I asked my dad to dig out those back issues, so I will read the articles.

Any additional info would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Neal

[Randy]

Originally Posted by 4dFord/SC

The post was merely intended to confirm the time period in which the term "Dual Ratio" was used, not to contradict the V-8 Times article.

Understood. I was just curious if new information had been discovered that might contradict what was published in 1994. I didn't see anything and wondered if I had missed something and/or if we were addressing the same question. Thanks for your input.