The Ford Barn

flat-v8 · 03-02-2013, 08:03 PM

I just recently found out this beautiful, 1938 chassis & running gear I built my truck on, based on the frame stamp, it had a v8-60 in it. Original specs say it has a 4.44:1 rear end, I finally got it on the road today, Whoo Hoo! Everything was pretty good except at 35-40 MPH it is screaming for another gear

I only have 3! My Dad said I have a stump puller, not a hiway cruzer! Will it hurt the motor running high RPM's? What were these gear ratios good for? This kinda pisses me off, I thought I could at least go 50! One good thing is watching the amp gauge, FULL charge wherever I go!

Pete · 03-02-2013, 08:12 PM

Someone with a Columbia will jump at a chance to buy those gears.

truckdog62563 · 03-02-2013, 08:19 PM

It's good for 1930s era country roads hauling a load. Or second millennial parades hauling cheerleaders and a float. Not only would you otherwise be straining the engine, but the brakes too, IMHO. Stu

ford38v8 · 03-02-2013, 08:20 PM

If you drive in parades, you'll appreciate the 4.44 gears. Otherwise, for a good all around gearset, change to a 3.78.

flat-v8 · 03-02-2013, 08:33 PM

Okay, so is it hard to change out the gears? Are the 3.78 gears easy to find?

hardtimes · 03-02-2013, 08:47 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by flat-v8

Okay, so is it hard to change out the gears? Are the 3.78 gears easy to find?

'screaming for another gear and I only have three'...very funny

...and not so funny,eh!
I've recently got a '36 with 4.11 gears(40 rearend). First ride in it, I said the same exact thing! In fact, I actually reached over and grabbed the floor shifter...going for another gear...when I caught myself doing it

So , I empathize with you. And , to make things worse..the rear end was rebuilt and runs very quiet/smooth..bummer for us both!

PeteVS · 03-02-2013, 08:58 PM

Back in the 50's, 4.11 gears were desirable to be able to beat someone from a light for a couple of blocks or so. But, they were never considered to be a cruising gear. If you still have the V8 60 in it, it probably wouldn't have the torque to "pull" 3.78's. If you've replaced it with a "full size" flathead, the 3.78's would be perfect. (And, 3.78's were the "standard" passenger car gearing for ages. They are plentiful.)

As far as changing gears goes, here's a link to a HAMB thread which shows a banjo rear being rebuilt. It's not for the faint of heart.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=462776

Walt Dupont--Me. · 03-02-2013, 09:03 PM

That rear end is good for Vintage stock car racing. A couple of yr's ago I tryed hard to get a set of 4:55, I got 3-4 sets of 4:44 and finally got a set of 4:55 for a friend running a 34 coupe and one of my Merc flatheads. Running 1/4 and 3/8 tracks. BUT for the street put in 3:78 or even 3:54 or put an overdrive trans in. Walt

flat-v8 · 03-02-2013, 09:09 PM

No I never saw the v8-60, it was long gone, I got the whole truck without motor & tranny. I sold the '38 body & kept the chassis to build my '36, then I got a 1946 59A motor and '39 transmission, that motor wants to go! Rearend holds it back. I saw a few complete & real nice 3.78 banjos, not just the gears, but they were already sold, and cheap too! So I'll just wait and watch, thanks for the replys!

296 V8 · 03-02-2013, 09:11 PM

Hill clime guys run um

3738 · 03-03-2013, 12:45 AM

My all original unrestored 37 Tudor 60 hp Standard has the original 4:44 rear gears. Never ran it past 60 mph.

truckdog62563 · 03-03-2013, 01:41 AM

Since it's got the hotter 59A, would it not be worth focusing on a 3.54/1 set if they can be found? Stu

Mart · 03-03-2013, 03:16 AM

All points re the gearing are relevant. But the brakes are not an issue when talking about axle ratio.

Mart.

truckdog62563 · 03-03-2013, 03:24 AM

Unless increased road speed perhaps challenges the performance limits of the stock equipment, no? For instance, we've migrated from discussion of what was assumed a stock V8 60 with stock axle and mechanical brakes to now a 59A with maybe juice upgrade. Lot we don't know about the truck. Stu

Mart · 03-03-2013, 03:41 AM

You'd only be going as fast as all the other cars that had the bigger motor and taller gears - the brakes were not downsized for the V8-60. Changing the axle ratio would not put the performance of the car beyond the design capabilities of the brakes.

Well, that's my take on it anyhow.

Mart.

flat-v8 · 03-03-2013, 07:08 AM

I have '40 juice brakes, and they are really good. It's got the 59A stock motor, (stock except for fenton headers) single stromberg 97, crab dist, 12v generator. I don't have the knowledge or tools to rebuild & swap gearsets here at home, but I'm sure I could swap out the whole rear end, so I would like to find a '38 -'39 complete rear in good shape. Bummer, I just last week put the bed on!

Mafman · 03-03-2013, 07:44 AM

Beautiful truck. Great job!

31chevy · 03-03-2013, 07:45 AM

I put 3:54 in my 34 pickup & have 16 in. radials, seems to work well.
Gary.

Walt Dupont--Me. · 03-03-2013, 08:06 AM

I'd say that truck falley light. With the 59 engine it should handle 3:54 very well. You could cruse 60-65 with out overrworking the engine. I have 3:54 in my 31 Model A with the B engine and it has all the power you want and go over any hill with no problem. Walt

Charlie ny · 03-03-2013, 11:12 AM

Flat,
If you lived closer we could hook up. I have a 3:54 rear end and a
Columbia with 3:78's on the shelf. Both are '37 - '40 style but would drop
right in. The big deal with the 3:54's is finding a decent turtle , 18 tooth, I
believe.
Charlie ny

03-02-2013, 08:03 PM	#1
flat-v8 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Magnolia Texas Posts: 586	4.44:1 rearend, What's it good for? I just recently found out this beautiful, 1938 chassis & running gear I built my truck on, based on the frame stamp, it had a v8-60 in it. Original specs say it has a 4.44:1 rear end, I finally got it on the road today, Whoo Hoo! Everything was pretty good except at 35-40 MPH it is screaming for another gear I only have 3! My Dad said I have a stump puller, not a hiway cruzer! Will it hurt the motor running high RPM's? What were these gear ratios good for? This kinda pisses me off, I thought I could at least go 50! One good thing is watching the amp gauge, FULL charge wherever I go!

03-02-2013, 08:12 PM	#2
Pete Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wa. Posts: 5,409	Re: 4.44:1 rearend, What's it good for? Someone with a Columbia will jump at a chance to buy those gears.

03-02-2013, 08:19 PM	#3
truckdog62563 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rochester, Il Posts: 599	Re: 4.44:1 rearend, What's it good for? It's good for 1930s era country roads hauling a load. Or second millennial parades hauling cheerleaders and a float. Not only would you otherwise be straining the engine, but the brakes too, IMHO. Stu __________________ Stu McMillan Marmon-Herringtons

03-02-2013, 08:20 PM	#4
ford38v8 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 6,645	Re: 4.44:1 rearend, What's it good for? If you drive in parades, you'll appreciate the 4.44 gears. Otherwise, for a good all around gearset, change to a 3.78. __________________ Alan

03-02-2013, 08:33 PM	#5
flat-v8 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Magnolia Texas Posts: 586	Re: 4.44:1 rearend, What's it good for? Okay, so is it hard to change out the gears? Are the 3.78 gears easy to find?

03-02-2013, 08:58 PM	#7
PeteVS Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: FP, NJ Posts: 2,770	Re: 4.44:1 rearend, What's it good for? Back in the 50's, 4.11 gears were desirable to be able to beat someone from a light for a couple of blocks or so. But, they were never considered to be a cruising gear. If you still have the V8 60 in it, it probably wouldn't have the torque to "pull" 3.78's. If you've replaced it with a "full size" flathead, the 3.78's would be perfect. (And, 3.78's were the "standard" passenger car gearing for ages. They are plentiful.) As far as changing gears goes, here's a link to a HAMB thread which shows a banjo rear being rebuilt. It's not for the faint of heart. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=462776 __________________ Don't never get rid of nuthin!

03-02-2013, 09:03 PM	#8
Walt Dupont--Me. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gardiner Me. Posts: 4,200	Re: 4.44:1 rearend, What's it good for? That rear end is good for Vintage stock car racing. A couple of yr's ago I tryed hard to get a set of 4:55, I got 3-4 sets of 4:44 and finally got a set of 4:55 for a friend running a 34 coupe and one of my Merc flatheads. Running 1/4 and 3/8 tracks. BUT for the street put in 3:78 or even 3:54 or put an overdrive trans in. Walt

03-02-2013, 09:09 PM	#9
flat-v8 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Magnolia Texas Posts: 586	Re: 4.44:1 rearend, What's it good for? No I never saw the v8-60, it was long gone, I got the whole truck without motor & tranny. I sold the '38 body & kept the chassis to build my '36, then I got a 1946 59A motor and '39 transmission, that motor wants to go! Rearend holds it back. I saw a few complete & real nice 3.78 banjos, not just the gears, but they were already sold, and cheap too! So I'll just wait and watch, thanks for the replys!

03-02-2013, 09:11 PM	#10
296 V8 BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: nor~cal Posts: 455	Re: 4.44:1 rearend, What's it good for? Hill clime guys run um

03-03-2013, 12:45 AM	#11
3738 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 287	Re: 4.44:1 rearend, What's it good for? My all original unrestored 37 Tudor 60 hp Standard has the original 4:44 rear gears. Never ran it past 60 mph.

03-03-2013, 01:41 AM	#12
truckdog62563 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rochester, Il Posts: 599	Re: 4.44:1 rearend, What's it good for? Since it's got the hotter 59A, would it not be worth focusing on a 3.54/1 set if they can be found? Stu __________________ Stu McMillan Marmon-Herringtons Last edited by truckdog62563; 03-03-2013 at 02:34 AM.

03-03-2013, 03:16 AM	#13
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,754	Re: 4.44:1 rearend, What's it good for? All points re the gearing are relevant. But the brakes are not an issue when talking about axle ratio. Mart.

03-03-2013, 03:24 AM	#14
truckdog62563 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rochester, Il Posts: 599	Re: 4.44:1 rearend, What's it good for? Unless increased road speed perhaps challenges the performance limits of the stock equipment, no? For instance, we've migrated from discussion of what was assumed a stock V8 60 with stock axle and mechanical brakes to now a 59A with maybe juice upgrade. Lot we don't know about the truck. Stu __________________ Stu McMillan Marmon-Herringtons Last edited by truckdog62563; 03-03-2013 at 03:43 AM.

03-03-2013, 03:41 AM	#15
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,754	Re: 4.44:1 rearend, What's it good for? You'd only be going as fast as all the other cars that had the bigger motor and taller gears - the brakes were not downsized for the V8-60. Changing the axle ratio would not put the performance of the car beyond the design capabilities of the brakes. Well, that's my take on it anyhow. Mart.

03-03-2013, 07:44 AM	#17
Mafman Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 146	Re: 4.44:1 rearend, What's it good for? Beautiful truck. Great job! __________________ James Johnson 1930 Tudor Sedan & 1939 Deluxe Fordor

03-03-2013, 07:45 AM	#18
31chevy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lake City Mi. Posts: 807	Re: 4.44:1 rearend, What's it good for? I put 3:54 in my 34 pickup & have 16 in. radials, seems to work well. Gary.

03-03-2013, 08:06 AM	#19
Walt Dupont--Me. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gardiner Me. Posts: 4,200	Re: 4.44:1 rearend, What's it good for? I'd say that truck falley light. With the 59 engine it should handle 3:54 very well. You could cruse 60-65 with out overrworking the engine. I have 3:54 in my 31 Model A with the B engine and it has all the power you want and go over any hill with no problem. Walt

03-03-2013, 11:12 AM	#20
Charlie ny BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,019	Re: 4.44:1 rearend, What's it good for? Flat, If you lived closer we could hook up. I have a 3:54 rear end and a Columbia with 3:78's on the shelf. Both are '37 - '40 style but would drop right in. The big deal with the 3:54's is finding a decent turtle , 18 tooth, I believe. Charlie ny