32 gear options

[32Gnu]

My 32 banjo has 4.11 gears, what gear options are out there?
Thanks

[Bruce Lancaster]

Is torque tube flange round or hexagonal? Most '32's have the round one; original used3.78's are easy to find, 3.54 is available repro.

[32Gnu]

It is round like an A model

[Bruce Lancaster]

Just go to Bratton's for the repro selection...same cogs as A.

[32Gnu]

How much gear is too much? They have 3.73 and 3.54, running a 78 box with an 8ba and 14-800 tires? Just scared if I leave the 4:11 on it the engine will scream at 55 mph..

[bobH]

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You can calculate engine rpm vs speed (knowing approx tire dia). Go from there, and decide what rpm/speed you can live with. I've got 3.78 in one car, and 3.54 in another. Neither are 'perfect', IMO. I hold my speed to about 55-60 with the 3.78's (17 in tire) (25-2700 rpm). My car with the 3.54's, I can run at 70, if I want. I don't usually do this, as it sounds like too much rpm to me. The car with the 3.54's is later (47), heavy, and a slug off the line. And, it has the (dreaded) 15/29 trans gears.
Seems to me, an OD would be a good consideration, although I've never had one. JMO

[Karl Wolf]

I run 3.54s in a model A V8 roadster and like it much more than the 4.11s... Karl

[Flathead Fever]

MPH chart

Mph = rpm x tire diameter
Gear ratio x 336

You mentioned that the car has 14X800 tires. I would go to a taller tire. In my opinion (which is not worth two-cents) 700X16 or 750x16 are the best looking rear tires for a vintage '32 Ford Hot Rod. If the above mph formula is correct 700X16 tires at 2500 rpm with 3.54 gears would give you a speed of about 63 mph. 3.78 gears would be 59 mph and 4.11s would be 54 mph. I think the 3.78s are a good compromise.

I have not driven that many old Fords but awhile back I had a chance to drive a neighbor’s '34 pickup with a stock 59A flathead. I was really impressed at how well that stock flathead accelerated. I suspect that 4.11 gears gave it that zippy acceleration. I'm not sure I would want to trade the acceleration for a lower cruising rpm. I guess it depends on how your going to be driving your '32 Ford.

A guy that did get to drive all kinds of flathead powered vehicles was Dean Batchelor. Hop-up Magazine's Dean Batchelor did several hot rod road tests back in 1952 and 1953. I don't have all the issues but Test #1 was in the April '52 issue and the last one I know of was Test #9 in Feb, 1953. These were really neat articles that specifically mentionedtire sizes, gear ratios, Zephyr transmission gears. Dean told you what he liked and disliked about each combination. I would read all these articles and seriously consider taking his advice. I only have a few issues here, the rest are in my Dad’scollection. Here is a few examples.

April, 1952 Hop-Up. Test #1 was a full fendered '32 roadster with 3.27 gears, Zephyr trans gears and 7.00X16 tires. Dean and the owner hated the 3.27 Dry Lakes gears "Those 3.27 gears were put in the rear end for straightaway runs at the dry lakes and are absolutely nowhere for town use--especially with 7.00x16 tires and Zephyr first and second gears. For a car that will be driven mostly in town, a 3.54 or 3.78 rear end with smaller rear tires (650X16 or 7.0015) would be more suitable, tho there is another alternative. If your planning a cross-country trip, the 3.27 gearing and large tires can be combined with a stock transmission which will provide good cruising and still give you better stop-sign to stop-sign performance."

May, 1952 Test #2. Beautiful '29 roadster on a '32 chassis. 3.54 gears, 7.60X16 tires Zephyr gears. " Those of you who read last month's test will remember how I complained of the super-high (for street use) gears in Bill Faris' roadster. Well, Tom gets a littlecloser to the ideal with 3.54-1 gears but he still has those big tires.

June 1952 Test #3 was Merc station wagon with a Lincoln overhead engine

July 1952 test #4 was a channeled '32 roadster. 4.11 gears, 7.00X16 tires,'41 Ford trans with Zephyr gears. "The rear end gear ratio is good for city driving. The 4.11 gears and 7.00X16 tires make a good combination, as long as Zephyr gears are use in the transmission. If the stock ratio in the transmission had been used with the 4.11 rear end, the car would be geared entirely too low in 1st and 2nd gear. As it is city driving can be done without overworking the shift lever. This was my biggest complaint in the first two roadsters tested, as they were geared only for top speed running at the lakes.