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12-08-2014, 08:01 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: maryland
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gearing up to go faster questions
I just installed the freshly rebuilt engine in the 35, top speed is about 50, engine racing. I would like to install a better ring and pinion like 3.25 or so but how to correct the speedometer? are there different speedo gears available somewhere? or would buying a 2 speed setup be better? I would like to be able to drive on long trips
A little about me and the car I am New here but I have owned my 1935 coupe for about 14 years, got it from my grandfather, it was given to him from his aunt who drove it from 1936 to 1973. Her brother bought the car new and one day they were out driving he had died along side of the car..... When I got her everything was covered in an inch of mud oil cake so much you could not see any grease fittings. everything looks stock unchanged as parts broke they stayed broke. original engine trans rear nothing changed. I have been slowly cleaning off the dirt and fixing what I see. never really drove it much on the road till now |
12-08-2014, 08:18 PM | #2 |
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Re: gearing up to go faster questions
first off ,Welcome. there are a lot of knowledgeable guys here that are willing to help. i`ll tell you what i did when i was faced with the same situation - `37 1/2 ton, 239 c. i., isky Max-i cam, single Holley 94, 3:78 r&p, 7:00 x 16 tires and Columbia two speed axle. at 70 M.P.H. the motor spins @ 2186 R.P.M. the Columbia provides a 28% overdrive and it is a period accessory, which was important to me.
tom |
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12-08-2014, 08:36 PM | #3 |
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Re: gearing up to go faster questions
Welcome to Fordbarn. Looks like you have a nice 35 5w coupe. Maybe you could put up more pictures so we can get a good look at the entire car. Approximately where are you located in Maryland? Are you possibly a member of the Early Ford V-8 Club of America? We have a regional group (RG36) of the EFV-8 Club that meets on the third Tuesday of every month in Sunshine, MD.
I am thinking your 35 probably has 4.11:1 ring & pinion rear gears. You could change to 3.78 or 3.54 gears which would allow you to cruise at higher speed with lower engine RPM's. You could also consider getting a Columbia 2 speed ($,$$$) or a Mitchell 2 speed at less $$$'s. Good luck and happy V-8ing!!
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John "Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein Last edited by JM 35 Sedan; 12-08-2014 at 08:42 PM. |
12-08-2014, 08:37 PM | #4 |
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Re: gearing up to go faster questions
I would vote for 3.54 or 3.78 if you have a Columbia, 3.25 would be too high. You most likely have 4.11s right now. Remember if you make your car go faster, you should do something to upgrade the brakes so that you can stop. You can change the speedo gear that bolts to the torque tube to make your speedo correct.
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12-08-2014, 08:40 PM | #5 |
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Re: gearing up to go faster questions
The Mitchell overdrives look promising too - easier to find than the Columbia setup and a reversible bolt-on mod that lets you keep your closed drive shaft setup. A bit spendy at about $1800 I think. I want to be able to cruise at 60 - 65 mph.
I think I'll go the Mitchell route on my '39 pickup unless I stumble across a Columbia. I first thought about an S-10 trans but shuddered at all the modifications for that. |
12-08-2014, 10:04 PM | #6 |
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Re: gearing up to go faster questions
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How good are your brake? Worn out mechanical brakes won't stop you safely from 50. Good rebuilt (or never worn out) mechanical brakes stop fine, but take regular maintenance to stay in adjustment. Hydraulic brakes are more forgiving but are incorrect for your car. What engine did you just install? A rebuilt stock 85 horsepower 35 motor? A fire breathing blown 8BA? Something in between? Power has a lot to do with how much gear you can run and still pull hills. Where do you normally drive? In town, country roads, highway? Flat land, hills, mountains? If you want to drive 60 a 3.78 gear ratio works well, and drives very nicely around town too. If you want to drive 65, a 3.54 ratio works ok, and drive around town ok too. Hill climbing is affected, but not horribly. If you want to go 70, a 3.25 ratio work ok, but is miserable in town at low speed. On long hills you will probably drop into second gear unless you have a really powerful engine. If you want to go 70, or 70+, and be able to drive around town you need an overdrive. Depending on engine power you will probably be happy with either a 4.11 ratio and overdrive, or a 3.78 ratio and overdrive. The Mitchell overdrive is a nice unit, but may not fit without cutting your floor boards. The Columbia, when properly set up, will bolt in but is really expensive and complex compared to any other overdrive option. Let us know about your engine and how you want to drive the car and then we can give you better advice. edit: And welcome! Last edited by 38 coupe; 12-08-2014 at 10:16 PM. |
12-08-2014, 10:08 PM | #7 |
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Location: maryland
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Re: gearing up to go faster questions
I am not in any club now, may look into it soon. live close to bwi
I was leaning to the 2 speed but a Columbia is so hard to find, looking at Mitchel but don't like the look as much. thought changing the gear would look better I have not found the speedo gear. I pulled the rear yesterday itching to get started but not sure which way to go. |
12-08-2014, 10:14 PM | #8 |
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Re: gearing up to go faster questions
Welcome to the 'barn. That looks like a really nice body. The mechanicals can be repaired easier (for me, anyway) than body defects.
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12-08-2014, 10:18 PM | #9 |
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Re: gearing up to go faster questions
One other thing to consider: a car is only original once. After you change it you can restore the car, but it isn't truly original anymore.
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12-08-2014, 10:21 PM | #10 |
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Location: maryland
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Re: gearing up to go faster questions
The engine is the same one that came with the car, 85hp. I had Bill Colman do a stock rebuild. It runs great! I do think I have 4.11 in there now. brakes are stock I plan on going through them this winter after I'm done with the rear and suspension, springs need cleaned and lubed shocks need work. I would like to be able to drive 65 or so but around here there is a lot of traffic and a lot of stop and go.
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12-08-2014, 11:14 PM | #11 |
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Re: gearing up to go faster questions
Bill Coleman is a well know flathead engine builder in the Baltimore area and has built several of my friends engines.
I still have mechanical brakes on my mostly original '35 fordor sedan and they stop my car as well as any of the '39 to '48 Fords I have driven that came with hydraulic brakes. You do need to maintain them well and also think about installing floaters for best performance. I replaced 4.11 gears with 3.78's on my fordor last year and this allows me to easily cruise at 60 - 65 mph.for as long as I want to go at that speed. I am planning to install 3.54 gears this winter in my '35 5w coupe.
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John "Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein |
12-09-2014, 10:22 AM | #12 |
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Re: gearing up to go faster questions
1935 coupe-
Over the years I have been testing the relationships between rear axle ratios-tire size-engine revolutions. I am sure others have been doing the same and may have different results from what I found. With that in mind, this is what I have generally found with typical '35s and '36s. Transmission types were also included but only complicate things rather than clarify conclusions. At any rate...... Status: 3.54 rear axle, 6.00 x16 tires, speedo gear "18," stock transmission Idle (warm) 720 rpms 25 mph 930 35 mph 1440 40 mph 1680 50 mph 2040 As for Columbia vs Mitchell. I favor the Mitchell. "IF" you can find a decent Columbia you still could be faced with a professional rebuild at a cost of some serious money. And, if the work is done to a "bullet-proof" standard, you still have a piece of mechanical hardware that is in the neighborhood of six decades old or more! On the other hand, the Mitchell is new, known and has the reputation of reliable help when needed. One more thing. If you decide to go with some oversize tires to give your '35 the "look" or you go with a 3:25 rear axle, you should change the speedo gear to a "17" to keep your speedometer somewhat reasonable to your actual speed This is a Model "A" gear (will fit a '35) and can be hard to find. Hope this helps. Tom |
12-09-2014, 10:31 AM | #13 |
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Re: gearing up to go faster questions
38 coupe makes some excellent points.
Most likely your rear axle ratio is 4.11. With this ratio, you can comfortably cruise at 55, maybe 60. The engine is a bit "busy" at these speeds but it will not be harmed. Supposedly, there was a 4.33 ratio available in 35, but its very unlikely you have this one.
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12-09-2014, 12:24 PM | #14 |
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Re: gearing up to go faster questions
Yes only original once ,A simple fix is You could get some spare wheels and go for a larger diameter rear tyres for out of town , Ted
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12-09-2014, 01:34 PM | #15 |
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Re: gearing up to go faster questions
Welcome to the Forum. Nice car. Lot's of great contributors here and tons of information. 38coupe said it all.
Run a search on rear ends there were a couple mentioned that might interchange and get you the ratios you are seeking. Enjoy the adventure and remember "it's your car". (But if you decide to paint it florescent pink you may get some negative responses.) |
12-09-2014, 01:43 PM | #16 |
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Re: gearing up to go faster questions
Flatheadfan gave you the speedo gear sizes for the R & P size, we did 3:54's in our 32 from 4:11's and its great, as luck would have it right after we changed we had the car out in Cal. for a summer for several shows and a couple of tours and had some very mountainous roads to travel and we wished we had the 4;11's for that but now back on flatter land the 3:54 is the ticket!!!!
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12-09-2014, 02:18 PM | #17 |
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Re: gearing up to go faster questions
looking under the rear end where the drive shaft meets the center housing there should be two numbers. cast IN THE HOUSING DIVIDE THE NUMBERS TO GET YOUR RATIO.
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12-09-2014, 02:29 PM | #18 |
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Re: gearing up to go faster questions
welcome. the Mitchell od is good choice but rather expensive. you can find a early Volvo od. that can be put in the torque tube and they work very well. I have ran them in model a and other low horsepower engines, that way you can keep your original rear and have best of both worlds. you find them any where from 300 to 700 bucks electric od so no handles to fool with. if you find one make sure you have reverse lockout in it so you don't scatter it all over if you forget when you put it in reverse.
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12-09-2014, 03:29 PM | #19 |
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Re: gearing up to go faster questions
Been wondering about changing gearing too. Are 3.78 or similar gears readily available, how much?
Ian |
12-09-2014, 06:18 PM | #20 |
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Re: gearing up to go faster questions
Ted's idea is great. Keep your 600s on the back for around town, put another two wheels with 7.50s on the back for long trips. The 7.50s will effectively change your 4.11 gears to 3.78s or 3.54s because of the increased circumference. You may even like them enough to leave them on all the time if your engine is good. The "turtle" at the front end of the torque tube contains a gear which can be changed to a different tooth number to alter the speedo. Options are available from suppliers like Macs, Snyders (Model A is same), and various others. Ted also supplies the floaters to upgrade your brakes, a simple and effective fix.
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