Is this a columbia axle control?

[Blindhuckster]

I came across a listing for a 36 Roadster that is going to be auctioned at The Raleigh Classic Car Auction coming up in May 2022. The car has a Columbia rear axle and it looks to be that the shift controls in the picture are a group of electric solenoids for the axle. Is that correct. I have a columbia axle on my 37 that has a manual B-3 Valve Assembly. Just curious!

[Terry,OH]

The post war Columbias used the electric control. What you have shown is not correct for a 36 roadster, but can be made to work.

[rockfla]

I thought I had a better, closer up picture of one BUT for now the best I can do for a "Proper" mounted and plumbed Columbia on a 36 Ford (2005 Western National). ****NOTE**** on the firewall

[DavidG]

If you define "correct" as a Ford-released option or accessory for 1936 Fords, then no Columbia rear axle and therefore any of its controls were "correct" for any pre-WWII Ford. It was strictly an aftermarket accessory.

[solidaxle]

I wouldn't let the incorrect for that year controls, deter you from buying the car. The electric over vacuum controls are very desirable. if you want a period correct car you could always convert it to "36" controls and sell what you have, without spending anymore or very little more money. Depending If the speedometer changer is there.


If it were mine, I would have hid the controls under the dash or below the floor, instead of cluttering up the engine compartment.

[jimTN]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

That system is the 46-8 Columbia controls and works quite well. I have used them on a couple of EV8s.

[Bored&Stroked]

Buy the car and hide those controls . . . LOL

[solidaxle]

I didn't want mine exposed under the hood.

[Blindhuckster]

Thanks again gentleman. Always great knowledge and information here. Of course, I'm always looking at what's for sale in the old car hobby. So that's how I came across this set up. This is the first time I've seen the electric control for the Columbia, so thanks for the clarification. (Still learning something new every day.) Nate Anello

[blucar]

Attached is a pix showing how I hid the 46-48 Columbia controls on the Columbia under my '36 5 win. If the pix is reviewed carefully you can see the stock clutch switch I used.
My '36 originally had a '36 Columbia, I up graded it to a '46-48 using the original 36 center section with 46-48 axles/axle housings, works much better that the mechanical Columbia shift controls;