The Ford Barn

buzz4041 · 08-21-2017, 01:00 PM

I have a 0-60 mph speedo in my pickup. I also received a 0-100mph in a box of parts. Which one would be correct ? I have read that the 0-60mph would have been with the 4 speed transmission. How do you tell the difference in the 3speed or 4 speed transmission. The transmission has the number 81A-7222B stamped on it just below the inspection plates if that helps.
Thank you in advance for any help.

Terry,OH · 08-21-2017, 01:32 PM

The BB-7222 housing is for the 4-Speed you have the 3-Speed housing with double detents. If you notice your 60 MPH speedo the shift point out of 3rd gear and into 4th is about 28 MPH. You may want to identify what the rear axle gear ratio is. usually the 4-Speeds are about 4:44 and the car and light duty pick ups 4:11 or 3:78. This will assist in making sure you have the correct speedometer turtle on the torque tube. I would change the speedo to the 100 MPH car speedo since your 60 MPH is not even calibrated properly (note the pointer below 0 MPH). What letter or numbers start your frame serial number? It appears many of the 4-speed pick ups started with BB- where 3-Speeds started I8-

buzz4041 · 08-21-2017, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry,OH

The BB-7222 housing is for the 4-Speed you have the 3-Speed housing with double detents. If you notice your 60 MPH speedo the shift point out of 3rd gear and into 4th is about 28 MPH. You may want to identify what the rear axle gear ratio is. usually the 4-Speeds are about 4:44 and the car and light duty pick ups 4:11 or 3:78. This will assist in making sure you have the correct speedometer turtle on the torque tube. I would change the speedo to the 100 MPH car speedo since your 60 MPH is not even calibrated properly (note the pointer below 0 MPH). What letter or numbers start your frame serial number? It appears many of the 4-speed pick ups started with BB- where 3-Speeds started I8-

The serial number starts with 18. Where is the rear end ratio tagged and I will look that up this weekend when I get home.
Great info and thank you. Like putting a puzzle together to see what I got a hold of.

rotorwrench · 08-21-2017, 02:51 PM

A 60 MPH speedometer sounds like one for one of the small engines like V8-60 or the 9N 4-cylinder for 1941. A VIN like *18-XXXXXX* would indicate 85-HP 221 V8 engine.

The part number beginning 81A is just the number for the double detent shifter top in that time frame.

alanwoodieman · 08-21-2017, 02:59 PM

the 60 mph speedo with the shift points are for a 4 speed trans. it did not matter what truck it was in or what the rear end ratio was. I have a 41 1 1/2 ton 4 spd and had a couple of the 41 trucks with 4 cylinder engines and with 4 speed trans and all had the 60 mph with shift points

rotorwrench · 08-21-2017, 06:29 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Some of the 1/2 ton Commercials had a prefix of BB18- if they put a 4-speed in them at the factory. There is not enough information about Ford commercial VINs of the day to know if that was a standard practice or if it was one or more assembly plants that did that. It would have been special order since the light duty 3-speed was generally standard equipment on 1/2 tons.

bobwellsnoveltyshop · 08-21-2017, 10:31 PM

Here is my input. In restoring and working on the 40 speedometers the 60 MPH were for the 3/4 ton and up trucks, the 100 MPH were for the 1/2 ton pickups and the standard car. You say their was also a 100 PMH speedometer in a box, I see the speedometer needle is below the Zero so probably someone did this to correspond with trying to match the needle to the speedometer number, on the 100 MPH speedometer the 40 Mph is where the 60 MPH would be. There would be 20 MPH difference in the speedometer readings. I hope this will help. If you move the needle up to Zero and drive the pickup the speedometer would register 20 MPH or so higher than you are actually going.
BILL WELLS

Terry,OH · 08-22-2017, 08:16 AM

There is no tag for the diff ratio. It may be stamped into the bottom of the center housing. There is a way to verify current ratio do a search, on this web site, for more info. From your frame serial # it appears your pick up was not a 4-speed. If the frame number matches the number on the transmission, stamped above the clutch inspection cover, your transmission is original to the vehicle.

Ken Bull · 08-22-2017, 11:42 AM

YOU CAN TELL ITS A 4 SPEED BY THE SHIFT KNOB MARKINGS OR IF YOU NEED TO SHIFT UP AT OVER 15 MPH. My 40 Ford 1/2 Ton PU was called 'THE farm VERSION' 85 HP v8,60 mph SPEEDO, 4.11 REAR END & 4 speed TRANNY. The factory made 400+ making it a rare Truck!

buzz4041 · 08-22-2017, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobwellsnoveltyshop

Here is my input. In restoring and working on the 40 speedometers the 60 MPH were for the 3/4 ton and up trucks, the 100 MPH were for the 1/2 ton pickups and the standard car. You say their was also a 100 PMH speedometer in a box, I see the speedometer needle is below the Zero so probably someone did this to correspond with trying to match the needle to the speedometer number, on the 100 MPH speedometer the 40 Mph is where the 60 MPH would be. There would be 20 MPH difference in the speedometer readings. I hope this will help. If you move the needle up to Zero and drive the pickup the speedometer would register 20 MPH or so higher than you are actually going.
BILL WELLS

Problem is it doesn't drive right now to verify. Bob do you do restorations for people ?

buzz4041 · 08-22-2017, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry,OH

There is no tag for the diff ratio. It may be stamped into the bottom of the center housing. There is a way to verify current ratio do a search, on this web site, for more info. From your frame serial # it appears your pick up was not a 4-speed. If the frame number matches the number on the transmission, stamped above the clutch inspection cover, your transmission is original to the vehicle.

I have tried to resurrect the number on transmission but just haven't been able to make it out clearly to say yes it is number matching or not. The transmission sure does feel like a 4 speed shift pattern.

buzz4041 · 08-22-2017, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Bull

YOU CAN TELL ITS A 4 SPEED BY THE SHIFT KNOB MARKINGS OR IF YOU NEED TO SHIFT UP AT OVER 15 MPH. My 40 Ford 1/2 Ton PU was called 'THE farm VERSION' 85 HP v8,60 mph SPEEDO, 4.11 REAR END & 4 speed TRANNY. The factory made 400+ making it a rare Truck!

Shift knob markings are gone unfortunately. Still trying to figure out how I can get the number on the case to paper. Tried tracing paper and pencil but can only vaguely make a few numbers out on it. Any other methods out there to transfer the number or make it become more visible ? It feels like a 4 speed shift pattern and is definitely the V8.

42 1/2ton · 08-22-2017, 03:03 PM

Don't all 4 speeds up to and including 1942 have the reverse lockout thumb lever on shifter.

rotorwrench · 08-22-2017, 05:42 PM

That double detent 81A-7222 shift top is for a light duty 3-speed. The 4-speed shifter top is completely different and would have BB-7222 on it. The 3-speed has the standard H pattern. The early 4-speed has the lock out for reverse gear and adds an extra leg to the shift pattern.

08-21-2017, 01:32 PM	#2
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,751	Re: 1940 Pickup speedometer range and transmission The BB-7222 housing is for the 4-Speed you have the 3-Speed housing with double detents. If you notice your 60 MPH speedo the shift point out of 3rd gear and into 4th is about 28 MPH. You may want to identify what the rear axle gear ratio is. usually the 4-Speeds are about 4:44 and the car and light duty pick ups 4:11 or 3:78. This will assist in making sure you have the correct speedometer turtle on the torque tube. I would change the speedo to the 100 MPH car speedo since your 60 MPH is not even calibrated properly (note the pointer below 0 MPH). What letter or numbers start your frame serial number? It appears many of the 4-speed pick ups started with BB- where 3-Speeds started I8-

08-21-2017, 02:51 PM	#4
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,431	Re: 1940 Pickup speedometer range and transmission A 60 MPH speedometer sounds like one for one of the small engines like V8-60 or the 9N 4-cylinder for 1941. A VIN like 18-XXXXXX would indicate 85-HP 221 V8 engine. The part number beginning 81A is just the number for the double detent shifter top in that time frame.

08-21-2017, 02:59 PM	#5
alanwoodieman Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: upstate SC Posts: 2,963	Re: 1940 Pickup speedometer range and transmission the 60 mph speedo with the shift points are for a 4 speed trans. it did not matter what truck it was in or what the rear end ratio was. I have a 41 1 1/2 ton 4 spd and had a couple of the 41 trucks with 4 cylinder engines and with 4 speed trans and all had the 60 mph with shift points

08-21-2017, 06:29 PM	#6
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,431	Re: 1940 Pickup speedometer range and transmission Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Some of the 1/2 ton Commercials had a prefix of BB18- if they put a 4-speed in them at the factory. There is not enough information about Ford commercial VINs of the day to know if that was a standard practice or if it was one or more assembly plants that did that. It would have been special order since the light duty 3-speed was generally standard equipment on 1/2 tons.

08-22-2017, 08:16 AM	#8
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,751	Re: 1940 Pickup speedometer range and transmission There is no tag for the diff ratio. It may be stamped into the bottom of the center housing. There is a way to verify current ratio do a search, on this web site, for more info. From your frame serial # it appears your pick up was not a 4-speed. If the frame number matches the number on the transmission, stamped above the clutch inspection cover, your transmission is original to the vehicle.

08-22-2017, 11:42 AM	#9
Ken Bull Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Port St Lucie Florida Posts: 398	Re: 1940 Pickup speedometer range and transmission YOU CAN TELL ITS A 4 SPEED BY THE SHIFT KNOB MARKINGS OR IF YOU NEED TO SHIFT UP AT OVER 15 MPH. My 40 Ford 1/2 Ton PU was called 'THE farm VERSION' 85 HP v8,60 mph SPEEDO, 4.11 REAR END & 4 speed TRANNY. The factory made 400+ making it a rare Truck!

08-22-2017, 03:03 PM	#13
42 1/2ton Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Entiat, Washington Posts: 53	Re: 1940 Pickup speedometer range and transmission Don't all 4 speeds up to and including 1942 have the reverse lockout thumb lever on shifter.

08-22-2017, 05:42 PM	#14
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,431	Re: 1940 Pickup speedometer range and transmission That double detent 81A-7222 shift top is for a light duty 3-speed. The 4-speed shifter top is completely different and would have BB-7222 on it. The 3-speed has the standard H pattern. The early 4-speed has the lock out for reverse gear and adds an extra leg to the shift pattern.