47 Ford 1 Ton

[PeeVee]

I"m currently restoring this. It has the original manual 4 speed. I"m considering installing an overdrive so I can comfortably drive it on modern roads. Any suggestions on a reasonably cheap way to do this?

 

[Buck in WV]

My thinking is that a higher speed rear end is the only practical way of doing it.

 

[truckdog62563]

I'll agree on the rear end swap. You might check in over at the Ford Truck Enthusiasts site (www.ford-trucks.com). They have a whole section of the web site devoted to the pre-48s. I know that on the 48 to 52 trucks guys commonly use 1967 to 1972 F Series axles. They bolt right in. One draw back doing this on your truck, though, will be a change of bolt pattern. Yours has a 5 lug on 6 7/8" pattern. The latter Fords used 8 lug on 6 1/2" circle for the 3/4 and 1 tons. Half tons used 5 on 5 1/2". Stu

 

[PeeVee]

Thanks for the thoughts guys. Yes, changing out the rear end would be cheaper. I've considered that but concerned over loss of torque in lower gears. I'm wondering if there's an original manual transmission with overdrive that would fit, without affecting the gear lever position.
Peter

 

[Anonymous-0]

You might be able to upgrade the transmission. I am not sure if you can do it to your vintage truck but the '48 and up can be upgraded using a T-5 transmission with O/D. You can do a search of T5 transmissions, there's a lot of information out there. One note, the T5 is not as strong of a transmission as the stock one in your truck but as long as you are not planning to haul heavy loads, which your truck was made to do, you should be fine with a T5 especially if you can find a T5 World Class. You could also try the transmission from a '87 and up three speed with O/D.

Just another option you can check into. Like Stu said, check out the FTE site. Also the Ford Barn site. There is also a guy on the Bonus Built site, '48-52 Ford trucks, that is using a T5 in his F-5 truck.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I always worry a bit when I hear someone asking about making one of those 50-60 year old cars/trucks run a todays highway speeds without up grading the rest of the truck. In the late 40's normal highway speed for one of those trucks was in the 40-50 mph top speed range, and even at that the steering/brakes/suspension was barely up to the job.
Even if everything is in new condition, you stand a very good chance of over driving the capability of the truck and rear ending a newer car / truck. Younger drivers are not going to understand that your old truck is not capable of the performance they grew up expecting from newer rigs.

 

[PeeVee]

Many thanks. Good tips.

Peter

 

[PeeVee]

I agree totally. I may just leave things stock anyway. Just fishing here for cheap "go faster" options.

Thanks

Peter

 

[PeeVee]

Thanks Su. Good suggestions. I did actually change out the rear end. I got a re-built one from a wreckers (something like a '54). Like new, but still the same miserable 4.86:1.
Peter

 

[EddyLucast]

A little after the fact here but my 45 Ford 1/2 ton will do highway speeds with no problems