Columbia mod and repair

[Dee]

A friend in Texas would like to cut and weld the right Columbia axle housing from a postwar Ford for use in his '40 Lincoln. The Lincoln has a narrower tread and a different spring hanger so this would require shorting the Columbia housing and rewelding the Lincoln out end to the housing. The Columbia guts would also have to be bullit proofed. Any recommendations on who can do this? I have heard of a guy in Knoxville?
I think the alignment of the axle housing work would be critical.

 

[OLD...BILL]

A friend in Texas would like to cut and weld the right Columbia axle housing from a postwar Ford for use in his '40 Lincoln. The Lincoln has a narrower tread and a different spring hanger so this would require shorting the Columbia housing and rewelding the Lincoln out end to the housing. The Columbia guts would also have to be bullit proofed. Any recommendations on who can do this? I have heard of a guy in Knoxville?
I think the alignment of the axle housing work would be critical.

THE GO-TO GUY is John Connelly on the west cost at 951-719-4077 ,,, he dose it all bulliting proofing too....OLD ...BILL

 

[joel]

I talked to Johnny Stooksbury ( I appologize for the spelling) about 1 1/2 years ago about the same work on COLUMBIA from a 47 Ford cut to fit in a 40. I just haven't got to it yet. Try 865 690 7585. He is in Knoxville.

 

[4dFord/SC]

I've dealt with them both and had excellent service from each.

 

[Ken/Alabama]

A friend in Texas would like to cut and weld the right Columbia axle housing from a postwar Ford for use in his '40 Lincoln. The Lincoln has a narrower tread and a different spring hanger so this would require shorting the Columbia housing and rewelding the Lincoln out end to the housing. The Columbia guts would also have to be bullit proofed. Any recommendations on who can do this? I have heard of a guy in Knoxville?
I think the alignment of the axle housing work would be critical.

Johnny Stooksbury did the one for my 39 Lincoln . I went to his shop and picked it up. He showed me the jig he has to do this with . He has bullit proofed several Columbias for me over the years ,never had a problem.

 

[Mark Slight]

John Connlley A-1, did my '37 Lincoln Columbia.

 

[jimTN]

Johnny is the man to fix Columbias. Does your lincoln have a speedo drive on the rear end housing?

 

[Dee]

Many thanks for the replies. And no, there's no speedo drive on the rear end.

 

[quickchange34]

Only the 37 linclon zephyr had the speedo on the axel housing.

 

[Ken/Alabama]

Only the 37 linclon zephyr had the speedo on the axel housing.

So did the 38s and 39s if it left the factory with a Columbia. If it was a dealer installed Columbia it had the speedo drive on the torque tube like the Fords which were all dealer installed.

 

[columbiA]

Ive modified 2 Columbias to fit my model A,s I am not a machinist,but a retired HD mechanic.No lathe work was involved.I used an oxy-acet torch to cut TT & DS apart & angle grinder to prep for welding & used my225 Lincoln DC welder to put it back together. Same for cutting off V8 hangers & welding on the A hangers The 1,st one was a 40 OD,but the 2,nd was a 46 so I had to cut the Columbia hsg & remove 15/16" so that I could use the shorter 35-41 axles.By partially asembling the RH axle assy I was able to get the outer end hsg straight & concentric with the axle when it was welded Both OD,s have worked out well & only cost the price of new seals & some welding rods & quite a bit of time.If I had the cash,I could have bought a Mitchell orVolvo OD but I enjoyed doing it myself.