1932 Gearboxes for V8 and 4 cylinder

1

123lhsmithy

Junior Member
hi im changing my 1932 4 cylinder to a V8 im just waiting on my engine to be rebuilt, i need to know are gear boxs different for a V8 to a 4 cylinder, will i have to find a V8 box or will mine orignial one fit,

cheers :)
 
Only the case is different; the shift lever housing and all of the gears and bearings are the same.
 
I've heard some of the later cases (78 series) will not fit as they are deeper at the back, and will not clear the 32 wishbone at the back. I've not confirmed this, but the 78 cases are a little deeper at the back. They all bolt up however
 
Another urban legend. The 78-prefix cases fit in a stock '32 chassis with a '32 rear transmission mount just fine.
 
Unless you are doing a show car I would use a #78 case with the latest gear set w/ a 16 Tooth input shaft ( 40-48 Ford) The gear sets from the later side shift trans will go right in to the earlier 37-39 ,#78 case You will need the shift tower with 3 inch forks and use the 32 trans mount. You will also need a bracket to mount the E brake. You can make that out of some 2" angle iron cut to fit the top of the tower.
 
32phil said:
Unless you are doing a show car I would use a #78 case with the latest gear set w/ a 16 Tooth input shaft ( 40-48 Ford) The gear sets from the later side shift trans will go right in to the earlier 37-39 ,#78 case You will need the shift tower with 3 inch forks and use the 32 trans mount. You will also need a bracket to mount the E brake. You can make that out of some 2" angle iron cut to fit the top of the tower.
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You also need the clutch throw out arm from the B trans (same as V8).

Although beyond the scope of your question I thought you might find interesting a post I made on the Early V8 site (earlyfordv8.org).

The following are a few thoughts on changing from a 4 to a V8 in a 1932. I restored a Model B roadster in the early seventies. I used a frame from a V8 with the V8 serial number. A couple of years later I decided I need a little more power and reliability (probably a bad decision) and installed a 4 cylinder Chevy II engine. When I made this change it required no irreversible changes and I kept all of the Model B parts. In the 1990’s a good friend tried to convince me to make it a V8. He sold me an original engine and a many of the other parts that were V8 unique. So now it is 2012 and I would like to return the car to original. I have all of the parts to go either way and just need to get started. If I had a Model B engine in the car now I would leave it along as the Model B is a good engine.
A couple of important questions.

Are you building a “resto rod” or doing a restoration? Is your V8 21 or 24 studs? I am considering doing this myself. I am sure I missed a few.

The following changes need to be made when replacing a Model B with a V8 (21 stud, others will require a few more things):
Of course engine, motor mounts
Muffler and exhaust system before muffler (same muffler and back)
Radiator
Engine steady rods
Hubcaps
Starter switch (if it is early B with pull starter)
Transmission (gears interchange but cases are different)
Choke (B is a cable, V8 is a rod)
Accelerator linkage
Engine splash pans
Gas line needs to be routed from right on Model B to right on V8
The B will have a few extra holes in the firewall pad from mounting the 4 cyl engine snubber
Need to add emblem to headlight bar
Need to accept the fact that the serial number (VIN) is for a 4 cylinder

Interesting to note the increase in value for the car is about the same as the cost of making the change

Charlie Stephens
 
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I have a 32 V-8 4speed box if you are still looking. Send me a PM

The input shaft is much shorter on the V8 transmission than on the 4 banger
 
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