1939 Truck rear axle question

mvonhobe

mvonhobe

Junior Member
Subject is a '39 1-1/2 ton truck, 157" wheelbase, model 997T. Has a large shift lever on the floor by the driver's side door, linkage heading towards the rear. Did these trucks have (the option of) a 2-speed rear end?
 
Last edited:
I,M pretty sure thats the power take off ," PTO " for a dump body or a winch an cable .look at the ****** undernieth it should have a huge box on it with another smaller driveshaft coming out of it , if it was a two speed there would be a thumb button on the shifter ,i,m pretty sure
 
Internationals used a floor shift lever on the older Six Speed Specials but that was back in the late 20s & early 30s. Some browney boxes (BLC) shifted with floor rocker levers. You would have to see where the linkages go. As Mike mentioned, it may be a PTO control. By 1939 many of the 2-speed rear axle controls were on the shifter lever even if they were mechanical/vacuum operated or they had a seperate shift lever which I believe is what Ford used. The electric ones were in full swing well after the war in the 50s. The cable/vacuum controled set ups came in in 1945 on the big Ford trucks.
 
Last edited:
Does it look like this?

Bob
 

Attachments

  • 2spd.jpg
    2spd.jpg
    49.8 KB · Views: 26
Thanks, fellas.
Bob, The truck is off-site at the moment and we're having an unusual (for these parts, believe it or not) spring snow. I'll have a look-see and compare it to your picture. Thanks for sending it
MGvH
 
mvonhobe said:
Subject is a '39 1-1/2 ton truck, 157" wheelbase, model 997T. Has a large shift lever on the floor by the driver's side door, linkage heading towards the rear. Did these trucks have (the option of) a 2-speed rear end?
Click to expand...
So, then, if this shift lever is "by the driver's side door" is it to the left of the driver? If this be true, it seems it would make getting in and out a bit difficult. Personally, I never saw one in that position. Maybe I just misunderstood what you meant.
 
Most of the 2-speed lever shift types have the lever right next to the transmission shifter lever but with just enough space to allow for trans shifting. Thats why the Ford lever in the illustration has the big dog leg. The COEs usually had shorter levers & special linkages.
 
Have the beast back.....that lever on the left is, indeed, for a 2-speed rear axle! It's a solid linkage, not a cable. The e-brake cable crosses over it on the way to the back end.
The high speed is currently not operable but there's a shop in town that'll repair that. In low range the lever is mostly out of the way but....srsly!....when it'll be engaged for the high range, I'm thinking that lever'll be another obstacle for getting in 'n out! At 6'-3", I'm already stuffed in there!
 
I have never seen one there :eek: wow maybe ita a home made option an Joe said "We,ll make it direct drive ,lets put it here ", thats cool ! how about some more photos of the truck ???:D mp
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top