ok, i'm new at this, i have a 36 Ford Phaeton and most of the parts. I want to keep the flathead 8 but want a highway car, not a hot rod(by definition). The issue is the rear axle, i have had differring advice from a Columbia 2 speed to a ford 5 speed. are there other options and which is the cleanest and less expensive. Any thoughts would be appreciated
36 ford phaeton
- Thread starter shuggie
- Start date
Welcome to Fordbarn. It's good to hear another '36' Phaeton will be gracing the roads with her presence once again.
I suggest you search this site for information about the Mitchel Overdrive unit. From what I hear they are well suited to your requirement, and are comparitivly easy to install.
Good luck.
I suggest you search this site for information about the Mitchel Overdrive unit. From what I hear they are well suited to your requirement, and are comparitivly easy to install.
Good luck.
VeryTangled
Well-known member
Hello and welcome, shuggie,
I share a '36 Phaeton with my dad. When we got the car it had 4.11 rear end gears, and it didn't really like speeds above 45, even though I had it up to 55 for short periods of interstate driving. Within the last year or so we had a rear built by Charlie Schwindler (sp?) in NY, that had one step lower gears in it. There was a very nice difference, in fact I just came back from a little jaunt down the interstate within the last hour, and she was happy between 60 and 65, and frankly that's fast enough for me. So to answer your question, I wouldn't advocate either of your proposals, but would advocate for a rear gearset that is compatible with modern highway speeds, maybe even 3.78s which my buddy JM35sedan has in his car that is fresh off a 7K mile run from MD to NV and back. Remember another factor is the tires you select.
I think I read or heard that Ford said their car would do 80mph right off the showroom floor, but I can't imagine what that would have been like on the roads of the day!
To figure what rear gear your car has check the current thread on the subject:
http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=114015
That said, many people have the overdrives and love them, like one of my buddies Cecil/WV who does quite a bit of long distance driving (like from WV to NV and back, and WV to UT and back), and there are plenty of folks that would advocate for the 5 speed, even though I'm a little too much of a 'as henry built it' guy to love that idea.
Just my opinions, I hope they help.
-VT/JeffH
Edited because I'm a fool and got some of the info wrong.
I share a '36 Phaeton with my dad. When we got the car it had 4.11 rear end gears, and it didn't really like speeds above 45, even though I had it up to 55 for short periods of interstate driving. Within the last year or so we had a rear built by Charlie Schwindler (sp?) in NY, that had one step lower gears in it. There was a very nice difference, in fact I just came back from a little jaunt down the interstate within the last hour, and she was happy between 60 and 65, and frankly that's fast enough for me. So to answer your question, I wouldn't advocate either of your proposals, but would advocate for a rear gearset that is compatible with modern highway speeds, maybe even 3.78s which my buddy JM35sedan has in his car that is fresh off a 7K mile run from MD to NV and back. Remember another factor is the tires you select.
I think I read or heard that Ford said their car would do 80mph right off the showroom floor, but I can't imagine what that would have been like on the roads of the day!
To figure what rear gear your car has check the current thread on the subject:
http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=114015
That said, many people have the overdrives and love them, like one of my buddies Cecil/WV who does quite a bit of long distance driving (like from WV to NV and back, and WV to UT and back), and there are plenty of folks that would advocate for the 5 speed, even though I'm a little too much of a 'as henry built it' guy to love that idea.
Just my opinions, I hope they help.
-VT/JeffH
Edited because I'm a fool and got some of the info wrong.
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JM 35 Sedan
Well-known member
You have at least several good ways to go to make that Phaeton a highway car. It would help to know your approximate location to give some idea of the type roads you will be traveling. Flat, hilly, mountainous or some combination of the three.
Depending on which rear gears you have now, a ratio change may work. Example: if you have 4.11 gears now, a change to 3.78 or 3.54 would allow you to travel at most interstate speed limits without over revving your engine. A Columbia two speed OD is another good way to go if you have the $,$$$ to spend. The Mitchell OD is another great option. The modern 5 speed OD transmissions work nice but require modifications that I would prefer not to make on an original car. There is someone either working on or now offering a 5 speed conversion that does not require frame modifications, but driveshaft & torque tube must be shortened.
I recently changed rear gears in my 35 fordor sedan from 4.11 to 3.78. With 750x16 tires on the rear, this car now seems to like traveling at 60 to 65 mph on the highways.
Depending on which rear gears you have now, a ratio change may work. Example: if you have 4.11 gears now, a change to 3.78 or 3.54 would allow you to travel at most interstate speed limits without over revving your engine. A Columbia two speed OD is another good way to go if you have the $,$$$ to spend. The Mitchell OD is another great option. The modern 5 speed OD transmissions work nice but require modifications that I would prefer not to make on an original car. There is someone either working on or now offering a 5 speed conversion that does not require frame modifications, but driveshaft & torque tube must be shortened.
I recently changed rear gears in my 35 fordor sedan from 4.11 to 3.78. With 750x16 tires on the rear, this car now seems to like traveling at 60 to 65 mph on the highways.
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Mike in AZ
Well-known member
welcome to the 'Barn....got pics??....lol....Mike
danliveshere
Well-known member
I changed from 4.11 to 3.78 in my roadster. As stated above it really helped with highway cruising, had a 59 A motor with some go fast goodies and could pull 100MPH( only did it once because it was just way too scary). However it ran very nicely at 65 mph, all day long.
