A 8n tractor radius rod socket question

white64

Senior Member
Putting a s10 4x4 t5 in my '40 using adapters, this allows me to use the factory rear axle and torque tube, and be able to run highway speeds.
BUT #1! I have to remove the bottom plate that ties the x-frame together so the trans can be removed if necessary in the future, BUT #2, the wishbone socket is a part of this bottom plate. After doing some poking around it looks like an 8n tractor radius rod socket might do the trick by bolting it on to the new plate and capturing the wishbone ball. All I've got is an ebay pic, does any one know if the 8n socket is comparable in size to the 40 wishbone ball?
This is not really a HAMB question since everything else on the car will be sortah period correct (except for the 8ba). ....and I'm much more likely to find a 8n/early Ford expert here! :-)
 

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A stock properly restored 40 should be able to run highway speeds without modifications ---I drove a stock 39 with 60hp at highway speeds for many miles, if that can do it a 40 shoud do it easy

it has been along time since i worked on a 8n-9n, but I think the radius ball is more model T sized
 
Just cut the socket area out of the original center section and reuse it as part of your new lower plate.
 
I put a T-5 in my 40, I took the top part of the X member off and put a plate on top of the bottom plate for the rear mount, made a new top for the X member that I can unbolt and take the trans out from the top. The wish bone is in the stock place. Walt
 
I'd like to help but my 8N is in the portable garage under 3ft of snow, so I won't be seeing it until spring.:eek:
 
All I've got is an ebay pic, does any one know if the 8n socket is comparable in size to the 40 wishbone ball?

Answer: 1940 wishbone ball retainer is much different.
 
A stock properly restored 40 should be able to run highway speeds without modifications ---I drove a stock 39 with 60hp at highway speeds for many miles, if that can do it a 40 shoud do it easy

it has been along time since i worked on a 8n-9n, but I think the radius ball is more model T sized


A couple of reasons for doing this, I like the looks of the rear axle and un-split radius rods (silly I know) , the 8ba in my 31 coupe with all '46 drive train, trans and rear axle , is screamin' @ 55 mph. AND most important; Ken and Walt swear by a t5 behind a flathead
...

I'll get some pics tomorrow of my progress so far... It's hard to visualize without them.

Dropping the trans fromm the bottom will require the wishbone to be swung down, hopefully far enough w/o removing too much "stuff"!.
 
Here are a few pictures of the t5 4x4 adapter and the torque tube...
...with the cuts made to the frame so far (keeping the cuts to a minimum, just taking small bites off it, easier to take more off than to put it back on)

The existing 40 wishbone socket is rusted through, I think a 46-48 socket would work...

The adapter was made by HAMB member daddyo
 

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I don't see why it wouldn't hold up to the weight of a 40. The original wishbone mount is only stamped steel with a steel cover. I think you are going to make a new mount for your wishbone, so you can make it as strong as you need to support the cast Model A clamp. This will give you the ball portion at least.
 
This is the one I'm using for a rear wishbone setup, but it is the Model-A size also.
 

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Cast iron is an odd material choice. Are you sure they aren't cast steel?

You can get them as both cast or stamped steel. Not sure what you are referring to as cast steel, did you mean cast vs forged?
 

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The model A setup for a rubber ball should be suitable for your needs, but it does have to be mounted correctly---on the A it is located not by the bolts, but by the recess---the round hole needs to be machined to match the shoulder on the cup that goes toward the mounting surface ---this shoulder contains the force, the bolts are used in tension, not shear
 
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