EAB to 39 toploader

Anton Voycheck

Anton Voycheck

Member
I have a 52-53 EAB engine I am working with and I am looking to mate it to a 39 Ford transmission for a car I am trying to build. I have no bell housing yet. I am guessing that the 39 trans will not bolt right up to the EAB bell housing and I will need some sort of adaptor. A stock 52-53-clutch and flywheel will be used. Where can I find an adaptor for joining the 39 trans to the 52-53 EAB type bell housing. thank you for the help.
 
1949 thru early 51 Mercury cars and 8BA family pickups used the stamped steel (or cast iron on 4-speed truck applications) half bell that will fit the 8BA family of engines and any of the early round pattern transmissions with 1 3/8" 10-spline input shaft.
 
Use a merc 49/51 housing and oil pan or a 49/51 PU. Make sure you get the right starter plate. All stock stuff here.
 
The 48-52 truck bell housing (cast iron) or the 49-50 Merc bell housing (stamped steel) will bolt right up to your motor. Be sure to use the matching starter plate for whichever bell housing you use. Either type will accept the 32-39 type top loader 3 speed transmission.

Your other problem is the flywheel. If it's drilled for a 9.5" diameter pressure plate, you can't use it......unless you have it redrilled for a 9" or 10" or the truck 11" clutch bolt pattern. Or you can locate a 48-52 truck flywheel which is drilled for the 10" or 11" clutch.

The 9.5" clutch is meant to be used with the transmissions with the smaller input shaft and you would have problems with the throw out bearing.
 
Mac VP said:
The 48-52 truck bell housing (cast iron) or the 49-50 Merc bell housing (stamped steel) will bolt right up to your motor. Be sure to use the matching starter plate for whichever bell housing you use. Either type will accept the 32-39 type top loader 3 speed transmission.

Your other problem is the flywheel. If it's drilled for a 9.5" diameter pressure plate, you can't use it......unless you have it redrilled for a 9" or 10" or the truck 11" clutch bolt pattern. Or you can locate a 48-52 truck flywheel which is drilled for the 10" or 11" clutch.

The 9.5" clutch is meant to be used with the transmissions with the smaller input shaft and you would have problems with the throw out bearing.
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I'm running an 8ba in my '39 p/u with the Merc stamped steel 1/2 bell with a 9 1/2 inch pressure plate and a 9 inch disk with no issues. Or you can have Ft. Wayne clutch build you a 9 1/2 disc with the correct splines for the '39 trans.
 
Listen to Mac vp he knows what he is talking about. There can be problems with throw out bearing and carrier using 0.5 pressure plate.
 
I suppose it's possible for someone to combine the 9.5" pressure plate with a '39 type transmission, but I believe the three fingers on this pressure plate are going to be too close to the front bearing retainer of the transmission when the clutch is depressed. Since the pressure plate (and the release fingers) are spinning with the engine flywheel, they typically hit the front of the snout of the transmission front bearing retainer. At the same time they will chew into the carrier hub of the throw out bearing. Usually you hear the scraping sounds and you'll find lots of metal particles inside the bell housing. We've seen this before in transmissions that have come into the shop....
 
Mac's right. The throw out for the 9.5 Long type is for a 1" 10-spline trans input. That small input uses a small diameter throw out set up for the Ford car type full bell housing. It would be interesting to find out how 51504bat dealt with that. Most folks change over to the 9 or 10 inch Long type by re-drilling the flywheel or they can use the 49/E51 Merc Borg & Beck 10-inch set up & flywheel since they all use the early type throw out for 1 3/8" 10-spline input.
 
Thanks guys for the great info. Now I have a good idea of the pieces I am going to need to bring together. I need to make sure that this block has no cracks and is doable before I start spending the money for the parts. Had a good offer here on Ford barn for a bell housing. Keeping it in mind.
 
Can an open shaft output be put on the back of the 39, allowing for a u-joint/drive shaft/differential?
Or if I use the 39, will I be locked into a closed drive system?
 
Anton Voycheck said:
Can an open shaft output be put on the back of the 39, allowing for a u-joint/drive shaft/differential?
Or if I use the 39, will I be locked into a closed drive system?
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The pieces shown in the pic are what you need for the conversion. The MAINSHAFT, SPEEDO GEAR, and the REAR BEARING RETAINER/REAR MOUNT. You'll also need a driveshaft YOKE. DD

265036
 
rotorwrench said:
Mac's right. The throw out for the 9.5 Long type is for a 1" 10-spline trans input. That small input uses a small diameter throw out set up for the Ford car type full bell housing. It would be interesting to find out how 51504bat dealt with that. Most folks change over to the 9 or 10 inch Long type by re-drilling the flywheel or they can use the 49/E51 Merc Borg & Beck 10-inch set up & flywheel since they all use the early type throw out for 1 3/8" 10-spline input.
Click to expand...
When I first got my '39 p/u the trans was bad so I replaced it with another '39 trans. At the same time I installed a new clutch assembly using the 9.5 cover and 9 inch disc. I ran that set up for over a year with no issues. I installed a newly rebuilt 8ba 3 or four months ago and now have about 1500 miles on it using the same clutch assembly from the old engine. No issues and no grinding noises or filings in the bell housing when I pulled the engine to install the new rebuild. Photos attached of the old t/o bearing on a core 9.5 inch cover.
 

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