ID Columbia Axle Part one

[Mr 42]

Yesterday i went down south to Ljungby all Ford Swapmeet.
Its not big but its good
Did som good buys, but when i got to the end there was a friend that helped to sell of some parts from a Ford guy that have left this world.
So i got a good deal on a Columbia in Boxes.

Since i never thought i would be able to buy one. So i am lacking knowledge.
It looks to be for a 42-48 as i understand it (panhard mount).
But i really like to fit it under my 33, so i guess i need to replace/shorten the axle housing. But is there anything else i need to do.

 

[Mr 42]

More pics

 

[Mr 42]

And some more

 

[deuce_roadster]

Yeah, send all that stuff to John Connolly in CA and tell him you want it to fit in a 33. Oh, I see you are in Sweden, might not be able to do that.

 

[Mr 42]

I could probably do that, but it would be great if i could have some machining done localy and assemble it myself, so i learn something new ;-)

 

[hotcoupe]

make it look like this one.
tom
http://s256.photobucket.com/user/nowaynohow101/media/P1010017-5.jpg.html

 

[Mr 42]

Ok , so it is a 33-35 axle housing cut towards the center instead of the outer end.
And fitted to the Columbia housing

Nice one.
Thanks.
Anyone got an idea on what it was fitted on from the start?

 

[Kurt in NJ]

Most likely it is a 42-48 type, made for a 35-48 center housing (32-34 is more narrow), to use it with your original axle shafts both housings will need to be cut---the right one to be mated to the columbia housing, the left one to adapt the later center section---or a shim to adapt the thinner 32-34 banjo to the columbia housing

the syncronizer needs to be rebuilt for sure---it's inside the part the shift forks connect to, originally cork inserts

 

[hotcoupe]

mr.42, the axle housing used in the columbia rear axle pictured above is a late `32 thru `34 housing. in addition you will need a spacer that is exactly one-half the difference between the width of the `42-`48 banjo housing and the `34 banjo housing. if you look at the image, you can see the spacer between the banjo housing and the columbia housing. if you send your e-mail address, i`ll provide you with more images.
tom

 

[jimTN]

It all depends on how original you want your car to look. If you can stand a little more rear axle width then thats a big problem solved. All you would need to do is fabricate or use 33/4 rear spring mounts the proper distance from the center of the rear end so that the wheels will be in the right place and your cooked spring will fit. A local machine shop can shorten your torque tube and driveshaft. Problem you have is the "bullet proofing" that needs to be done and the clutch/sync works. I think also that some rewelding may be needed on the one interior housing.

 

[Mr 42]

If Google is true i have bought a Lincoln Columbia.
Can anyone decipher the brasstag anymore?

And what is the difference between Lincoln and Ford Columbia axle's

Finally i don't like the look of 42-48 axle's on early fenderless cars they are to wide

And i would like to keep my mechanical brakes.

 

[flatheadmurre]

Parts will fit on a regular centersection and become a ford columbia.

 

[Mr 42]

Ok Thanks.

 

[blucar]

I may be wrong, have been before; As I recall only the '47-48 models had the "panhard" (sway-bar) mount incorporated into the right side axle assembly housing.
The '42-48 has an axle width that is 2" wider than the '35-41, that is only an additional 1" on each side. For the life of me I can't see the value in cutting axle housings, etc., down to loose an each per side, especially on a fenderless car that is most-likely going to have oversize tires.
I upgraded my '36 Ford from a '36 Columbia to a '47-48 unit in 1955.. I used the Columbia assembly on the '36 center section w/'36 drive-line, '37 radius bars. The whole thing bolted together like it came from the factor. I have never had any issues with the Columbia in over sixty years of driving..

 

[Mr 42]

I may be wrong, have been before; As I recall only the '47-48 models had the "panhard" (sway-bar) mount incorporated into the right side axle assembly housing.
The '42-48 has an axle width that is 2" wider than the '35-41, that is only an additional 1" on each side. For the life of me I can't see the value in cutting axle housings, etc., down to loose an each per side, especially on a fenderless car that is most-likely going to have oversize tires.
I upgraded my '36 Ford from a '36 Columbia to a '47-48 unit in 1955.. I used the Columbia assembly on the '36 center section w/'36 drive-line, '37 radius bars. The whole thing bolted together like it came from the factor. I have never had any issues with the Columbia in over sixty years of driving..

I can see where you comming from, i think between 32-34 its 2" per side.
Anyway i will use 33-34 center and 33-34 left axel housing, so i will get a "original" look alike axle.

I have managed to get a "spare" 33-34 axle that i will use for mockup and to convert the right axle housing. A a fresh pricelist from Mr columbia. So maybe next year i can cruise in high gear.