T-10 4-speed on a Flathead

Rock Hornbuckle

Rock Hornbuckle

Well-known member
Any previous threads on marrying a t-10 to a flathead. I have a t-10 and a t-5. I'm thinking of putting one of them in my '41. I have an 8BA in the car with a '39 3-speed and a Columbia 2-speed. I was thinking of replacing the Columbia with a standard 3rd member. Any suggestions?
 
Neither your t-10 or t-5 is a simple conversion. If your goal is to improve your hi speed and lower the engine RPM both the 3 spd and the T10 both have 1-1 final drive. Other than another intermediate gear its the same. Since the T-5 is an over drive this gives you approximately a 30% over dive ratio so in 5th overdrive you would have a similar ratio with a stock 3:78 rear end as you would with the Columbia engaged and the 3 spd.
 
The biggest advantage of the T-10 is: most bolt to the stock ford 59/53 passenger car bell housing. They also have a dual bolt pattern on some models. for other applications.
But as Dick says you will not improve mileage or cruise RPM, so after spending a great deal of money and time. You'll still have the same thing.
 
The late 51 Mercury bell housing will work for a narrow 4-bolt Borg Warner bolt patern and will also work with the 1941 clutch equalizer shaft as long as the engine is positioned for it.

The other option is the truck 4-speed hogs head bell with an adapter.
 
Ol' Ron said:
The biggest advantage of the T-10 is: most bolt to the stock ford 59/53 passenger car bell housing. They also have a dual bolt pattern on some models. for other applications.
But as Dick says you will not improve mileage or cruise RPM, so after spending a great deal of money and time. You'll still have the same thing.
Click to expand...
Except you'll have synchros on all, nda a trans that a flattie will not destroy.
 
Go with the T-5 - for the o/d. But after all is said and done, will you be better off with that and conventional rear vs the Columbia and stock trans??
 
Sort of following the same idea, as you already have the columbia, you already have a near perfect setup. It simply isn't worth fitting the other boxes. If you fitted the 4 speed and regular rear you'd have a definite de-grade of the current setup. Don't forget fitting either of the gearboxes mentioned will involve chassis mods and converting to an open drive rear end, with suspension mods.

I can't see enough benefit to warrant the work involved.

You might even devalue the car quite substantially.

Mart.
 
You may run into problems with the shift location with both the T-10/T-5 - They both come thru the floor to the rear of the 39 top shifter - In the 48 & up trucks there is interference with the seat.
 
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