Over drive...

RussBees

Since the after market ring and pinion will not work on my 1937 Railton, has anyone used an after market overdrive like the Mitchell Overdrive Unit from California?



Russ

oldhudsons

a 3.51 ring gear & pinion is avail., made by a member of the ROC, that will go right in.

If you're a member of ROC, contact Pat McDonald.

Jon B

Are you saying that McDonald's ring and pinion won't work?

oldhudsons

Jon - Pat does NOT provide or make an o.d. unit. He has had made new ring gear & pinion sets with a 3.51 ratio which will work, I assume, in any HET from '33-4 up thru '47.

Pat has about 1/2 dozen Railtons & along with other ROC members wanted a high speed ratio. Ivan I thought was at one time selling them for him.

Pat brought a couple of them with him to Pontiac & sold all of them - I know Pete McManus bought one for his '34 Railton which was there.

Jon B

Yes, I'm aware of Pat's ring & pinion ("crownwheel") sets. I was just curious if that is what Russ was referring to when he said the "aftermarket" ring and pinion would not work (and thus he was looking for overdrive). I was curious to know why it wouldn't work, because I have heard people say that McDonald's ring gear will not fit into the housing. One must grind the rim of the opening slightly to allow the ring gear to fit, but some people aren't aware of this, and assume that the gear simply won't go in. That's why I asked the question: I wondered if, perchance, Russ had attempted to fit McDonald's gear setup to his rearend housing with no initial success.

RussBees

Re: use of the new ring and pinion sets. I emailed Patrick Mcdonald directly and will quote him here: "If you have an 8 bolt rear end (crown & pinion) this is a post war unit that has been fitted to your car. As your car is pre 1940 it should have a 6 bolt rear end (crown wheel). My units are for 1933 to 1939 replacement of 6 bolt unit. I do hope it is the inards you are talking about and not the carrier unit to the rear axel which is 8 bolt all the way through: Units are available in USA but only as 6 bolt as previously stated."



Not being familiar with even what rear axle I may have does one have to open up the differential to ascertain 6 or 8 bolt. I DO have the 8 bolts on the OUTSIDE of the differential but perhaps that is not what Patrick is talking about?? A little confused here.



Russ

stbryson

Hello,



I don't know if this would be of any use, but I came across a post on this forum that had information about a company that sells NOS Hudson/Essex/Terraplane ring and pinion sets (actually, it was Jon B who had posted the information). The company is Vintage Auto Parts, Inc.



http://www3.vapinc.com/



Take care,



Steve Bryson

RussBees

Thanks, Steve, for that web site info. They deal in mostly NOS parts and the Hudson R&P are 4.11 which is probably what I already have. I'm waiting on some clarification from Pat McDonald. Russ

[Deleted User]

Russ, the 6 vs 8 bolt rear refered to here is the number of bolts that hold the ring gear itself inplace. Not the number of bolts attaching the pumpkin to the housing. You will have to pull the pumpkin to determine if the rear has been changed from original. If you don't have any reason to suspect the entire rer has been changed though, I would assume you have the original rear in the car. Hope this helps.

Browniepetersen

Russ, Monday I will pick up the rear end from my English Hudson (it is over to my friends house) and pull the pumpkin and let you know what I have. I'll get back to in the afternoon...



By the way, post a photo or two of your car. Our friends on the Forum would love to see it. Thanks,