Transmission support

LanceB
LanceB Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I am having my transmission changed in my '46 pickup to an over drive unit. With the added weight and length does the back end of the trans need to be supported or will the bell housing support it?

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Assuming it's an overdrive for a Hudson , you're fine. The only thing to change would be the drive shaft length.
  • Huddy42
    Huddy42 Senior Contributor
    G'Day, there was a support under the rear of the overdrive as per the pics I will show here, it bolts to the cross member and the overdrive just sits on the rubber cushion, helps support the overdrive .

    This is one I removed from a '46 that I wrecked years ago, as you can see never been cleaned up.



    Les.P.
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Lance, the factory OD cars did have a little crossbar and some support thingies to add some support to the tranny back behind the bell housing. My '47 had them, but I removed them some time ago (can't remember why ... they were in the way of something I was doing). But they evidently got considered as overkill, as the later cars, with basically the same mount setup, didn't have them.
  • LanceB
    LanceB Senior Contributor
    OK, that's all good information. Al Saffrahn is doing my conversion and is using a Hudson overdrive. It looks like I can get away with not installing the support per your thoughts about this Park. Thanks all.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Are you planning on changing the rear end too? As I have learned, top gear on any transmission is 1:1. And my 48 tops out at about 65. Not that I want to race the car or anything, but keeping up with the moderns without roaring down the road might be nice. ;)



    -Chris
  • Uncle Josh
    Uncle Josh Senior Contributor
    Overdrive is 27% over. Standard rear end with OD is 4.56 That gives you about 2200 rpm at 60 mph. If you do a lot of level interstates, you might want to go to the 4.11 rear end, but it's a little high if you're in hilly country.
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    I'd definitely go with the 4.11 rear end if that's not what's already in the truck (wasn't the 4.55 std on the trucks, without OD?). That gives you about 2.88 in OD, which is a nice highway gear (that's calculated on the basis of a 30% reduction, which I believe is what the ODs in Hudsons were. The heavier duty B-W ODs used in some other cars had a 28% reduction).
  • Roger Harmon
    Roger Harmon Expert Adviser
    My 46 truck has a narrow 232 and overdrive trans transplanted into it. There are no O.D. wiring harness, relays or mechanical controls in the truck. Is there a 'lamp-cord-and-light-switch' test I can do to see if it works?



    R/ Roger.
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