Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[admin]

Back to a regular subject of discussion re: E83Ws

During my first drive for many years of my pickup, I was reminded of how looooowwwww the back axle gearing is. Pickups run 16" rims, and the vans 18". Sometime I might try putting the wheels from my van onto the pickup, to see if it makes an appreciable difference to the pickup's cruising pace.

Years ago I fitted a different set of rear wheels & boots on my 2.5 Spitfire, they were really knobbly town and country tyres (just for a few days while my normal wheels were being painted). It had a noticeable effect on the overall gearing, because the sidewalls were much deeper than the low profile tyres I had been running, making it much less thrashy to drive at a given pace, which must help engine preservation long term.

Has anyone tried a swap from 16s to 18s and noticed much difference??

Rick

[Stuchamp]

Here's something to play with........
http://www.angelfire.com/fl/procrastination/rear.html

[Uncle Joe]

Rick, if you want to work out the difference between 16 and 18 inches, you can use the following formula:

Road speed = rpm x tyre circumference in inches / overall gear ratio x 1050

Do one for each tyre diameter, and the loss or gain is the difference between the two answers. Easy!

[rustyreks]

Has anyone ever sucessfully changed the back diff to a higher ratio i had heard the model a had a similar drive the big problem being the off diff housing the wheels must make some difference would be interested to hear Rick.The other problem with changing the ratio is that the brakes would probably need revamping and then the suspension may need an upgrade so why did i want to change things maybe standard is fine afterall.

[admin]

Hi rusty, I think tweaking the axle ratio would only mean that 40+ would be a comfy cruising speed, rather than 30, so I doubt the brakes would need upgrading, so long as they and the tyres were in good condition. Even if you still just drove at 30, it'd be a lot less revvy and stressful to the engine

Rick

[buzzy bee]

Hi

I have been reliably informed that the set up on the E83W is a heavier construction and no other cowns and pinnions will fit it.

Cheers

Dave

P.S... Will have to go back to the V8 plan!! he he. Only Joking!

[rustyreks]

Was talking to a friend of mine regarding diffs he had recently had a 9"chev diff cut down to fit a holden cut each end by 3 inchs he was altering which lead me to this conclusion if you were to get a 1951 ford prefect diff and cut it down to the same dimentions as the fordson diff and cut down the axles this would be the right ratio and the best part is that the wheels bolt straight on.Apparently hot rodder customise diffs all the time not a major they also relath the axles if shortened. To redo my friends diff it cost 250.00 nz this included the welding up the axles and restuding to the holden stud pattern which wouldnt need to be done for the prefect diff as it also is a ford design it still has the torque tube which does bolt up to the same gearbox as the fordson same engine just doesnt quite look the same but is still ford and build early fiftys realise that the axles and brake drums will be smaller but should work fine any criticisms let me know at this point havent come across anything really feesible i know this option has real merit.So i believe this to be the best option for altering the diff ratio please send your comments if you have a better alternative.Or if anyone is going to try this let me know how it goes as am very interested. rustyreks nz

[kaybee]

Hi Gents, the thing to consider when talking about higher gear ratio's is engine torque. With a little 4 cyl flathead you don't have enough torque to allow much latitude with ratio's. If you step up to a higher gear set it's going to kill the engines ability to tackle any sort of incline in top gear. I've only ever driven Anglia's and Prefects, but I remember there is a wide gap in ratio spacing between 2nd and top gear, and if you have to keep dropping back into 2nd all the time because of the ratio change, I'd be concerned about over-revving constantly and the resultant premature engine wear. The other question mark would be, could the little engine still drag the heavier commercial body around with the higher diff ratio? You might find it just doesn't have the power to cruise at 40. Easiest and cheapest way to find out before you get into costly area's would be to fit up some higher profile rear tyres and give it a try on the road for a day. If it works out OK, then it's safe enough to go ahead with changes. Regards, Col.

[rustyreks]

Hello have been told that in the late fifys a mod was done on a fordson truck locally here by an engineering company the man who owned the company had a reputation for modifing engines etc Anyway he changed the diff to a higher ratio by using a mk2 cortina crown and pinion i have just bought one off trade me for $30 new zealand to check whether it is suitable or not it was the son of the man who had owned the fordson i was talking to..It is an experiment all i know is that the man i talked to said the fordson drove much better after the mod so i think worth following up at this point it is the first successful transplant that i have heard of.Suspect that the pinion was modifyed to fit.If anyone else has heard of other options i would like to hear rustyreks.

[Uncle Joe]

It was penman that made me think of this solution to the gearing, but have any of you considered fitting a two speed diff. to your E83's? It shouldnt be too difficult, and I do know someone in the UK who is more than capable of doing the machining, if he hasnt retired that is....

[buzzy bee]

Hi

I am looking forward to going slow, so I will be sticking to original.

Cheers

Dave

[Uncle Joe]

Buzzy, dont think about going slow, just think about the challenge of doing such a thing. Check out the Bristol gearing topic, and look at the axles, they are old enough for you to appreciate...

[Penman]

Buzzy
It could be your choice of gearing.
Instead of a normal and high you could use normal and lower and have the only E83 capable of going up a 45 degree slope fully laden.

[buzzy bee]

Hi

True true, I just want orriginal though. Bit of a stickler for things like this!

Cheers

Dave

[Uncle Joe]

But its not original, is it buzzy? Its restored to original.....