TT axle swap

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: TT axle swap
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sean Gregory on Monday, December 03, 2012 - 01:03 am:

This may be a silly question but I figured it was sillier not to ask and to just keep wondering about it! So I know people have found many ways to speed up TT's to keep up with tours, is it unheard of to swap out the worm rear with a regular T rear? I know it'd take some work to fit, maybe even a whole lot of work and I'm sure there's other more efficient ways to speed them up but I was just curious what people opinions were on the idea. Thinking about the idea with just a body and flatbed with not much weight on it (nowhere near 1 ton.) Thanks everyone!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Grady L Puryear on Monday, December 03, 2012 - 10:02 am:

Been there and done that, it was really pretty easy, and remember, back then we didn't have all the tools and etc. that you have now, probably a Crescent, a pair of pliers, a big screw driver and a big Pecan tree with a big limb and a rope pretty well covered it. I had access to several old clunkers on the Ranch, and wanted to speed up the old Truck, really, the swap was easy or I couldn't have done it, way too far back to remember all the details.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Monday, December 03, 2012 - 10:29 am:

You may loose a bit of the TT look with a regular T wheel in the back - perhaps a wider tire on a 21" demountable rear wheel could fit?
I've seen 5.25" and 7" inch wide 21" tires but never checked if they could be fitted to a T rim?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/525-21-FIRESTONE-BLACKWALL-BIAS-TIRES-/290684029633?pt=M otors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item43ae1e4ac1
http://www.ebay.com/itm/700-21-FIRESTONE-BLACKWALL-BIAS-TIRES-/250247268747?pt=M otors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a43e6498b
If they fit on the rim the passenger T 3.63:1 would get overdrive - 5% or 17%. 17% as with 7.00 tires may be too much and require an underdrive. The 23" wheelbase difference calls for a longer driveshaft.. It's easier to shorten a driveshaft than safely lengthen it without vibration problems, so installing an extra transmission after the engine makes lengthening less of a problem. With extra crossmembers the new trans can be placed right where the regular T driveshaft ends, then the distance between the trans and the engine can be connected with a shortened driveshaft. The shifter may need some extra links to end up within reach :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Henry Petrino in Modesto, CA on Monday, December 03, 2012 - 11:16 am:

Sean,

There are other ways to speed up a TT. I have seen some with high ratio rear end gears (this speed it up from about 18 MPH to about 24MPH) then added a 3 speed auxiliary transmission with overdrive (This with high speed rear end gears will boost it to somewhere a little under 40 MPH) then add an drive shaft mounted overdrive just ahead of the rear end (this with the other upgrades can get you up near 50 MPH). Also note good sense says that with any one of these upgrades, much less all of them, you MUST have auxiliary brakes. Stopping is more important that going.

Of course the above suggestions are limited by your available budget. Also, common sense compels you to wonder just how fast you want to go in a 90 year old truck!

Good Luck!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Scott Owens on Monday, December 03, 2012 - 11:33 am:

Sean, My TT will do 43 mph on flat ground with the 5.17 ratio. I can run all day at 30 mph and that is where most of my guys run. So staying up is not a problem. Scott


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sean Gregory on Monday, December 03, 2012 - 01:45 pm:

Yeah, 30 is about all i'd really care to go I in it. It's also funny how I hear so many different speeds are achieved when adding the high-speed gears.

Just figured I'd ask this since it could be a pretty cheap way for a little more speed.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Henry Petrino in Modesto, CA on Monday, December 03, 2012 - 01:56 pm:

Sean,

There are many combinations of rear end and auxiliary transmissions that provide a whole load of possible final engine/wheel ratios. It's not surprising we hear a lot of different answers. Recently on this forum there was a thread about a truck with a 3 speed aux. transmission, a 2 speed drive shaft overdrive (I think) and a Ruckstell rear end. I can't even calculate how many gear combinations are possible on that one truck. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Adrian Whiteman, New Zealand on Monday, December 03, 2012 - 03:15 pm:

Sean, I would not like to drive my TT much over 35 - it handles a lot more sluggishly on bends than a car... I use an aux box for overdrive and standard rear (with high ration worm)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Lovejoy, So Cal on Tuesday, December 04, 2012 - 12:51 am:

Mine would not go over about 17mph tops. I now have the high speed gears and overdrive installed. So hopefully I will be able to run around 30 - 35mph, sounds good to me.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Henry Petrino in Modesto, CA on Tuesday, December 04, 2012 - 10:57 am:

Tom,

My TT has low ratio rear end gears and a 3 speed Muncie. In High/High I can get up to about 33 MPH. With the high ratio rear end gears and overdrive your truck should go faster. I bet you'll crack 40 MPH without breaking a sweat.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Semprez-Templeton, CA on Tuesday, December 04, 2012 - 11:40 am:

Sean, You have many options to choose from, however, If it were my truck, I would stick to the worm gear rear end and add auxiliary gearing if needed. I would probably spend my money on a taller gear set first, and work up from there.

My TT started out with a high speed ring and worm with an over under box located just ahead of the differential, when I added the Ruxtel I now had 4 forward speeds which gave me a gear for most driving conditions I encountered.

My truck was a little low on power so I added a Ricardo head which enabled my truck to keep up with most stock T cars.

It was equipped with Rock Mountain brakes which was essential since It also had two potential Neutral positions in the gearing.

Again, if it were my truck, I would keep it a truck and focus on locating the parts to increase the speed while maintaining its durability.

There a lot of guys with lots of truck parts out there, and I would think you could build a very nice driver without breaking the bank.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Lovejoy, So Cal on Wednesday, December 05, 2012 - 12:32 am:

Henry right on thanks, good to know. Now I just got to git my Rocky Mountain brakes set up. I would stay with the worm to myself - but that's really the whole reason I bought a TT. I thought that rear end and springs just looked so cool :-) just did'nt know how slow they were. It's the only vehicle I have that makes my 47 2 ton look fast :-) sounds like that's about to change though. Good luck Sean.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sean Gregory on Wednesday, December 05, 2012 - 04:43 pm:

I have decided since I haven't even driven it at full speed yet (let alone not more than 100 feet,) I will find out exactly how fast it really goes before I make any decisions. Thank you all for the ideas and support, this is a very nice place to ask questions and get answers!

slow


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Derek Kiefer - Mantorville, MN on Wednesday, December 05, 2012 - 04:47 pm:

What auxiliary brakes are available for TT's? I just bought one with a Warford and TT Ruckstell, and factory brakes.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sean Gregory on Wednesday, December 05, 2012 - 04:57 pm:

Rocky mountain brakes is one of them


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Henry Petrino in Modesto, CA on Wednesday, December 05, 2012 - 05:20 pm:

Derek,

The only ones I know of that can be purchased new reproduction are the Rocky Mountain brakes. At one point in time Chaffins in So. California was making Bennetts, but I don't know if they still do. If you look around on the classified, ebay, etc. you can find Rocky's, Bennett's, AC's and others. Sometimes a bare chassis comes up with the axles on it that has auxiliary brakes. It might be worth buying something like that, taking what you want off, then selling what's left.

With the Ruckstell and a Warford you really should add outside brakes. You don't want to get stuck between gears even once as you're currently set up!


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