2-speed rear end in a half ton pickup??
- Thread starter cubfarm 1
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Scout Driver
Well-known member
A GearVendors overdrive unit that installs behind your transmission would give you the ability to "split" your gears like a 2-speed rearend.
Scott
Scott
justanengineer
Well-known member
This. If you look into some of the foreign built "city" trucks you might be able to find a two speed rear thats not ginormous.
blue dog
Banned
semi off topic question. Does the gear vendors unit only work on manuel transmissions ? Does the gear vendors unit bolt right up to the transmission, and then you just shorten the drive line ?
rwhite692
Well-known member
+1 on the Gear Vendors unit, that is what you need.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
This why Ford is going 6 speeds on all of their F-Series.
Gary S
Well-known member
But, it is difficult to believe that a Ford 6 speed ****** will work any better than anything else Ford has ever built. The OP wants something he can drive, not have DOA in the yard.
its really a good idea. the old willy jeeps had a bolt on overdrive. it would work like a transfer case except two wheel drive. i always wonder why they did not make two speed in the axle. there another bolt on overdrive but cant think of the name of it. its popular in the rot rod , hot rod circle.
Lotek
Well-known member
Gearvendors will work on A/T, I have one on my 75 1ton with 465 4speed, very happy with it, good company to deal with. You do have to shorten the driveshaft.
Alchymist
Well-known member
He said Ford, Not Dodge!
Anyway, the old Lincolns from the 40's had a Columbia 2 speed rear if I remember correctly. And a number of cars from the 50's had an overdrive transmission, with a lever or knob to control it.
If the truck is a 4X4, you will need to have the Gear Vendor (or other splitter) before the transfer case, otherwise, when in 4 wheel drive, the truck will try to tear itself apart (similar to having 3.08's in the front and 4.56's in the rear).
Lotek
Well-known member
Gearvendors goes after the transfer case, it doesn't engage below 16mph, you wouldn't be using it in 4 low anyway as a rule.
38Chevy454
Well-known member
Most 2-speed rearends are in BIG trucks, like 2.5 ton or more. Massive big rearends that will be too wide and way overkill in a 1/2 ton. Also the 2-speed is usually extra low and regular low gear ratio. Not regular low and overdrive. The 2-speed rearend is typically underdrive and regular.
You need an OD trans or an aftermarket style overdrive like a gearvendors unit.
You need an OD trans or an aftermarket style overdrive like a gearvendors unit.
junk
Member
2-speed is possible. Problem is they end up being big rearends that would seem to be Overkill in a 1/2 ton truck. When i looked into it it seemed like you would end up running big truck 19" plus tires and rim options would be scarce. Unless you used a center section and used 1/2 ton axle ends to keep brakes and hubs similar to the front. But all that seems expensive so I would go with an add on 2 speed Overdrive unit.
I run a US gear in my truck. Similar to a gearvendors, but mounts between the transmission and transfercase so you can use it in 4x4. I have a 4 speed transmission that I use like a 6 speed since I can split all the gears. Using the US gear I basically ended up with an overdrive in the end because my 4 speed was a 1:1 top gear.
I would agree though with an earlier post you might try finding a 2 speed in a foreign 1-2 ton truck. It might be similar in size to a US domestic 3/4 ton axle that would be reasonable in a 1/2 ton truck. Now if your 4x4 you would need to match one of the gear options to the front. Would be super cool though to have a 2 speed.
If you do it let us know. Would be cool!!
I run a US gear in my truck. Similar to a gearvendors, but mounts between the transmission and transfercase so you can use it in 4x4. I have a 4 speed transmission that I use like a 6 speed since I can split all the gears. Using the US gear I basically ended up with an overdrive in the end because my 4 speed was a 1:1 top gear.
I would agree though with an earlier post you might try finding a 2 speed in a foreign 1-2 ton truck. It might be similar in size to a US domestic 3/4 ton axle that would be reasonable in a 1/2 ton truck. Now if your 4x4 you would need to match one of the gear options to the front. Would be super cool though to have a 2 speed.
If you do it let us know. Would be cool!!
38Chevy454
Well-known member
The Columbia rear is used with the Ford banjo style rearend, and is not very strong. Especially for a 1/2 ton pickup with a lot more hp and torque than a flathead V8 would have.
The 50's car OD units are the Borg Warner type and fit on the tailshaft of the trans. I am not aware of how you could adapt them to a modern trans. They also freewheel in OD when you let off the gas, losing compression braking. Might be good for gas mileage of you coast a lot, not so good for driving in traffic.
Packard V8
Well-known member
38chevy454 gets most of it correct. The Columbia two-speed is too weak for a modern truck and too expensive if you could find one.
jack vines
The B-W overdrives were used up into the 1960s. . . . . When in overdrive mode, they only freewheel in the 0-30 MPH range. When actually in overdrive above 30 MPH, they are in lockup mode. The only time it is a problem is if one were coming down a steep, slow mountain road and the speed dropped below 30 MPH, then the overdrive would disengage and go into freewheel.
FWIW, the B-W overdrives have been used as the basis for a number of aftermarket overdrives including the Hone-O-Drive and one for a T10 4-speed by Tom Beatty. Given the OPs original question, it is not something he will be attempting
jack vines
hardly
Well-known member
I have the over/under model behind a C-6 auto. in my 3/4 ton Ford. (An older Doug Nash unit.) It yields 2.40 in high and 3.80 in low range, still a bit on the high side for heavy pulling. A 3.73 ring & pinion would yield about 3.20/4.55, which is more ideal and what you are looking for......so check your current gear ratio before diving into this expensive mod.
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38Chevy454
Well-known member
Thanks for the additional clarification Jack. I did not know the B-W was the basis for the aftermarket overdrives you mentioned. Makes sense to use a lot of the existing design from OEMs when possible.
I still think the best answer for the orig post question is to just put a newer OD trans in the truck.
I still think the best answer for the orig post question is to just put a newer OD trans in the truck.
rsanter
Well-known member
they used to make one for the ford 9'' rear ends
those are now hard to find and expensive
there have been other vehicles (comercial types) that have had them in the past so you could try to find one
you did not mention the vehicle you have or your intended use....
woth that said, the aftermarket gearvendors units may be the best way to go
bob
those are now hard to find and expensive
there have been other vehicles (comercial types) that have had them in the past so you could try to find one
you did not mention the vehicle you have or your intended use....
woth that said, the aftermarket gearvendors units may be the best way to go
bob
bigbubba
Well-known member
How about a Browning 3 or 4spd aux. trans? Drove many a mile hauling logs in an old jimmy with a 5X4.Ahh the memories of hooking your arm through the steering wheel so you could shift both trannys at the same time
Have wanted the two speed rear just as the electric shift in a 2 ton farm truck. Have always been surprised that it is not an option for towing and good mileage. If you have a heavy load use the lower range in the rear end. If not use the higher ratio for the cruising.
BADSIX
Well-known member
i went to a guys place to look a an old international pickup, he had several. one was a 3/4 ton 2 w/d with a factory 2 sp rear end. he allso had a 4 w/d with a 4 cyl diesel all factory. the diesel had duel batterys and heavy duty charging system and cooling. he was telling me that back in the 50s you could order an international just about any way that you wanted it.
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
time for a brownie transmission...shifting it old school...
Hello everybody from ol' pdq67.
1st time over here.
I generally hang out at Speedtalk and Yellowbullet.
I was webbing about 2-speed rear ends and found everybody so here I am.
I want to mention as I have on the other Boards that back in 1969, in the car mag issue that had the 1969 Hugger Orange Camaro on it also had an article about Ford making like 6 or 7 prototype 2-speed rear ends that were to be installed in the 1969 Cougar Eliminators if they made it in to production.
These rear ends were designed like Chevy's 12-bolt's center section and were manually shifted by a lever that was attached to the drivers side of the ****** bump. The lever operated a long rod or cable that went back to the 2-speed so it could be shifted.
What I don't know is just how much 9" rear end parts went into it if any??
I would love to see somebody get the prints for it from Ford and go into production, but probably will never happen.
pdq67
1st time over here.
I generally hang out at Speedtalk and Yellowbullet.
I was webbing about 2-speed rear ends and found everybody so here I am.
I want to mention as I have on the other Boards that back in 1969, in the car mag issue that had the 1969 Hugger Orange Camaro on it also had an article about Ford making like 6 or 7 prototype 2-speed rear ends that were to be installed in the 1969 Cougar Eliminators if they made it in to production.
These rear ends were designed like Chevy's 12-bolt's center section and were manually shifted by a lever that was attached to the drivers side of the ****** bump. The lever operated a long rod or cable that went back to the 2-speed so it could be shifted.
What I don't know is just how much 9" rear end parts went into it if any??
I would love to see somebody get the prints for it from Ford and go into production, but probably will never happen.
pdq67
c39er
Well-known member
Two speed truck rear ends are great!
This is a double reduction Hi-Lo range Timken R300 series. 34 pints of oil for extra cooling at high speeds.
It would fit right in your pick up!
A very fast shifting vacuum unit too-no slow shift electric motor on this unit
This is a double reduction Hi-Lo range Timken R300 series. 34 pints of oil for extra cooling at high speeds.
It would fit right in your pick up!
A very fast shifting vacuum unit too-no slow shift electric motor on this unit
