1950 column shift trans in 49 truck?

[jmooner3]

Guys - has anyone put a 1950 3 speed column shift in a 49 cab?

My boy and I are putting together a 1949 1/2 ton using some parts from a 50 1 ton.

We are putting the 50's 230 motor in the 49, we see the ebrake is different and the shift assembly is brazed onto the stearing column. (looks like a repair) but the shift goes with the column on this one.

My son asked if we can put the 3 speed column shift in the 49 "because it's cool dad"... Curious how much work I'd be getting into for "cool". As I have the floor 3 speed that was in the 49 originaly and looks like it will bolt right up.

Will the column tranny and linkage fit? Best way to get column and shift linkage out and both into the 49? Motor instal with or without steering box? Which one goes in first?

Anyone modified the 49 to fit the 50 firewall ebrake handle?

Any hidden issues I should look out for?

Also will the 50 windshield wipers (vacuum) fit the 49?

Thanks J

[MBF]

I can't answer the trans question, but I do think I have a steering column tube that has the shift linkage on it-I'll have to check a parts truck. I also have the underdash handle assembly for the parking brake (at least the portion that mounts under the dash. As far as the wipers, I think the 48-50 were the same, but the 51-53 used a different mounting position on the cowl. Sounds like a great father son project. Mike

[Merle Coggins]

If I were to do that I would remove and install the engine with the steering column removed. And I think the under dash park brake only bolts to the firewall and bottom lip of the dash. As long as you can find the proper place to cut the hole in the firewall, it should bolt in with out an issue. Get as many measurements as you can from the '50 cab when you pull it out so you can locate the new hole. Be sure you also get the trans cover plate for your floor. It won't have the holes in it for the shift and park brake levers.

Merle

[mechresto]

steering column assy: there was an early and a late unit for the '48 and '49 1/2 - 1 T

and there were 2 for the '50.

The '48, '49 won't bolt in to the '50 or vice verse. The interchange list only lists the steering gear (gearbox, less the jacket,wheel,pitman arm) though, perhaps the jacket (column) and it's related parts will swap from the '50 1T to the '49 1/2t gear as most of the innards were the same.

the wiper motor (vacuum) is identical between '49 and '50

as for the trans--the interchange sez no, the '50 1ton 3spd matches with '53 & '54, '56 and into the 300 series truck

the '49 1/2t 3spd w/o fluid drive is an entity unto itself and matches up with

'50-'53 1/2 and 3/4ton only not the 1ton.

The brazing on the column in this case is not a repair but an old retrofit,

the '50 1ton didn't come with a 3spd column shift, someone put it there, perhaps from 1/2 or 3/4 ton '48 or '49.....maybe you're in luck and it will bolt in to your '49

Bryan

[jmooner3]

So it sounds like the parking brake is straight forward, measure and punch a hole in the right spot, however sounds like there may be problems with the trans and steering box. Thanks Merle

The motor is from the 50 1ton and is going into the 49 1/2 ton - The trans from the 50 (3sp on column) may not go into the 49 1/2 because the steering box won't bolt up?

I may have to go with the 230 ci from the 50, mated to the 3 speed floor shift from the 1/2 ton- but those may not play nice together either...

Bryan thanks for all the info -you state that

"the '49 1/2t 3spd w/o fluid drive is an entity unto itself and matches up with '50-'53 1/2 and 3/4ton only not the 1ton"

... What is the limiting factor that won't let it match with the 1ton?

I think that means that the floor 3 speed wont match up to the engine and the linkage to the coulmn tranny that is on the motor now wont fit because the steering box won't bolt into the 49?

I got the steering column out of the 49 just need to go get it and put it side by side with the 50 to see if they bolt different. Seems to me the 49 had a bracket bolted to the box and then the bracket bolted to the frame. can't remember. If memory servs, the 50 bolts right up to the frame.

I'm open to suggestions before I make more work for myself.

J

[MBF]

I think what he meant was that the steering box (as a complete unit) won't bolt up to your chassis. Since the internals are all the same (I can verify that from the work I did last weekend) the outer tube with the shift lever should slip over your steering shaft and clamp onto your existing box. That is what I believe I have in the parts truck-just the tube. I used the sector shaft and bearings during my repair last weekend. It should also use the shaft support you have under your dash. Mike

Edited January 16, 2012 by MBFowler

[mechresto]

Mike

you are correct, the column and attached parts will have to be placed on the '49 steering box.

as to the trans:

The '50 1ton never had a column shift so what your'e "grafting" into your '49 is someone elses installation. they had to have made it work from other parts, essentially what you're trying to do now. hence the brazing of the shiftshaft brackets to the column. By far the easiest way would be to locate the steering gear assy (wheel, column, shift mechanism,and gearbox) from a

'48 or '49 1/2 or 3/4 ton and install that. (direct bolt up) then your trans from the '50 will work as well.

clear as mud?

Bryan

[jmooner3]

Thanks.

Clear as vermont mud season which lasts almost from Winter end to winter start:)

If I want to go with the 50's motor and tranny, the easy route and probably best reliability route will be to find a 48/49 3 speed column linkage. Will the original drive shaft that was into the floor three speed still work in the 50 tranny?

And as a fall back will the original 3 speed 49 floor shift bolt up to the 50 motor? Come to think of it the motor I pulled that had the 3 speed floor shift was a desoto 1950 (I still have the block and head if someone needs it, #6 cyl is rough, it's a 25"block).

Hmmm will the tranny that was mated to the desoto work with the 1950 dodge 230? If not I may not have an option and be forced to make the column shift work - that'd please the boy.

Thanks

J

[Merle Coggins]

The brazing on the column in this case is not a repair but an old retrofit,

the '50 1ton didn't come with a 3spd column shift, someone put it there, perhaps from 1/2 or 3/4 ton '48 or '49.....maybe you're in luck and it will bolt in to your '49

Bryan

Are you sure? From what I've read the big change with the B-2's in 1950 was the change to column shift and under dash parking brake to clean up the floor to make it easier to exit on the passenger side. This was the standard arrangement on all light trucks (1/2 - 1 ton). If you had the optional 4 speed then you had a floor shift trans, otherwise the column shift 3 speed was standard.

Merle

[jmooner3]

Thanks Merle - yep the 50 B2D is the column 3 speed. The 49 B1B was a floor shift 3 sp with a desoto motor in it when I got it. The desoto was siezed so I found the donar 50 B2D.

I'm thinking I would prefer the 49 B1B...but the motor from the 50 is the runner (I think this fits no sweat) the tranny is the question. I have the floor 3sp that was mated to the Desoto and the column 3sp that is mated to the 50 motor.

Sounds like if I chose to go column shift the steering box in the 50 won't bolt up in the 49 without frankinstining the two as the linkage for the 3 speed column is brazed onto the 50 column.

I should have time to play with the two trucks next week and eyeball if the bolt pattern and length of trannys are same. If they are, sounds like the floor shift gets me up and running the easiest.

I still need to do the running gear and brakes on the 49. Not sure what I need yet - anyone with spare brake parts or sources for wheel cyl and linings?

[B1B Keven]

anyone with spare brake parts or sources for wheel cyl and linings?

Roberts.

http://www.robertsmotorparts.com/truck_parts.asp

[HanksB3B]

Stick to the Stock configuration of the Stick or you may get Stuck. Believe me your kid is going to think his Dad has the coolest truck around anyway.

Hank

[MBF]

NAPA has the wheel cyls. I just bought 'em over Thanksgiving. They have the brake lines too. Mike