technitez Posted April 7, 2015 Report Posted April 7, 2015 Recently purchased a 47 Dodge 1/2 ton PU which is in great shape. I thought that the motor was an original 218 but upon research of block number, turns out to be a 230 from a 58 Dodge truck. Has dual exhaust header and runs strong. Problem is it has the original 3-speed attached to a ford 9 inch rear end. Needless to say it drives a little squirly. I want to keep the engine but not sure about what to do with the trans and rear end. Anybody have an idea what will work with this combo? Quote
Don Coatney Posted April 7, 2015 Report Posted April 7, 2015 Define squirly? What is the real problem? Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted April 7, 2015 Report Posted April 7, 2015 squirrely as in "is the drive lineout of phase" ?? Quote
Young Ed Posted April 7, 2015 Report Posted April 7, 2015 That should be a decent combo depending on rear end ratio. Quote
pflaming Posted April 7, 2015 Report Posted April 7, 2015 (edited) Define squirly? Street definition: like the path of a dillo, after being 'messed with' by a PA's 'sure shot'! Edited April 7, 2015 by pflaming Quote
technitez Posted April 7, 2015 Author Report Posted April 7, 2015 It seems to be "off" by a gear, in other words, starting in first gear seems like starting in second, second seems like third, but third doesn't seems to be as fast as it should.Could it just be a tranny issue? I'm not that familiar with the ford rear end, so I'm not sure what to expect. Quote
Young Ed Posted April 7, 2015 Report Posted April 7, 2015 Like I said you need to know what ratio. My 46 WC with 16" wheels runs a 3.90. Stock was 4.11 I could probably drop to a 3.73. If you have 15s 3.54 maybe 3.23 Quote
Merle Coggins Posted April 7, 2015 Report Posted April 7, 2015 It seems to be "off" by a gear, in other words, starting in first gear seems like starting in second, second seems like third, but third doesn't seems to be as fast as it should.Could it just be a tranny issue? I'm not that familiar with the ford rear end, so I'm not sure what to expect. First off, welcome to the family. By your description it sounds like a fairly low numerical ratio diff, so you should have good speed in 3rd. What's limiting the speed? Lack of power? As Ed says, we'd need to know what the gear ratio is before we can give further advice, but if it's a Ford 9" there should be plenty of gear sets available for it. Merle Quote
Reg Evans Posted April 7, 2015 Report Posted April 7, 2015 (edited) I use to use this '47 1/2 ton in my construction business and to haul a camper or small boat. It had a 230 with the stock 3 speed floor shifter,15" rims and a Ford 3.0 rear. I drove it on the freeway at 65 all day long. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v154/olddodges1/Vehicles%20I%20have%20owned/My4757RedFish.jpg Edited April 7, 2015 by Reg Evans Quote
Don Coatney Posted April 7, 2015 Report Posted April 7, 2015 It does sound like a differential ratio issue. There may be a tag somewhere on the differential housing indicating what the ratio is. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted April 7, 2015 Report Posted April 7, 2015 (edited) little different use of the term squirrely...: (tending to move around a lot) I think the better word is anemic...(lacking power, vigor, vitality) Edited April 7, 2015 by Plymouthy Adams Quote
Solution technitez Posted April 7, 2015 Author Solution Report Posted April 7, 2015 Thanks for all the responses. I thoroughly enjoy the depth of knowledge represented here. I'm a little older than the truck so bear with me. I am in the dis-assembly process currently so that I can prepare for media blasting. I will look at it closer when everything is easier to verify. It may be simpler than I think. I'll be back Quote
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