Model A tranny??

moeh1 · Dec 24, 2004

I'm on the lookout for a Model A car transmission for a stepdown project on my Oliver, anyone have one laying around that they want to part with for a fair price?
Happy Holidays!

bobodu · Dec 24, 2004

There are three on ebay...$172 to $800.....Have you been reading those old Popular Mechanics magizines?? I had a set of build it yourself PM books that must have been from the 40s or 50s and everything they made were from Model As.......those were the days (sigh...)

moeh1 · Dec 24, 2004

Yeah, I bid and lost one last night on Ebay, figured I'd ask around here. I don't really need or want a restored one, I have some mods to do on it after I get it, so I am looking to keep the investment in accordance. The project I have in mind is patterned after a factory-sponsored aftermarket second transmission using the A tranny. The size, HP, ratio, input shaft and clutch arrangement are all good. Its not my idea, came from the Cletrac website... Looks like a great winter project, but I have to locate a tranny first.

BigAl · Dec 24, 2004

Look up a old car club in your area . Try the phone book . If it is not listed , I bet a local auto parts store will know of a car club in your area . Those old car club members know every old part and where there hidden ! I bet you I could fine 10 of them around here if I asked our local club .
Big Al

LBrown59 · Dec 25, 2004

My cousin has the whole model A.
He is the Cousin that with me built the go cart about 50 years ago out of all kinds of parts from several different things.

Not that this helps you with the tranny any - just thought it might be and intresting side note to somebody.

Hope you find the tranny.

BobInMN · Dec 25, 2004

I know this probably won't help you, but, I've got this old truck parked in my grove. I think it is an old 1 ton. The plate on it shows it was last licensed in 1953. I'm thinking it is from the 20's or 30's. There is no information on it that indicates make or model. There isn't an engine in it, but the tranny, rear end, frame, wheels and most of the body is still there. I've been thinking of just scrapping the thing out.

moeh1 · Dec 25, 2004

Bob,
I bet Cleatus would have a ball with some new parts. I really need the A Car tranny, it is a tight fit to shoehorn that into my Oliver, you end up with about a 4" custom driveshaft. I didn't find a local car club yet, but I found a couple online Model A parts listings with trannys in them and have a couple feelers out. Then I have to get a spare bellhousing and start machining and welding.
Merry Xmas!

cleatus · Dec 25, 2004

Moeh1, I can always find something to do with new parts. I hope to find out tommorw about a small skidsteer in need of repower and will check up on a small wheel loader.

Hope everyone has had a great Christmas.

PineRidge · Dec 26, 2004

Marty you may want to check Hemmings. That's where my father used to locate a lot of parts for his 1927 Model A. A trip to Hershey PA in Sept would be productive too, as they have acres and acres of antique car parts at the flea market.

LBrown59 · Dec 26, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Marty you may want to check Hemmings. That's where my father used to locate a lot of parts for his 1927 Model A. A trip to Hershey PA in Sept would be productive too, as they have acres and acres of antique car parts at the flea market. )</font>My cousins Model A is a 1931

yugo · Dec 26, 2004

Don't know why your design requires Model A tranny, but why not substitute a later model - 50's through 80's. They're actually smaller than the Model A. Model A transmissions have a lot of gear noises in them, the newer ones are quieter. In the old days, they used to put the second transmission in backwards, which changed the drive ratio. You might want to check, when you find a transmission, the gear ratio difference between installing frontwards and backwards to get it right for your needs. Also, 8N Ford tractors as an option, used a Sherman transmission in front of their regular transmission that installed in the clutch housing. The later model ones had a high, direct and low speed. These are still somewhat available in tractor junk yards. Just fuel for thought. Yugo

moeh1 · Dec 26, 2004

Yugo,
the reason I'm keen on the A tranny is that its not my design, alot of fine work was done already by a great bunch of Cletrac DIYers, so I am leveraging their work. The Sherman may have alot of merits, I looked at my neighbors setup when we broke his tractor in half this fall, and that looked intriguing, but my limited exposure to the step down models is they are rarer and more expensive? The A tranny fits the space, has good ratios, and I can swap over to the Ford clutch which is inexpensive and easily available. I am sure I could use a different transmission if I wanted a design project, but I'd rather get this in and start bulldozing my new driveway this spring. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

moeh1 · Jan 27, 2005

GOT ONE /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Found a guy in Michigan with one he didn't need. Have to get busier now that I don't have an excuse anymore.

moeh1 · Jun 20, 2005

here is a photo of it installed - ended up with one off a Model A swap site. Got the clutch linkage on after this pic and spent the last couple weeks having fun. Definitely a winter project! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

oliver28472 · Jun 20, 2005

Is that a Cletrac OC-4?

Slamfire · Jun 21, 2005

Wore out an OC-3 puttin' in a driveway. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Then my neighbor borrowed it and blew a hole in the block. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Ah well, it's only money. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

oliver28472 · Jun 21, 2005

I should have looked at your profile. I drove an OC-3 in the parade of power at a steam engine show several years ago. It has the wide spaced tracks and front mounted cultivators. It was a basket case when my friend bought it but a pretty nice machine now. The block was pitted out so he bored it enough to press in some Ford 8N sleeves.

moeh1 · Jun 22, 2005

Well, I have a couple weeks on it now. It is going to be a great tree puller, and it is really good for finish dozer work, but too light to really dig hardpan like I have under the top layer, so I'll still rent some commercial equipment one more time. Still well worth the time to do, especially over the winter without much else to focus on. I've only seen one OC4, looked like a bigger more capable machine, but this one will be great in the woods.

Slamfire · Jun 24, 2005

Mine what a 68" wide model. It had a blade mounted on the front with 4 way adjustments. Unfortunately the blade wasn't as wide as the tracks so you couldn't change the side slope. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

oc3crwler · Jun 25, 2005

Hey marty did you get those plans off cletrac.org. And if so how hard was it to build up and install. I have a Oc 3 with a ware loader and my tracks spin like crazy, even in loose top soil. And when I put my blade on, forget it.

I have alot of tranny and rear end work to do to mine and I was thinking about adding the A tranny, this coming winter. And advice you could give me in apprecatied.