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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / columbia rear end

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Posted By Discussion Topic: columbia rear end -- page: 1 2     dolumb 12-06-2009 @ 5:58 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 2 Joined: Dec 2009 I would be grateful for any information on potential sources for a Columbia for my 47 Ford convert. Checked out Sacramento Vintage Ford earlier today but not available at the moment. Stroker 12-06-2009 @ 6:05 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1460 Joined: Oct 2009 Check out this link: www.columbiatwospeedparts.com trjford8 12-06-2009 @ 6:12 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 4214 Joined: Oct 2009 You will have to advertise for a Columbia. Sacramento Vintage Ford sells reproduction parts, but Columbia's are not reproduced.You have two options, find a used Columbia or get a new Mitch*ll Overdrive. You can run a want ad on this site or Forbarn for the Columbia. You can also contact John Connelly at 951-719-4077( Temecula,Calif). He repairs and sells Columbia parts and may know of a Columbia for your car.You can reach Mitch*ll Overdrive at 530-458-4500(Colusa, Calif). This message was edited by efv8 on 12-9-09 @ 8:45 PM 4dFordSC 12-06-2009 @ 6:48 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 266 Joined: Oct 2009 They occasionally appear on eBay; that's where I got mine several years ago. dolumb 12-06-2009 @ 9:41 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 2 Joined: Dec 2009 Apart from being new Vs being rebuilt,does a Mitch*ll differ greatly from a Columbia? This is the first time this subject has been raised with me. trjford8 12-07-2009 @ 7:19 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 4214 Joined: Oct 2009 The Mitch*ll fits into the driveline and is operated with a lever or cable. There are two cars in my regional group that run them and both owners are happy. If you are looking for a little more speed on the highway you could simply change the rear gears to 3.54. supereal 12-07-2009 @ 8:56 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 Even if you find a Columbia, be sure that it has all the controls with it, including the speedometer shifter, vacuum valve, kickdown switch, etc. Often, when the cars were junked, it was too much trouble to remove the controls, and they can be expensive to replace. I looked a several when I wanted an OD, but most were junk, or close to it. In any case, the axle should be rebuilt before installation, as there are weak spots in the system. I finally settled on a Ryan unit, but modified the shift system to eliminate the lever. I'm not sure they are made anymore, so the Mitch*ll may be the way to go. wmsteed 12-07-2009 @ 9:34 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 613 Joined: Oct 2009 Many people have a big dislike for the Columbia's... The early ones had a lot of problems that were resolved by the early '40's. They became available for the EFV-8 in 1936 as a dealer option. The Ford factory never offered the Columbia as a factory option on anything other than the Lincoln's. The Auburns also came with a Columbia as standard equipment. The Columbia's are a little pricey, usually $1.300/1,800. or so with all the controls, then they will most likely need rebuilding. The guy in Temecula CA, that was mentioned in the earlier posting is considered to be one of the best at rebuilding the units. I guess the drive-line OD's are all right, however I don't like the added lever/cable and the fact that there is very little room for the unit, so the floor boards usually have to be cut to get clearance. A word of caution... If your car has a 3.78 or 4.11 ratio, an OD will work very well on the hiway, however around town or in hilly areas you will have to keep the unit in the "under" range. My '36 has had a Columbia in it since the car was new. I changed it to a '46-48 unit in 1955 mainly because I liked the vacuum-electric shift and the later model units had fewer problems. A second word of caution... Many of the Columbia's I have seen on ebay are clabbered together pieces of junk that went for a lot of money because the purchaser did not know what he was buying.... The '47-48 units will have a sway bar post on the left, were-as the earlier units will not have that post. Bill 36 5 win delx cpe supereal 12-07-2009 @ 11:54 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 Bill: One of the reasons I went to the Ryan was that it mounts directly to the banjo, and doesn't hang in the middle of the torque tube where clearance is an issue and requires floorboard cutting. I substituted a truck power takeoff cable for the lever, and shift it with a knob under the dash. The car has a 3-78, and with a 33% overdrive reduction, is a bit "tall" under 40-45 mph. That's alright on the hiway, where I can run 70 or better, but bogs down in town. If I did it again, I'd opt for at least 30% or less. My only complaint is that it is noisy when engaged, sounding like an old straight geared truck. However, with an open car, it doesn't matter. It sure beats having to stay below 60 on the freeway. wmsteed 12-08-2009 @ 8:20 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 613 Joined: Oct 2009 Super: I have heard the complaint before about the after market, drive line mounted OD's being noisy. Your idea to use a truck PTO cable in lieu of the more common lever is a good one. I like the "Morris" type cables in lieu of the cheaper and more traditional shielded cables. For many years I have thought that a slick OD conversion would be to use a conventional '50-53 Ford 3 spd w/OD in an early V-8. The trk or Merc bell housing would be required with a '42-47 pickup rear end with parallel mounted springs in lieu of the original traverse mounted rear spring. Maybe a little impractical, but think about it.. 3 spd's forward, OD, free wheeling and clutchless shifting.. Hmmm! Maybe a switch to a C-4 automatic would be more practical. One of the handy side benefits of the Columbia OD's, with the later model vacuum electric controls, is a passing gear. A tap on the clutch with a slight release of the throttle, down shifts the Columbia... Shifting into OD simply requires moving the self canceling switch to the OD position and depressing the clutch while lightening up on the throttle. If you are one of those people that can't rub your head and pat your head at the same time, all this hand/foot coordination might prove to be un-manageble. Bill 36 5 win delx cpe

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