ranger overdrive install
 

i was asked to post some pictures of this install. first off i was never one to take pictures of any jobs i do but i took a few of this one and they are probably not complete enough. vehicle: 64 c30 panel, 292 sm420 5.13.
i went with the ranger vs gear vendor because 1. the trans mounted parking brake was an issue and 2. the price was less than half and 3. one can always use another gear shifter.
here's what i started with. floor boards don't look any better in a 50yo truck, i think

Re: ranger overdrive install
 

before shots

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pics of the overdrive

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unit was shipped with 2 mounting bolts preinstalled. it was nec to cut out the lower one as the bellhousing is not threaded on the 2 lower holes

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instructions said to cut the front bearing retainer to approx 3/4". since there was a seal involved i measured the seal depth to be sure and calculated the oa finished height to .765 which was an arbitrary number. i allowed a .050 step for the seal to back up to then i meas the oa height so i knew how much to remove

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posting pics is harder than chinese arithmetic for me. i'm not clever enough to put captions so it's a couple at a time.
tramming the retainer to be cut and making the cut and obviously the finished piece.

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drive shaft is next. easy to calculate - 7.5", the depth of the ranger. here's one area i didn't take enough pics but basically after knocking in the yoke i squared it up in the lathe, tacked it in three places with a 120v flux welder and took it out of the lathe to weld it as all my machines are hard wired an i haven't put a 240v recep in the room

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more later unless it's boring

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Really glad you are posting this. I've often looked at this and wondered how the install would go.

What's the issue with the parking brake? Is it something about the gear vendors unit getting in the way?

I was leaning towards this so I could go GV:

Re: ranger overdrive install
 

gear vendors doesn't have a unit compatible with the sm420 w/trans park brake. for an extra fee they can modify a unit that would work with some model of obsolete ford park brake, which they told me i would have to go bone yard shopping for parts. i ended it there

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I guess I'm not familiar with that e-brake set-up. I'm actually trying to overdrive a '67 (with a 292 and SM420) so maybe it's different.

Can't wait to see how this all works out for you. Great thread. :metal:

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unit installed. had to drill the threads out of the two lower trans mount holes as the trans is threaded on the bottom holes and one side of the trans will not accept a capscrew from the backside. had to slightly notch a floor pan flashing to clear the park apply rod

Re: ranger overdrive install
 

Neat! Looks like a super clean truck, too.

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the over drive shift lever can be mounted on either side of the shaft. i choose the inside (towards the center) so it would fit the pan better. no pics though

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look at the pic of his trans at the start of the thread--showes the park brake on the rear of the trans.

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cg--nice setup. how much for the ranger? thought about this for my 4x4.

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i made patch panels for the pan. i should have used the bead roller but the air flanger had it done faster than i could have changed dies. i tacked them in and a little seam sealer from underneath. should it ever be changed back the plates can swap over

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seaming tape patching the carpet. i had put the carpet in right before i decided to get the ranger

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this is where i quit taking pics, (just forgot as usual). i'll take a pic of the finished interior shot tonight and post it tomorrow

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i think the retail was just shy of 1500. plus ups frt

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you can hear some gear noise, in overdrive, although not bad, and after driving it some it is now almost not noticeable. with the 8x17.5 tire and 5.13 gear it is comfortable at 65. 70 is not a problem though. fan clutch next to lower the engine noise a little more. i think a 4.57 would be perfect if i could find a quiet one. i bought this truck to flip but everyone around here thinks it's a 1500 old truck. so i will keep it. + the bride and dog like it. i'll have to sell a different one.

Re: ranger overdrive install
 

Thanks - not sure how I missed that.:dohh:

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How's your driveshaft? It's gonna be spinning a little faster now...

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it doesn't mind how fast. are you referring to vibration? if so it's just fine

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the drive shaft also just got shorter.......