Posted by C. Garbee on Thursday, March 27, 2003 at 2:03PM :
In Reply to: Re: Wanted Overdrive Info posted by Donald F. Blair on Thursday, March 27, 2003 at 11:41AM :
I had them make a custom unit for me (a pair actually) when I installed the Cummins 4BT into my '53 M37 and used the stock transmission.
It took me six months to talk them into it and I had to provide them with a NP420 input shaft so that they could spline the rear of the Ranger correctly. They put a Ford rear plate on the Ranger that I drilled new holes in to match the NP420 bolt pattern, turned down the outside diameter of the NP420 input bearing retainer, shortened the NP420 input shaft (cut of the tip that goes into the pilot bearing) and had them install a "SM465" front to the Ranger in order to mate up to the bellhousing/clutch combination on the Cummins.
They should be able to provide a correct output end for you or get close enough for you to do the trick since they did it for me. Getting them to provide an input shaft for a Ranger that will mate to your engine is a different story. They are real concerned with the lack of "percieved" volume for the old Dodges.
If everyone on this forum that wanted (or thinks that they might like one in the future) an overdrive gave them a call, they might figure out that the market for a Ranger matching the old Dodge pattern was big enought to support their making them.
I really like the one that I installed in the truck...
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