This information was donated to us by Stephen White and goes over how he used a Volvo Transmission in his 1947 Ford Truck. Thank you for taking the time to share this with us.
Stephen White: “I have a 1947 pickup and have done a few modifications amongst others a gearbox change using a Volvo M47 5 speed and thought you may be interested so have included a power point show attached. I’m not to clever with this computer technology as I’m getting on a bit but if it doesn’t run , click on the pictures to move thing along. I chose this gearbox a a cheaper alternative to what people normally do and happy to report after a year it works fine. Thought you may find this interesting and happy to pass on anything if required.“
We here at the Flat-Spot are sharing this for idea purposes and would like to add that this is only for conversation and we can not speak to the safety or reliability of conversion. So please do your own research before trying anything shown here.
M47 Volvo
“Hogshead adapter” as made by Ford and required for this conversion
This is a Volvo M47 1990 5 speed full synchromesh aluminum gearbox chosen for its short design specifically so it will fit into the available space. No cross member modifications required . The bell housing has been removed.
Hear the bell housing is cut to provide the release bearing spigot to be machined and modified sufficiently to fit into the large central hole in the hogs head adapter
The central piece has been machined on the lathe to from a piece of plywood to locate the hogshead adapter centrally to the Volvo gearbox.
Boring out the plywood adapter to fit over the release bearing spigot.
The bell housing is machined down to fit inside the hogshead adapter central hole
New holes made into the hogshead adapter where the most convenient existing holes in the Volvo gearbox line up
Here loosely assembled, the gearbox is rotated by 10 degrees for best fitment.
Ready to be fitted I used the original release bearing with a bush inside to make up the smaller diameter of the Volvo spigot and a bush inserted into the spigot bearing in the crankshaft to again make up differences in diameters. 15mm was removed from the end of the input shaft. Volvo clutch plate fitted. The gear stick was lengthened for driver comfort and fitted into the hole in the cab floor however a new cover was fabricated to accommodate.
Engine and box inserted into the truck and clearance over the cross member can be seen ready to make up a mounting using the original Volvo item. I had a new prop shaft made with the necessary ends and length. The original clutch fork is used but on my application pushed with hydraulic power
This modification has transformed the drive-ability of my 1947 pickup and improved the fuel consumption and top speed. The cost was around £150 for the gearbox and £120 for the adapter. Of course the machining facility was free but if you have the facility for machining also no cost.
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