In December, I was able to make a part purchase on Ebay. I picked up an oil filter base assembly for $20. Back in April I discovered the original filter base was missing the feeder tube that sticks up into the filter. I had planned on drilling out the remains of the old tube and braising in a new tube of some sort. However, the Ebay part sure seemed a lot easier and more functional.
I've also been thinking long and hard about the step-down transmission. If you remember my May 22, 2007 post, I talked about using the Model A Ford 3-speed as a step-down transmission (http://oc-3restoration.blogspot.com/2007/05/detour-before-going-to-garage.html).
I continue to read posts by OC-3 owners (http://www.cletrac.org/) that absolutely rave about the improvement obtained when a Model A transmission is installed. The Model A gives you 9 forward speeds instead of 3 and brings the 1st gear speed down from 2.02 to 0.64 mph. This allows you to really push dirt and it saves a lot of wear and tear on the clutch, engine, transmission, final drive gears, etc. As I think about all of the abuse my old OC-3 has taken over the years I begin to think the step-down transmission should have been installed years ago.
So, with all of that being said I have concluded this restoration will include a Model A step-down transmission. If the crawler is stripped down to the frame now is the time to make the upgrade.
There are a couple of ways of making this happen. 1) Find a "factory" Trasco transmission conversion from the 1950's. This is not likely going to happen. Original Trasco conversions are gold in the OC-3 community (see picture to the left). 2) I have had some conversations with some Stout engineering students that have foundry classes. If I could borrow the Trasco bellhousing owned by Mike, the Woodbury parts source (see June 5, 2007 post), the students could make a mold of it and thus be able to pour a new bellhousing. They would get a great class project and I would get a new Trasco bellhousing. 3) Make my own bellhousing conversion. At one time I thought this would be a long shot but some very talented folks on http://www.cletrac.org/ have posted some instructions on how they were able to make the conversion happen. It wouldn't be an easy job but it isn't an impossible task either.
The picture to the right is a factory bellhousing that has be cut down 3 inches and then a plate was welded to it that mates with the Model A transmission. John de Marrais and Dick Wolcott have posted some great information and instructions about the conversion at: http://www.cletrac.org/pages/auxtrans.htmlDick Wolcott used de Marrais' information and instructions and took it to the next level. He recently posted 22 pages of instructions and illustrations at: http://cletrac.org/media/aux_trans/HG_Aux_trans.PDF
So, that is all for now. . .As winter drags on I hope I'm able to report on some progress from my heated garage.
