Very informative video. I don't have a Model A yet. Trying to learn as much about them A model A makes driving in rural America very enjoyable. Safe driving!
Nice video, I am from Durand, MI and now live in Mobile, AL. It was nice to see some of the sceneries of MI. I will wait to see your other videos of Michigan.
Sweet drive train set up. I imagine you have some sort of auto spark advance as well - never saw you touch that lever. I can watch Model A drive arounds for hours. Not boring at all. I won't be installing any of these mods in mine, but I love watching others do it. Thanks for the post.
That is an amazing overdrive device, and it gives your car much more flexibility. It would be great if they were available for other cars. Here in the UK I have a 65 Mustang 289 V8 with a 3 speed C4 auto box. At motorway speeds of 70-80mph it really feels like it could do with another gear. Getting a 4 speed box here in the UK would be pretty expensive and I think a fair bit of trans tunnel cutting would be needed. A device like this seems a neater solution.
Tire size is your final drive gear..... If you want to lay more rubber drop down in tire height.... If you want a higher top end, use taller tires.... 1 inch either way is noticeable.
Very informative video. It would have been great if you had a tacho nect to your speedo so you could compare the rpm differences between gears straight away.
Thank you! It is a bit of a chore trying to do the work and record things, while taking care to have a good angle, lighting, and sound! It definitely slowed me down a number of times, but if I can help people out or share my experience with people interested in a similar setup, I feel it's worth the effort.
I believe another channel said it takes you from a 45 mph car to a 55 mph car in overdrive at the same RPMs. ? I think it's only a 3500 RPM engine... ? I'm still trying to find out...
It's an "original" Model A color -- Washington Blue. It's in pretty poor condition as the previous owners were way too aggressive buffing it. It looks OK from a few feet away or if I keep a polish on it.
That is a very good point and something I forgot to bring up during the video. I have the brake floater kit installed on all four corners and my brakes are all in top shape and adjusted very well. My limiting factor is actually the tires -- I can very easily lock all four wheels at nearly any speed. I've been on the fence to switching to the V8 16" rims for the sole purpose of being able to run wider tires. You definitely need to be aware of your cars limitations and drive accordingly.
Very informative video. When using the Mitchell puller, I used a 1⅛" Clamping Shaft Collar instead of loosening the large pinion nuts. It clamps on the drive shaft. FYI, your light switch is upside down.
Hello James. I recently fitted a volvo 4 speed and overdrive in my 32 sedan. I really like the overdrive and I'm sure you will like yours. Strange thing I have noticed when making a video, is that when I switch to overdrive the road noise seems louder. In reality it isn't, it is quieter, but it is the auto noise level settings in the camera sort of over compensating. I didn't notice that in your video, so yours must work differently. A little joggle on the mitchell stick to the right will get you the clearance you need, I would suggest. I enjoyed going for a ride in the A. Edit: I wrote this before getting to the end of the video!
I may try to straighten one of my V8 shifters so it is more "upright" such as the original Model A one and see how that goes. Otherwise I'll go to town on the Mitchell lever itself. I used a GoPro HERO8 to record this -- the sound normalization seems to be OK through the built-in mic for most things.
OD Shift lever: Drive out the original pin, then rotate the lever counter-clockwise about 15 degrees, or as necessary, then drill a new pin hole. OR, while you have the lever out, tap the original pin hole for a set screw. As an added precaution, drill a very shallow hole in the lever, to give the set screw a positive seat.
If I do go that route, I'll likely use the set screws for adjustability. The only thing I'm hesitant about is how much it stands out when they're canted to the side like that. I'm trying to find another of the straight stick flathead shifters to try to take bend out of and give a similar angle to the original Model A sticks.
In 50's and 60's British cars as well as Volvo's, there would be an electric lock-out preventing you from using overdrive in the inderect gears, supposedly because the overdrive couldn't handle the extra torque. The final ratio would often also be higher (lower geared) eating up half or more of the potential rpm reduction against the standard version without overdrive. The truck-style gear splitting was not used in cars - at least not from the factory.
Hi I have a 29 Roadster, with the A trans, i bought the car with a Mitchel in it. i cut down the Model A shifter. i also split second and third, i can shift both boxes at the same time. second high is great for going up hills, also i have 3;78 gears in the rear
The gear ratios in the V8 transmission are equivalent to approximately 10% overdrive in 1st gear and 15% overdrive in second gear when compared to the original Model A box, which made the car feel considerably better than the original transmission already. This was why I was uncertain just how much I would use the Mitchell, given that I already had a fairly significant improvement over the stock ratios. However, once I got going, I immediately found it was still beneficial. It feels like a very close ratio transmission now and gives me a number of different options for making sure that I am within the power band.
Hi Sir.Why you do not heat the shiftstick and bend it a little bit?So you can make the clearance you need.But ather than that you make a very good job with the video.Have a great time and god bless you.
I used the CLING's adapter, which is available through most of the Model A shops. It will come with a transmission adapter, pedal mount, clutch release shaft, emergency brake mount, and a wishbone mount. www.clingsaftermarket.com/
There were a multitude of reasons -- the primary one being availability. I could not find any of the 3sp+OD (T170) top loaders within a 750 mile radius of me or I likely would have gone that route. I did not want to go open drive, which ruled out many of the T5 setups.
When I got on the list in January, they said the wait would be about 3 months -- took about 9! During that time I rebuilt most of the car and did the transmission and engine swap and put nearly 3500 miles on the new Burtz block, so by the time the overdrive showed up I wasn't quite sure if I still needed it or not. The more I'm using it though now that it is in, the more I'm loving it!
I’ve had it installed about 10 months now. My shipping crate was ripped at both ends! U.P.S. was rough with it. Install went well, no problems. But I’ve noticed that when shifting the Mitchell from low to high, it will grind gears for the first few shifts unless you double clutch. After 10 miles or so it will shift fine.
Yes -- though there are easier ways, such as taking the pin out and installing set screws. That also wouldn't harm the finish, though it may look a little "odd" that way. I have a new shifter on the way that I'll try to straighten to be similar to the original Model A stick first though.
If I was to spend that kind of money on my Model A (and I can see 10 grand Canadian there easily) I'd have to be driving the car a whole lot more than I do. No thank you. Our gas prices are bad enough.
@@zdavis79 Yes, I'll be there both days. I don't have a booth and am not part of any of the events, so I'm usually just roaming around checking out all of the vehicles and the swap. If they do the will-it-run event again, I'll likely be volunteering to assist in that again.
So I'm very jealous,however great vid.Are you running the car with the advance in the down position or you up a few notches?I'd take going up hill at 50 any day. I'm all stock on our 28 Tudor,and have only gone 50 once,and sounded like it would vibrate apart. We're very fortunate to live in N.H.and in an area where the speeds are 30-40on the back roads.Hope I can make it to Michigan so you can install my Mitchell when i receive it.I wish. Excellent topic,great video.THANKS Dean J.
I have a NuRex timing system in this car, so I don't have to fiddle with the timing lever much. On flat surfaces, I add some advance for cruising, otherwise I run it all of the way up and let the device do its thing. The hills here aren't too bad, but most of the "back roads" are 55, so it's easy to draw the ire of people or get run over. The gearing in the V8 transmissions really helped improve drivability around here, but now with the overdrive the additional flexibility it provides has been amazing. I love wrench on old cars and can never seem to find enough of them around here. I've joined nearly every Model A club in the area just to try to find more cars I can wrench on, but the pool is drying up! I love helping people get old cars back on the road and I especially love the stories that come along with them. The Model A's often have a lot of stories, so they have been my favorite as of late.
Thanks for the reply.Ive got 5 or so old timers in my area that would be a great interview .They range from 72 - almost 9 Each one has tons of stories going way back on their lives and how model A's became such a part of their lives.Again Thankyou for your time.D.J.
I tend to gravitate toward those older folk at shows and events as to many of them, cars meant something very different than they do now, so they often have many great stories about how certain cars impacted their life -- especially the Model A, as so many became integral to peoples lives as farm equipment and the like. I wish it were possible to know the story of the ones I own, especially my Model AA -- that thing has seen some use!
Very informative video. I don't have a Model A yet. Trying to learn as much about them A model A makes driving in rural America very enjoyable. Safe driving!
loved every minute of this video...but the test drive was my favorite!
Nice video, I am from Durand, MI and now live in Mobile, AL. It was nice to see some of the sceneries of MI. I will wait to see your other videos of Michigan.
Approved!
Sweet drive train set up. I imagine you have some sort of auto spark advance as well - never saw you touch that lever. I can watch Model A drive arounds for hours. Not boring at all. I won't be installing any of these mods in mine, but I love watching others do it. Thanks for the post.
It has a NuRex timing advance kit in it, which seems to work OK for most of my driving.
That is an amazing overdrive device, and it gives your car much more flexibility. It would be great if they were available for other cars. Here in the UK I have a 65 Mustang 289 V8 with a 3 speed C4 auto box. At motorway speeds of 70-80mph it really feels like it could do with another gear. Getting a 4 speed box here in the UK would be pretty expensive and I think a fair bit of trans tunnel cutting would be needed. A device like this seems a neater solution.
Check on a Gear Vendor overdrive. Not cheap but they are bulletproof and easier to install than the Mitchel.
Tire size is your final drive gear..... If you want to lay more rubber drop down in tire height.... If you want a higher top end, use taller tires.... 1 inch either way is noticeable.
Very informative video. It would have been great if you had a tacho nect to your speedo so you could compare the rpm differences between gears straight away.
Thank you ! I love old cars
I do too! I have a variety of them, some which may make it on the channel in the near future.
Very excellent video! Thanks for sharing. Could hear you fine all through the video. I don't think the performance could have been better. Good job!
Thank you! It is a bit of a chore trying to do the work and record things, while taking care to have a good angle, lighting, and sound! It definitely slowed me down a number of times, but if I can help people out or share my experience with people interested in a similar setup, I feel it's worth the effort.
So, with the Michel box, what's the difference in rpm's between to two high gears. To me, just listening, it seems to be ~500 rpm's.
I believe another channel said it takes you from a 45 mph car to a 55 mph car in overdrive at the same RPMs. ?
I think it's only a 3500 RPM engine...
? I'm still trying to find out...
The blue metallic paint on that vintage car screams "too much" but a step back and the black fenders whispers "just right". Gimme.
It's an "original" Model A color -- Washington Blue. It's in pretty poor condition as the previous owners were way too aggressive buffing it. It looks OK from a few feet away or if I keep a polish on it.
The only thing i would worry about would be the service brake performance, at the higher speeds, but you are an expert on these cars, great video👌
That is a very good point and something I forgot to bring up during the video. I have the brake floater kit installed on all four corners and my brakes are all in top shape and adjusted very well. My limiting factor is actually the tires -- I can very easily lock all four wheels at nearly any speed. I've been on the fence to switching to the V8 16" rims for the sole purpose of being able to run wider tires. You definitely need to be aware of your cars limitations and drive accordingly.
Great video !!!!!!!!!!!
I had the same problem with my Mitchell puller! The threads on the three bolts aren’t right!
I had the same problem too, threads weren’t right!
One more thing to consider is the braking system. Increasing the high speed to 55 MPH can also demand more from the breaking system. Just saying.
Very informative video. When using the Mitchell puller, I used a 1⅛" Clamping Shaft Collar instead of loosening the large pinion nuts. It clamps on the drive shaft.
FYI, your light switch is upside down.
Hello James. I recently fitted a volvo 4 speed and overdrive in my 32 sedan. I really like the overdrive and I'm sure you will like yours. Strange thing I have noticed when making a video, is that when I switch to overdrive the road noise seems louder. In reality it isn't, it is quieter, but it is the auto noise level settings in the camera sort of over compensating. I didn't notice that in your video, so yours must work differently. A little joggle on the mitchell stick to the right will get you the clearance you need, I would suggest. I enjoyed going for a ride in the A. Edit: I wrote this before getting to the end of the video!
I may try to straighten one of my V8 shifters so it is more "upright" such as the original Model A one and see how that goes. Otherwise I'll go to town on the Mitchell lever itself.
I used a GoPro HERO8 to record this -- the sound normalization seems to be OK through the built-in mic for most things.
OD Shift lever: Drive out the original pin, then rotate the lever counter-clockwise about 15 degrees, or as necessary, then drill a new pin hole. OR, while you have the lever out, tap the original pin hole for a set screw. As an added precaution, drill a very shallow hole in the lever, to give the set screw a positive seat.
If I do go that route, I'll likely use the set screws for adjustability. The only thing I'm hesitant about is how much it stands out when they're canted to the side like that. I'm trying to find another of the straight stick flathead shifters to try to take bend out of and give a similar angle to the original Model A sticks.
Great video! Beautiful car. I really like the black wheels on it.
Thanks! My original rims were getting pretty pitted and bad and I found the black set locally. I had them powder coated and I've been liking the look.
In 50's and 60's British cars as well as Volvo's, there would be an electric lock-out preventing you from using overdrive in the inderect gears, supposedly because the overdrive couldn't handle the extra torque. The final ratio would often also be higher (lower geared) eating up half or more of the potential rpm reduction against the standard version without overdrive.
The truck-style gear splitting was not used in cars - at least not from the factory.
Hi I have a 29 Roadster, with the A trans, i bought the car with a Mitchel in it. i cut down the Model A shifter. i also split second and third, i can shift both boxes at the same time. second high is great for going up hills, also i have 3;78 gears in the rear
The gear ratios in the V8 transmission are equivalent to approximately 10% overdrive in 1st gear and 15% overdrive in second gear when compared to the original Model A box, which made the car feel considerably better than the original transmission already. This was why I was uncertain just how much I would use the Mitchell, given that I already had a fairly significant improvement over the stock ratios. However, once I got going, I immediately found it was still beneficial. It feels like a very close ratio transmission now and gives me a number of different options for making sure that I am within the power band.
Hi Sir.Why you do not heat the shiftstick and bend it a little bit?So you can make the clearance you need.But ather than that you make a very good job with the video.Have a great time and god bless you.
I saw those under somes As this year an wondered about that, now I Kno, ggz-👽👍
Great video! Thanks for helping me on a sleepless night. lol
Excellent video James. What would I need to install the v8 transmission in my A?
I used the CLING's adapter, which is available through most of the Model A shops. It will come with a transmission adapter, pedal mount, clutch release shaft, emergency brake mount, and a wishbone mount.
www.clingsaftermarket.com/
@@JamesSorenson Thank you for the information.
Unpin the overdrive shifter and rotate it 20 degs. counterclockwise and repin it there.
Hey there, where in Michigan are you? I’m also here unfortunately! Interested in doing a overdrive
Between Lansing and Grand Rapids, though I get around quite a bit to the west side and the U.P.
Just out of interest, why did you go for the Mitchell , in comparison to the cheaper alternatives like Ford T5 or even 4 speed Top Loader conversions?
There were a multitude of reasons -- the primary one being availability. I could not find any of the 3sp+OD (T170) top loaders within a 750 mile radius of me or I likely would have gone that route. I did not want to go open drive, which ruled out many of the T5 setups.
Still waiting on mine!
When I got on the list in January, they said the wait would be about 3 months -- took about 9! During that time I rebuilt most of the car and did the transmission and engine swap and put nearly 3500 miles on the new Burtz block, so by the time the overdrive showed up I wasn't quite sure if I still needed it or not. The more I'm using it though now that it is in, the more I'm loving it!
I’ve had it installed about 10 months now. My shipping crate was ripped at both ends! U.P.S. was rough with it. Install went well, no problems. But I’ve noticed that when shifting the Mitchell from low to high, it will grind gears for the first few shifts unless you double clutch. After 10 miles or so it will shift fine.
Can you heat the shifter and bend it a couple degrees to the right??
Yes -- though there are easier ways, such as taking the pin out and installing set screws. That also wouldn't harm the finish, though it may look a little "odd" that way. I have a new shifter on the way that I'll try to straighten to be similar to the original Model A stick first though.
Have you done a top speed test with it yet?
Not with the overdrive -- about the fastest I've gone with the Burtz block so far is around 65.
Could use more information about engine, just getting into A driving😊
If I was to spend that kind of money on my Model A (and I can see 10 grand Canadian there easily) I'd have to be driving the car a whole lot more than I do. No thank you. Our gas prices are bad enough.
Are you for Hire?
If you're close enough to me, I can usually be convinced to help out on just about anything
@@JamesSorenson where are you located?
@@zdavis79 Michigan, between Grand Rapids and Lansing
@JamesSorenson awesome. I'm north of Kalamazoo. Coming to the show this weekend?
@@zdavis79 Yes, I'll be there both days. I don't have a booth and am not part of any of the events, so I'm usually just roaming around checking out all of the vehicles and the swap. If they do the will-it-run event again, I'll likely be volunteering to assist in that again.
քʀօʍօֆʍ 😉
So I'm very jealous,however great vid.Are you running the car with the advance in the down position or you up a few notches?I'd take going up hill at 50 any day. I'm all stock on our 28 Tudor,and have only gone 50 once,and sounded like it would vibrate apart. We're very fortunate to live in N.H.and in an area where the speeds are 30-40on the back roads.Hope I can make it to Michigan so you can install my Mitchell when i receive it.I wish. Excellent topic,great video.THANKS Dean J.
I have a NuRex timing system in this car, so I don't have to fiddle with the timing lever much. On flat surfaces, I add some advance for cruising, otherwise I run it all of the way up and let the device do its thing. The hills here aren't too bad, but most of the "back roads" are 55, so it's easy to draw the ire of people or get run over. The gearing in the V8 transmissions really helped improve drivability around here, but now with the overdrive the additional flexibility it provides has been amazing.
I love wrench on old cars and can never seem to find enough of them around here. I've joined nearly every Model A club in the area just to try to find more cars I can wrench on, but the pool is drying up! I love helping people get old cars back on the road and I especially love the stories that come along with them. The Model A's often have a lot of stories, so they have been my favorite as of late.
Thanks for the reply.Ive got 5 or so old timers in my area that would be a great interview .They range from 72 - almost 9 Each one has tons of stories going way back on their lives and how model A's became such a part of their lives.Again Thankyou for your time.D.J.
I tend to gravitate toward those older folk at shows and events as to many of them, cars meant something very different than they do now, so they often have many great stories about how certain cars impacted their life -- especially the Model A, as so many became integral to peoples lives as farm equipment and the like. I wish it were possible to know the story of the ones I own, especially my Model AA -- that thing has seen some use!