Posted by Fred Coldwell on Thursday, February 06, 2003 at 2:46PM :
In Reply to: engine wdx question posted by Bob Jr on Thursday, February 06, 2003 at 1:45PM :
I have a Chevy SM-420 4 speed (partially) synchro transmission behind the Chevy Hi-Torque 283 cu. in. V-8 in my '47 WDX. It has a granny low, something around 6.4 or numercially higher 1st gear (don't remember which). A benefit of a Chevy tranny is that a Ranger OD will easily bolt in between the tranny and bellhousing, but I'd have to shorten the intermediate drive shaft by about 7 inches and then worry about drive line angles and the very short intermediate drive shaft. The Ranger OD would be an added bonus for highway crusing.
The current intermediate drive shaft between the transmission and the transfer case has a Chevy yoke on welded to the front end and a Dodge PW yoke end at the rear. All drive line from the transfer case to the wheels is WDX.
I've installed Tim Peterson's disc brake on the front axle only and love them; they actually stop the truck. With the small block V-8, 4.89 axle gears and Michelin 11.00-16 tires I can keep up with traffic around town very well and cruise comfortably at 55 mph on the open road. Haven't broke any axles or drive line parts with this reasonably sized V-8, and have done a lot of wheelin' in the Rockies.
Follow Ups: