Not mine, but pretty rare to see for sale.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-SHELBY-MUSTANG-GT-500-428CJ-9-inch-HONE-O-DRIVE-OVERDRIVE-UNIT/293419756548?hash=item44512e2c04:g:xwoAAOSwwJ1eGnur
This is the extremely rare and sought after overdrive unit for Yenko's, Shelby's and other high performance late 60's early 70's cars. Fred Hone's custom 30% overdrive unit allowed race cars to be driven on the highway after a day at the races. Had this for years, turns freely. Includes the speedo cable, shifter and linkage rod, (everything needed to convert). Uses the same yoke as your 9". Will come with manuals. These retail for over $3400.
$1500, no bids currently.
I have wanted one of these.
Does anyone who knows these confirm this is the correct unit for the Ford SPEC differential?
I will ask him to post more pictures.
Hard to know what condition everything inside is.
Thanks for sharing Brian.
Just got in so it will be tomorrow before I get a chance to look at some pictures and other documentation though it looks the part. Missing (would not have been included with it originally) the pinion gear. Have one in a 66 Mustangs also
Yes that is 9" unit. Just restored car that had one of these dealer installed. Pretty simple mechanisms
Quote from: TLea on January 19, 2020, 06:45:08 AM
Yes that is 9" unit. Just restored car that had one of these dealer installed. Pretty simple mechanisms
Is there anyone out there that can restore/service these? Parts availablity ok?
Buying one like this can be risky if it is beat up internally.
Quote from: J_Speegle on January 19, 2020, 01:33:27 AM
Just got in so it will be tomorrow before I get a chance to look at some pictures and other documentation though it looks the part. Missing (would not have been included with it originally) the pinion gear. Have one in a 66 Mustangs also
I assume the pinion gear is longer than stock?
That could be a tough find, no?
Quote from: 2112 on January 19, 2020, 02:53:45 PM
Quote from: J_Speegle on January 19, 2020, 01:33:27 AM
Just got in so it will be tomorrow before I get a chance to look at some pictures and other documentation though it looks the part. Missing (would not have been included with it originally) the pinion gear. Have one in a 66 Mustangs also
I assume the pinion gear is longer than stock?
Not that I remember for certain. Think its just the "normal" Ford piece
A few pictures of the ones I've collected over the years
(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/13/6-190120221620.jpeg)
(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/13/6-190120221636.jpeg)
(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/13/6-190120221716.jpeg)
NOS kit
(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/13/6-190120221652.jpeg)
(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/13/6-190120221736.jpeg)
There were two different versions of the third member attached style of drive
So, gear sets are machined in "sets". So, you would need to know what the ratio of the used one would be, and, either have the driven gear for it, or where to get a new gear set.
Still a cool thing under the car. I saw one 66 Shelby with a Hone-O-drive about 25+ years ago at a local Shelby club show in Elk Grove Village ILlinois.
Maybe this is a crazy question, BUT doesn't that add a lot of weight to the Ford rear-end housing? Like if you hit a good size bump in the road, I am thinking of the suspension travel, what would the jarring do to it???
Don't you have to hack up your trans tunnel for the engagement handle/linkage to add one of these? :o
Quote from: 2112 on January 19, 2020, 02:53:45 PM
Quote from: J_Speegle on January 19, 2020, 01:33:27 AM
Just got in so it will be tomorrow before I get a chance to look at some pictures and other documentation though it looks the part. Missing (would not have been included with it originally) the pinion gear. Have one in a 66 Mustangs also
I assume the pinion gear is longer than stock?
That could be a tough find, no?
NO it takes the standard production Ford pinion gear ( or aftermarket as well) I was a dealer for them in the early '70 and built many of them.
Randy
Quote from: 67 GT350 on January 20, 2020, 10:54:56 AM
Maybe this is a crazy question, BUT doesn't that add a lot of weight to the Ford rear-end housing? Like if you hit a good size bump in the road, I am thinking of the suspension travel, what would the jarring do to it???
YES!!!! All of the weight "hangs" off of the flange AND all of the torque input now has ALLOT more leverage when WOT is applied. This off and on loading caused flange breaks in high performance applications and IMHO led to their downfall.
Randy
Quote from: KR Convertible on January 20, 2020, 11:17:14 AM
Don't you have to hack up your trans tunnel for the engagement handle/linkage to add one of these? :o
In the many I did , the biggest problem was exhaust pipes. I did have to some massage work on one but it's been almost 50 years and I don't recall which specific car it was. The shift lever attached to the tunnel ahead of the driver's seat and did clear the driveshaft but neededa total of 5 holes drilled. "Dumping the clutch" as in drag starts , often resulted in a loud thump when the unit hit the floor pan. ( not a good thing)
Randy
Quote from: 2112 on January 19, 2020, 12:05:05 PM
Quote from: TLea on January 19, 2020, 06:45:08 AM
Yes that is 9" unit. Just restored car that had one of these dealer installed. Pretty simple mechanisms
Is there anyone out there that can restore/service these? Parts availablity ok?
Buying one like this can be risky if it is beat up internally.
Basically a Borg Warner T85 OD ( trans) unit adapted to fit a 9" Ford diff. , so parts are available still.
Ugh,
Maybe I don't want one so bad after all. :-\
"IF" you only use it as it was designed for, it does it's job and is a unique accessory.. That being said , "modern" units that bolt onto the transmission are superior and less troublesome.
Randy
Do any of the modern units, and that, (I assume Gear Vendors is the only one), activate with mechanical linkage like the Hone?
I know Gear Vendors rates theirs for huge power too.
Quote from: 2112 on January 20, 2020, 03:11:37 PM
Do any of the modern units, and that, (I assume Gear Vendors is the only one), activate with mechanical linkage like the Hone?
Don't believe so - ran a Gear vendor on a F350 about 10 years ago. All electric control
Gear Venders is an American (?) copy of the Laycock overdrive units. ;)
Scott.
Quote from: J_Speegle on January 20, 2020, 03:30:19 PM
Quote from: 2112 on January 20, 2020, 03:11:37 PM
Do any of the modern units, and that, (I assume Gear Vendors is the only one), activate with mechanical linkage like the Hone?
Don't believe so - ran a Gear vendor on a F350 about 10 years ago. All electric control
+1 all electric and smooth as silk. I have one on my F350 race car hauler and wouldn't leave home without it LOL.
Randy
Do you push in the clutch when shifting into overdrive?
You can or just "wave" the gas pedal. I have an automatic and do the latter when I manually hit the switch. I also have an "auto" function that makes it feel like a factory AOD , but I rarely use it.
Randy
Couldn't do it. Too many unknowns on the unit itself.
Quote from: 2112 on January 21, 2020, 09:17:54 PM
Couldn't do it. Too many unknowns on the unit itself.
Keep in mind that you have to pop a hole in the tunnel and carpet for the lever used to engage/disengage action.
Was the Hone-O-Drive ever available for purchase through SAI? Did SAI ever issue it a part number?
Quote from: silverton_ford on January 29, 2020, 10:49:55 PM
Was the Hone-O-Drive ever available for purchase through SAI? Did SAI ever issue it a part number?
I don't remember seeing it other then a stand alone advertisements. I just checked 11 different SA and Ford high performance parts catalogs from the 60's and early 70's just in case and didn't come across anything. If it was it was obscure.
Quote from: silverton_ford on January 29, 2020, 10:49:55 PM
Was the Hone-O-Drive ever available for purchase through SAI? Did SAI ever issue it a part number?
Here are a couple of ads run in period magazines
(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/13/6-300120005747.jpeg)
(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/13/6-300120005730.jpeg)
Thank you Bob and Jeff. I also looked through all of my parts books and catalogs and came up empty.
Being a "local boy" I can assure you the Hone OD was NEVER run in 5S360 as pictured in the ads. That car ran low 12's and would have dropped the Hone out on the track with Don's driving style. "On the floor and dump the clutch" was not safe with the Hone unit because of the added weight "hanging" on the front of the standard grey iron housing and the increase in leverage ( against axle rotation) . I know from "customer experience" on a guy I built one for in '69. 4.57 gear ratio , wamed over 289 , 4spd and slicks. With two runs on it , there was "a clean up on lane one " LOL Hone laughed at me when I asked about a warranty , but happily SOLD me replacement parts. My customer never drag raced the car again. He switched to road racing and the unit lasted beyond his sale of the car.
Randy
We ran the Hone in the '70 Shelby for "street" use, which was particularly appreciated with the 4.88's, but it was always removed for the drag strip, as the 427 T.P. had proven it would rip the guts out of the O.D. given the chance.
Back in them there days, I could the swap the 9" center in twenty minutes, and that was without air tools! ;) I'm a little slower now. :-[
Scott.
I just had #13 69 GT500 and it had an original Hone O Drive unit on it. Like others said, the lever was kinda mounted under the front of the driver side and required a few holes.
When I got the car it didn't have exhaust on it, and when I put factory exhaust back on the lever was in the way, so I took it off and left the unit in the 3.50 gear setting.
It worked good though.
I know someone that used to have a few of these if anyone is looking I can get a hold of him and see if he still has one. I hooked him up with someone on the Boss 302 website and they bought one from him a few years back.
Roy
Randy, please write a book. Your knowledge and experience with cool stuff blows me away
Being born at the right time is the reason I know stuff. Hands on versus "book smart" removes allot of misinformation. There are lots of others who know more than me in their area of expertise.
Thank you for the kind words !
Randy