Mitchell overdrive

flathead47

flathead47

Member
I am thinking about installing a mitchell overdrive unit in a 46 - 48 ford convertible. Does anyone have experience with this, installation tips, pictures of installation , was it worth the effort. Thanks.
 
I am considering one for our 46 so will be interested in the response to this post. I understand they are a quality gear changer and relatively easy to install. John
 
i believe theres a couple of ratios that you can get with this set up hopfully someone who has one in a car like yours will advise trev:)
 
oldford2 said:
I am considering one for our 46 so will be interested in the response to this post. I understand they are a quality gear changer and relatively easy to install. John
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Most 46's have a 3.54 rear gear and an overdrive is going to result in serious underpower.
 
I have one in my "36 and it's great. My '36 has a 3.78 rear and I have the "36"% Mitchell. Overall I believe they are a well built rugged overdrive that provides a viable option over the pricey and somewhat fragile Columbia if you're not into counting judging points at a car show. Before you order one, do the math on their advertised ratios as they think that overdrive "ratio" and "reduction" are the same. In Reality their "36 % " reduction is actually around 29% ( same as the Borg-Warner and Columbia ratios) while their "26%" is really closer to 20%. If your rear end ratio is 3.78 or higher, I'd suggest getting their 36%. It makes a huge difference in driveability that you will really enjoy. Bruce
 
My 47 has a 4.11 rear gear and is basically a 50-55 mph car. I have considered the 3.54 rear gear as an option , but the mitchell overdrive seems like a interesting solution to easily obtain a 65 mph car. I do not want to modify the floor of the car or have any clearance problems with the installation so that is why I was hoping there would be some pictures out there from someone who has installed one in a 46-48 ford.
 
I put one in my 40 conv and it was a 36% and it does great and if you see a long hill just speed up a little and it will do just fine.Sue was really helpful because I bought it and it was a year or so before I finished the car and they siad they would make it good anyway so great people to work with
 
In my 36 Coupe I have a 354 rear and a 36% Mitchell and it works fine, but I do have a approx 370 cu. in. flathead for power.
 
Does anyone have pictures of the Mitchell installed under their vehicle and of the control, either cable or shifter?
 
I have one in my 41 pickup, running 3:54s, love it.
Easy install, take oout the old torque tube and driveshaft, then bolt in the Mitchell.
Any questions, call and talk to Sue Mitchell, she has all the answers, good people to deal with. Cost is about $2100. Either 26% or 36% overdrive.
 

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Thanks for the picture. That looks like it would hit the floor under my 37 (and 38 and 39 and my Dad's 40). Does anyone have pictures of one installed under a passenger car?
 
What I had to do was move the shift arm to the bottom instead of top so it would not hit the floor when you hit a bump or someone was in the bask seat.But I had put Posie reverse eye springs on mine and it lowered it a little but teh only difference is the engage you push in instead of pull out the cable.Sue was a great help and I used syn 90w oil in mine
 
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