49' Merc OD solenoid question...

T

timdhawk

Member
I'm switching to 12 volt on my build. Is there any reason I couldn't use a 12v overdrive solenoid from another vehicle so long as the shaft was the same length? (and mounting holes line up of course)
It seems like a lot of cars from Ford, GM, Chrysler, Studebaker, Packard, American Motors, Etc that had Borg-Warner OD's used the same solenoid with a 1" shaft.

Thanx
 
Try Fifth Avenue Internet Garage. They sell new reproductions but I see used ones on Flea-Pay all the time. Some folks just use the OEM 6-volt units, at least till they finally die. They will work on 12-volt but they function quicker with 12-volts for sure.

I have a chart on the solenoids somewhere. There were the early long case versions and later short case versions. The long case solenoids won't work with the convertible shift rocker box mechanism. A person has to stick with the Borg Warner numbers to find out what all they fit. The 49 had a different pawl in the overdrive section but I think the solenoids were all usable through the 49/early 51 Mercury transmissions. Late 51 through 53 were more like the Ford car transmissions so they might be a different bolt up pattern but I think they are the same.
 
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I have been using a 6 volt solenoid for several months now, have not had any trouble at all. Use the 6 volt till it fails.
 
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