53 Ford trans conversion

4tford

4tford

Well-known member
Next fall I plan to pull the motor and trans from my 53 for an overhaul. The car is pretty much a survivor. Mainly stock. I am thinking this would be a good time to switch to a stock OD trans. Will the OD trans bolt right in or will there be issues such as mounts or cross member etc.? What issues will I need to prepare for?Thanks Bill
 
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With the correct year of transmission, it should bolt right in. Then just add the external controls and you are good to go.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the OD transmission longer that the standard 3 speed? A shorter driveshaft will be needed if so. Not a big problem.
 
i have a 53 four door same color with an automatic. with the OD trans you will need a kick down switch, OD cable, solenoid, relay, and you will need to reverse the rear trans mount as the OD is a different shape where the OD is and the mount is further towards the rear of the car. Fifth Avenue Garage has relay & solenoid, and C&G Ford parts has the cable and the kick down switch & drive shaft is the same length...... it is a nice swap....

I believe you can use any 51 thru 54 OD trans as they made some changes to the transmissions in 51, but be sure to measure the overall trans length on the 51 and compare it to your 53 non OD trans before buying a 51 if you find one.
 
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I'm getting ready to take my standard 3 speed out and put a factory overdrive in my 53 convertible. I measured both transmissions, and both seem to be the same length. Your shift linkage should bolt right up, just get the controls as someone on here mentioned. Good to know about flipping the mount. 1933-1934 did that too...4 cylinders were a tad longer then V8's, so the mount has offset mounting ears. Goes on one way for V 8, flip it around for 4 cylinder.
 
CarlG said:
If I'm not mistaken, the rear end ratios were different as well.
Click to expand...

I was just going to add that. If I remember correctly the od got a 4.11 while the regular stick got 3.78. The automatics got a 3.08. Be sure to check my numbers before you do anything with them.

Charlie Stephens
 
Hi all; Just a note; I learned that some of the OD 3 speeds have rotated the solenoid location to clear convertible frame X members. Watch for this on used transmissions. Any info on this feature would be appreciated. Newc
 
4t,
I recently built/installed a '49 Merc OD in a '52 F-1, Mac Van Pelt had all the trinkets needed to control the OD.
Charlie ny
 
Newc said:
Hi all; Just a note; I learned that some of the OD 3 speeds have rotated the solenoid location to clear convertible frame X members. Watch for this on used transmissions. Any info on this feature would be appreciated. Newc
Click to expand...

That only applies to 49-50 convertibles, it is done with a special plate, pretty rare and should not be an issue
http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/.../Flathead_Trans_8A-6910_ODslidingpawlassy.jpg

The one you need has the rectangular side plate, although the T 85 with half moon side plate or the T 89 top loader will work with minor fit issues, both are much stronger than stock...

For what it's worth I have access to a T 89 but no idea what it looks like inside. If you go with either the 89 or 85 check splines, you may have to switch clutch disk or front U joint yoke. Looking for a T85 for mine
 
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the automatics should be a 3.54 my differential was changed at one time and i want to pull the carrier out and make sure is is not a 3.73 that was for a 3 speed non OD. an OD ratio should be 4.10 but using that non OD 3.73 makes highway driving a lot better. with my 53 Victoria i have a 350 SBC with a 700R4 and a 3.50 Maverick rear end and in 3rd gear at 60 mph it spins at about 2200/2300 rpm and my 4 door with the flathead and a ford-o-matic it spins at 2800 or so at 60 mph so i think it is a 3.73 ratio in there. if it is i have another rebuilt Maverick rear end with a 3.50 ratio i will install and get a bit better mileage...
 
Many thanks guys. I will start looking for a trans. I don't mind if the driveshaft needs work nor the rear end as both will be coming out as well. There is a good shop locally for both. Bill
 
4t,
This is a stretch but if in your travels you or someone you know is near the
western end of New York State come and see me. In my barn out of harms way
reside a load of Ford OD transmissions. This load includes the legendary T 85 and
the '49-'50 Merc units along with the regular Ford OD's.
FYI if you've never seen the T85 trans think of it as a Sherman Tank and
the regular Ford OD trans as a Jeep. The cool thing is it bolts right up to an 8BA
bell housing and if you get the right one the input shaft spline is the same as an
8BA pass trans.
Charlie ny
 
with a generous offer like that from Charlie NY, that would make one heck of a good excuse for a vacation road trip.........
 
Unless you are in the mountains, the 4:10 rear is a deterrent in my opinion. We changed both of our '50's to the 3:78 for much better cruising and better gas mileage and if you hit the mountains, just take it out of OD and it is the same as before you installed the OD.
 
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