Overdrive Question

archauto

archauto

Junior Member
I've got a line on a Studebaker truck transmission with BW overdrive. Will this be a bolt on to a 46 ford sedan transmission or am I trying to simply a complex scenario?:rolleyes:
 
Also I've noticed a few 49-51 merc trannys w/ BW OD. Would this be a bolt in for the 46 or not. They look similar.
 
The BW unit will not bolt to your '46 transmission. I'm pretty sure the '49 Mercury trans/OD will bolt to your engine, but will not hook up to your closed driveshaft.
 
The 1949 though early 1951 Mercury will bolt up to the earlier engines but as was mentioned, it is an open drive unit. Some of the Lincoln transmissions with work with closed drive but the torque tubes are different lengths and the rear mounting is different.

The Mitchel OD unit is probably the easiest one to install with the torque tube closed drive set ups.
 
Archauto:
I believe your question is whether all Borg-Warner OD units are the same and if they are whether one will bolt to your existing transmission. I know BW made different units (the R10 and R11 for example). I don't know what Studebaker used.

I do know that the Ford/Mercury units aren't simply bolted onto regular 3 speeds. The OD trannys are purpose-built transmissions, so I don't think you can just add the OD unit.
 
There are also variations in castings and spline types in different year brackets on the Mercury specific transmissions. Due to the lock out feature, the original 3-speed cases were changed enough that they don't cross over for interchangability. I think FoMoCo's round mounting shape was unique to them and adapters are required to change to different types. The T5 transmission seems to be the most popular type to adapt currently but it too requires a change to open drive.
 
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