overdrive transmissions

Art Bjornestad

Art Bjornestad

Senior Member
I am trying to find suppliers of kits to install a Ford 4 speed OD ****** in my A. Dave@modelaonly is not returning emails or answering calls. Has anyone used another supplier and how can I contact them? Thanks
 
Gary Bernard in ft worth. Weve put over 20k miles on ours and I LOVE it. I know George Tynan has put around 50k on both of his. Gary has been making them for around 20 years, and have never heard of any problems. Private message me for contact info. His kits i beleive are around $2500
 
Perhaps Dave is in Hershey this week enjoying a respite from email & phone. I remember when snail mail (USPS 1st class) was considered speedy, and long distance phone calls required an operator to call back when a line was available. Try him in a week. Surely you can wait? You can see his stuff on his website.
 
I have Dave's kit . You do not have to cut up your frame crossmember or your brake cross shaft ,as with other kits. It is a drop in kit.Works great.
 
Here is an email from Ken Parker who posts on Fordbarn concerning his F150 kit:
From kpandlp@att.net (kpandlp@att.net)
Sent Sunday, June 17, 2007 9:25 pm
To aberry@hvc.rr.com
Cc
Bcc
Subject F150 OD transmission
Saw your post on Fordbarn. There are two shops in Texas that build the units you speak of. Gary Bernard and me. Both built from F100 or F150 transmissions but how they are cuopled to the model A is slightly different. My units uses a AA bell housing and requires no cutting on the center cross member of modifications to the brake cross shft. It is complete with AA bell housing, Throwout bearing and hub, new Clutch disc, transmission - rebuilt, Shortened radias rods, shortened torque tube, shortened drive shaft, Clutch and brake pedal bracket, 30-31 style emergency brake bracket, Shift lever adapted to look like model A. All nuts and bolts for installation included. Complete package $2500. I have further info if you want it and pictures.

I am in Van, Texas - 80 miles east of Dallas. Ken Parker 903- 963-1650

Note the date 6/2007, the price may be slightly higher now. I installed one myself and have instructions if you are a real good mechanic and have access to a lathe and milling machine. And Art, I sent you my instructions which also list the three fellows (Gary, Ken and Dave) who make the F150 kits and their contact information.
 
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What are the gear ratios of the 4-speed? The only one I have ever ridden in had a HUGE RPM drop between 2nd and 3rd gears, other than that it seemed to work nicely. I personally would go for the Mitchell.
 
Here's some info I got for mine, I think it was from modeladave's (not sure)

[FONT=&quot]Overdrive Transmission:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The Overdrive transmission 1928-1931, 1935-1939 is a unique, fully-synchronized, transmissions for the Model "A" and early V8. It has the overdrive built inside the case. There are no extra leavers, cables, or electric switches involved. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The drop in conversion kit that I manufacture has all parts necessary for a drop in installation. No special tools are required. [/FONT]
There are 4 different ratios:
.......................1..... 2 ...... 3 .......4
[FONT=&quot]Gear Ratios...1st - 3.01.... 3.25 .... 3.25 .....3.01 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] .....................2nd - 1.78 ....1.92 ....1.92 ... 1.78[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]......................3rd - 1.00 ....1.00.... 1.00 ....1.00[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] ....................O.D. - 0.72 ....0.71 ....0.78 ....0.79[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] ....................Rev - 3.01 ..... 3.25 ....3.25 ....3.01[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]1984-1987 Ford light duty top shifter. It is a three speed with the fourth being overdrive and all gears are synchro in forward direction. Believe it is Tremac transmission. I also believe that you want the one with the long tailshaft. Also believe that there were a couple or three ratios of that transmission offered. You should be looking for a TOD (top shifter, overdrive), T170FT (code-RTS).[/FONT]
 
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Can the earlier top loader overdrive transmission be converted for this too? I'm talking about the cast iron case Ford top loader looking transmission (that the muscle car guys like) only with the 3-4 shift lever flipped and overdrive where 3rd used to be. I know you can put a Jeep top on a Ford top loader to get a top shifter.
 
"Can the earlier top loader overdrive transmission be converted for this too?" ......of course it can, all it takes is time, some engineering, some machine shop work, a little bit of money, and the desire to do it! Go for it!
 
Thanks for the ratio chart Jim, I've been running a Columbia under my widebed for some 40 years, works great and I like the ratios.
 
Art Bjornestad said:
I am trying to find suppliers of kits to install a Ford 4 speed OD ****** in my A. Dave@modelaonly is not returning emails or answering calls. Has anyone used another supplier and how can I contact them? Thanks
Click to expand...

I have also been trying to contact Dave without success. I have several of his other products installed on my 31 PU, and wanted to do the ****** this winter, but he has yet to respond. I've been trying for about a month.
 
I heard Dave had been on an extended vacation and just returned in the last few days.

Joe
 
Can someone give specifics on exactly what the referenced Ford 150 overdrive transmission is, please? Is it hard to find, or not so hard? In what price range are they found at wrecking yards?
 
southfork, it is a 1984-87 Ford 1/2 ton six cylinder or small V8, made by Tremac and has a serial # that starts with RTS. They are not real rare, but will be hard to find, and should be around $500.
 
Search the "Barn" for "F150" and you'll find all the information you will need to find the correct transmission.
 
Has anyone tackled the exteme drop in RPM from the 2nd to 3rd shift. In Colorado, the forward motion really drops on it's face when you shift, 1st and 2nd is fine, after a good run 3rd is ok, but it takles a while to get the rpm back after that shift from 2nd to 3rd. And 4:11's don't help it even with a good inserted engine!!
 
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