Ryan Overdrive

W

willobs

Senior Member
Any info on Ryan overdrive? Have one in a car i recently purchased. Are they a good unit? Parts available?

Thanks
 
I've been running one in my tudor for about 10 years, a good 20,000 miles, with no problems. They are no longer produced so parts are probably not available but they use standard bearings and the gears are almost indestructable. They came in 2 ratios, and are marked on a pad on the left side of the case.
 
I agree with Jim, they are very good units. I have two, one is 33%, the other is 23%. Some people claim they are noisy, they do have a whine to them. The 23% is best suited for a 378 ring & pinion. Ryan stopped producing them about 10 years ago. Replacement parts are no longer available. I have been trying to find the two gears that would convert the 33% to a 23% without success.

Tom Endy
 
Hi guys, I am in the process of installing a Ryan Overdrive in my B powered 31 Coupe. Am I correct in assuming it is a 23% model? These are the numbers stamped on it:
AL - 206 . 23 1-94
Do the last numbers indicate it was built Jan, 1994? What would the AL - 206 mean?

This unit was barely even used. The driveshaft tube is still bare metal and no signs of rust. I purchased it from John Nosler of Nosler Bullets a few weeks before he passed away.
Thanks for any info you can provide.
Dave
 
It is a 23% overdrive. It was the 206th 23% overdrive that Dan Ryan built, and was built in January of 1994. (The "L" indicated low (23%) ratio). The lack of an "L" in the serial # indicates it would be a 33% overdrive,

Awesome overdrive- lousy shifter. Buy a Mitchell shifter and use it with that overdrive.

Steve Becker
Berts Model A Center
 
Thanks for the info Steve! I do think the shifter is a little puny. I have a couple of Ruckstell shifters for T's I may see if I can use. I see in an earlier post someone said Berts had parts for these. Is that true? Not needing any but just in case. Ok, now I see after re-reading that you said to call Dan Ryan. That has been awhile, is Dan still the person to contact for parts?

Dave
 
I have a 1929 Roadster that came with what I think is a Ryan overdrive it has no name on it just so code nu's and letter googled them and came up with nothing I have both a shift handle on the floor and a cable on the steering column ??? If I push the cable the reverse does not work the cable pulls hard I've tried penetrating oil but no help also no kinks
 
Sounds like you have a Borg Warner OD. The picture is a Ryan.
 

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DanD said:
I have a 1929 Roadster that came with what I think is a Ryan overdrive it has no name on it just so code nu's and letter googled them and came up with nothing I have both a shift handle on the floor and a cable on the steering column ??? If I push the cable the reverse does not work the cable pulls hard I've tried penetrating oil but no help also no kinks
Click to expand...

Are you a member of your nearest local Model-A chapter? The guys in your local club are likely always happy to stop by, look, and advise another Model-A owner.

I must sound like a broken record....
 
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