transmission interchange question
- Thread starter 40cpe
- Start date
Are you talking overdrive or non-overdrive?
In my opinion, the 49 thru 54 overdrive ****** (which is bacically the same as the 49-62 non-OD ****** is better than the 55-64 T-86 OD. BTW, I once added a '49 overdrive tailshaft to a '56 Ford 3-speed when I discovered that the '56 countershaft was significantly larger than the one in the earlier trannys. The '65 and up T-86 is a better ****** than the earlier one. The best OD ****** is the T-85 which was used in some Mercs, some T-birds and most all FE powered Ford/Merc Cars and trucks. Incidently, the T-10 4 speed was derived from the T-85 3 speed. The T-85s equipped with overdrive used an R-11 OD unit which has 4 (instead of 3) planetary gears and a larger sun gear.
As with the T-86, the T-85 ****** saw improvements in 65 with wider, heavier gears akin to those used in the super T-10 4 speed.
The T-85 (especially the '65 up ones) are darn near indestructible under "reasonable" hard use situations.
This is my experience from "playing with" overdrive trannys since the late 50s.
In my opinion, the 49 thru 54 overdrive ****** (which is bacically the same as the 49-62 non-OD ****** is better than the 55-64 T-86 OD. BTW, I once added a '49 overdrive tailshaft to a '56 Ford 3-speed when I discovered that the '56 countershaft was significantly larger than the one in the earlier trannys. The '65 and up T-86 is a better ****** than the earlier one. The best OD ****** is the T-85 which was used in some Mercs, some T-birds and most all FE powered Ford/Merc Cars and trucks. Incidently, the T-10 4 speed was derived from the T-85 3 speed. The T-85s equipped with overdrive used an R-11 OD unit which has 4 (instead of 3) planetary gears and a larger sun gear.
As with the T-86, the T-85 ****** saw improvements in 65 with wider, heavier gears akin to those used in the super T-10 4 speed.
The T-85 (especially the '65 up ones) are darn near indestructible under "reasonable" hard use situations.
This is my experience from "playing with" overdrive trannys since the late 50s.
Jay in Mass
Senior Member
If you are interested, I have a nice heavy duty T85 non overdrive transmisson that I took out of a Y block Mercury about 50 years ago. $175. plus shipping
Jay 1508 866 2671
Jay 1508 866 2671
William H. Blalock
Junior Member
Jay:
Do you still have the T85? I have an R11 overdrive unit and am in need of the transmission.
Hexbore
Do you still have the T85? I have an R11 overdrive unit and am in need of the transmission.
Hexbore
I successfully mated a '49 R-10 OD unit to the back of a '56 Ford side-loader 3 speed because it had a large countershaft and I preferred it to the early T-86 ******.
A couple of things I ran into on the smaller ****** which may or not be an issue with the Non-OD T-85.
I had to devise a trough at the top of the ****** and drill a hole thru the back so that the oil thrown from the gears would be picked up and drain to the OD.
I also had to drill 2 other holes in the back of the case; one for the oil from the OD to return to the ****** and another for the reverse lockout shaft to go from the ****** to the OD unit.
Incidently, you will need the correct low/reverse shifter which has the cam on it to actuate the reverse lockout.
I have a few of the different ODs used in the Fords as well as parts.
If you work out a deal for the non-OD ****** and you run into any problems or have any questions, feel free to contact me.
I haven't worked on them much since the 70s but I think I remember most of the important stuff yet.
I put the '56/'49 ****** into a '75 F-100 when it had about 1,500 miles on it. It worked really well with the 300 six and the 3.70 gears.
goodfell @ midtel.net
Jay in Mass
Senior Member
William - Hexbore
I sent you a pm.
Jay
I sent you a pm.
Jay
Jay in Mass
Senior Member
40CPE
To answer your question about a 49-53 transmission behind a Y Block. Yes... It will bolt right on. If you are not going be speed shifting and smacking 2nd gear like I used to do in the old days with my 56 Ford, it will work out just fine. Sometimes I had to reverse the transmission mount depending on what year ****** I was able to pick up in the junk yards.
Jay
To answer your question about a 49-53 transmission behind a Y Block. Yes... It will bolt right on. If you are not going be speed shifting and smacking 2nd gear like I used to do in the old days with my 56 Ford, it will work out just fine. Sometimes I had to reverse the transmission mount depending on what year ****** I was able to pick up in the junk yards.
Jay
Here is a comparison of the typical '49 to '54 Ford ****** with the R-10 OD to the much heavier T-85 and R-11 OD.
The T-86 was a top loader ****** with basically the same R-10 OD unit mated to it and was used as the base overdrive transmission from '55 to '66 ('72 in trucks) altho the entire gear setup was changed and improved in '65.
The T-86 was a top loader ****** with basically the same R-10 OD unit mated to it and was used as the base overdrive transmission from '55 to '66 ('72 in trucks) altho the entire gear setup was changed and improved in '65.
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William H. Blalock
Junior Member
Jay:
No PM in my box?
No PM in my box?
Jay in Mass
Senior Member
William
Sorry...It seems like I must be doing something wrong when I send a PM. Please call me at home or send an email. I also have pictures of my T85 that I can send to an email address.
My phone number is 1508 866 2671 . email jarrow34@gmail.com
Thank you. Jay in Mass.
Sorry...It seems like I must be doing something wrong when I send a PM. Please call me at home or send an email. I also have pictures of my T85 that I can send to an email address.
My phone number is 1508 866 2671 . email jarrow34@gmail.com
Thank you. Jay in Mass.
JeffB2
Well-known member
There is an ad posted on www.1954ford.com for a complete overdrive transmission, it actually came from a 1951 Ford,the guy posting it is disabled and cannot repair it himself.His "mechanic" let it sit around for almost a year before telling Him the overdrive was "bad" so he could not return it to the original seller.Same "mechanic" couldn't even install a Petronix in his '54 and get it to run for several months,wish someone was in the area to help Him out.http://1954ford.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2085
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