transmission interchange question

40cpe

40cpe

Well-known member
I asked this in the Late V8 forum and no answer yet.

Is a '49-'53 transmission a T-86, or is it a weaker version? I know there might be some rear mount and clutch linkage differences, but will it be OK behind a Y-block?
 
A while back I talked to a gentleman who had a '53 ****** in a '55 car. He didn't talk like there were any problems. Also, when I was in High School (a million years ago) I put a '51 ****** (with o/d) in a '54 car. Only problem was the rear mount which I "Mickey-rigged". Everything else bolted right up.
 
IF you are looking for a tuff trans 55 mercury up 3 speeds,
Fords 57 till think to 63,Early T birds, T10 has a round bottom side cover.Thats one tuff trans.Make it to fit.
 
49 to 53 ford trans have extremely weak cluster gears, get on it hard and the rear wheel hops you will lose it, ive lost a cluster gear just going over a rough rail road track under power
 
The early ones are a precursor to the T86 and are similar if they are the Borg Warner/Ford rectangular bolt up pattern. The 49 to early 51 Mercury & pickups that were side shift had the early Ford trans bolt up pattern. Gears all changed in 1951 to the more diamond shape type. All the early overdrive types were R10 but the later R11 is much stronger and can take a big Ford FE motor with no problems.

Kerby
 
The round bottom side cover is the deal, as George said. The regular Ford 3 speed was easy to blow up. I remember searching the junkyards for one of those curved cover trannys back in the 60's. I had a Y-block 56 Victoria at that time.
 
I'll add my input here:

The T86 was Borg's overdrive trans (came out in 1955). Pretty much a medium duty 3 speed with OD that had the tin top cover. The shifter shafts come out the left side of the cast iron case (but there is no side cover since it's on the top). Should be fine behind any Y-block except something built up for horsepower. As with any overdrive, I wouldn't recommend any "hard" driving with any of them. If you want to get on your car hard (ie drag race type driving), I would stay away from any overdrive ****** and stay with a regular 3 speed.

Ford used the R-10 overdrive on all six and 8 cylinder cars thru the 1950's except those with the big V8 engines. They got the R-11 overdrive trans. This was not only the R-11 but the 3 speed ****** was the Borg T-85....a very stout trans.

The change to the gear teeth that occurred in 1951 was an improvement as far as I am concerned. I see PLENTY of transmissions in our shop, and the ones of 1951 and later gears with broken teeth I can count on one hand. Wear? yes.....some chipped teeth...yes. But broken teeth.....havent seen one yet. That doesnt mean they can't break. It's my experience that they fail MUCH less than the 1939-50 gears.

So, if you plan to build a nice cruiser with an overdrive trans, and your engine is not huge horsepower, and you don't plan to drag race it every Friday night......any Ford side loader 3 speed OD, or the the T-86 topload (side shift) 3 speed OD trans, would be just fine.
 
mac vp said:
i'll add my input here:

The t86 was borg's overdrive trans (came out in 1955). Pretty much a medium duty 3 speed with od that had the tin top cover. The shifter shafts come out the left side of the cast iron case (but there is no side cover since it's on the top). Should be fine behind any y-block except something built up for horsepower. As with any overdrive, i wouldn't recommend any "hard" driving with any of them. If you want to get on your car hard (ie drag race type driving), i would stay away from any overdrive ****** and stay with a regular 3 speed.

Ford used the r-10 overdrive on all six and 8 cylinder cars thru the 1950's except those with the big v8 engines. They got the r-11 overdrive trans. This was not only the r-11 but the 3 speed ****** was the borg t-85....a very stout trans.

The change to the gear teeth that occurred in 1951 was an improvement as far as i am concerned. I see plenty of transmissions in our shop, and the ones of 1951 and later gears with broken teeth i can count on one hand. Wear? Yes.....some chipped teeth...yes. But broken teeth.....havent seen one yet. That doesnt mean they can't break. It's my experience that they fail much less than the 1939-50 gears.

So, if you plan to build a nice cruiser with an overdrive trans, and your engine is not huge horsepower, and you don't plan to drag race it every friday night......any ford side loader 3 speed od, or the the t-86 topload (side shift) 3 speed od trans, would be just fine.
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i have a 55 t-bird . I put a b/w with overdrive out of a 55 fairlain . Everything work right but the the speed dome reading . It read 10 t0 18 mph faster than the car going compaired to the gps reading. What have i done wrong.
Kyle
kyle@camoclothes.com
 
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