Use standard 12v relay for overdrive?

[rjlester]

Hey guys,

Have a friend that wants to upgrade his 56 (non-ford) car over to an overdrive from his standard 3 on the tree. I'm quite familiar with this setup as I installed one in my 54 Meteor (Ford) two years ago. I love the OD!! He was in my car a year ago and couldn't get enough of the OD I had. He has a 56 Plymouth, and I actually have aquired an OD trans for his car.

We have everything (transmission, pull cable, solenoid, governor, kickdown linkage) but we are missing the relay. Instead of paying the 300+ for a new relay is it possible to use a standard 12 volt relay you can buy over the counter? I've studied the wiring diagrams, and it looks like we should be able to, and will adapt a fuse to it as well.

Has anyone tried a standard 12 volt relay? I've attached a link to an example of the type of relay I'm speaking of.

https://www.amazon.com/PACK-AMP-Waterproof-Relay-Harness/dp/B074FSZWVT/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[40cpe]

Although I've not used one, I have read that others have used the relay you refer to successfully. I think the original fuse for the relay on a Ford was 30 amps. I would use a 40 amp aftermarket relay.

 

[miker98038]

I’d think that would work fine. The big load is on the pull in coil, once the o/d is engaged you’re on the holding coil of the solenoid, quite a bit less load. Make sure there’s a fuse in there somewhere. It doesn’t have to be on the relay like the oem, but it should be a fused circuit.