Hello to all on this forum. I usually hang out on the 73-79 forum since I have that year F250.

I recently got a deal I couldn't refuse on a B/W T85N trans with the R11 overdrive that Ford put on F100's up till '71. I'd like to replace my tricked out C6 with this trans, and was hoping to get some info.

I have someone to ck it and rebuild it, and found sites with wiring diagrams, etc., and was hoping for a general 'yes, do it,' or a 'run from it' answer with a bit of help about changing from the spline drive shaft to the fixed yoke of this set up.

All input and help is appreciated. k

 

If you love pissing away your hard earned money then go for it.

I remember my dad had on in a Studebaker with one of those trannys.

When in o/d and let off the gas pedal it was like free wheeling with no compression to slow it down. Kind of Like a diesel is .

You notice it was stopped being use in 71, not a lot of nos parts laying around.

And if you have to pay someone every time something goes wrong with it.
They were a light duty tranny.

For you to change over to a stick is a lot of work if your unhappy with it.
Flywheel, clutch & linkage drive line and may be changing the rear end gears ratios if to low or high to suit your liking..

Sell it to a guy who is in need of one..
Orich

 

It is easy to acquire warped or slanted views as a child before we actually understand something.

So, you have no experience with this trans, other than childhood memories?

BTW, the B/W trans was well known for being a stout trans. Also, fwiw, if the o.d. was freewheeling in any gear other than first when the driver let off the gas, then the electronics were not functioning properly, so I have read. Maybe that was the problem your father was having and never knew it?

 

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.__ Correct on all , I grew up with overdrive standard transmissions and that's the way they work. A lot of people put them in now but don't get the wiring right or try to skip it , then the say it is junk. I have a 56 ford passenger car with overdrive and it still works perfect , no free wheeling._____JIM

 

I'd think you would want to upgrade too a newer o/d tranny instead of stepping backwards into yesteryears 42 yrs ago.

And it's still only a 3 speed. Not great for any towing.

These same tranny's were used for many yrs. with 6 cyl & V8 cars & trucks right, can't be all the heavy duty then.

I find it odd you wanting to step backwards in time with an out dated tranny, but hey it's your way of thinking as old is better, I guess..

I don' know what your trying to accomplish in doing with this type conversion.
May be gas mileage ? Or just the fun of shifting a 3 speed on the floor or on the tree.

Well any way good luck in you plan...

Orich

 

Thanks to all for the info. I'm not sure if I'll use it. My first choice was a ZF, but after looking for over a year for a sb 2x ZF, I have nearly given up.

I don't know much about this B/W unit. But it fell into my lap for a song so I wanted to research it and make up my mind about using it. At this point I'm a bit iffy about it and need something reliable.

...meanwhile, I continue the search for a ZF. (I refuse to pay to have one shipped across country, or else could of had one many moons ago.)

 

With one exception, you won't find a Studebaker w/a T-85 O/D. Studebakers used light duty T-86's and T-89's with O/D as did many other cars/trucks including 1949/64 Ford cars, 1953/64 F100's.

There's very little compression when O/D is engaged, but the trans can be disengaged while driving if one knows the procedure.

Some Borg Warner T-85 O/D applications: 1940/47 Packard L-6 / 1940/54 Packard Straight 8 / 1941/48 Lincoln Zephyr/Continental V12 / 1949/51 Lincoln/Cosmopolitan V8 / 1955/56 Packard V8.

1955/56 Nash/Hudson with Packard V8 - 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk (Packard V8) - 1965/71 F100 240/300/302/352/360/390.

The problem is, all the parts are obsolete, difficult to find NOS. The O/D relay used in 1965/71 F100's is impossible to find NOS.

The 6V relay used with all Warner O/D's is reproduced by Studebakers West in Redwood City CA, but AFAIK, no one reproduces any of the 12V relays.

Installing this trans in a 1975 F250 that came w/a C6 will be a PITA rigamarole.

F-250 restorer: Where in CA do you reside? A pal of mine owns a truck dismantlers yard here in LA LA Land. He may have the ZF you want, but if not can put it on the wreckers computerized hot line.

 

I stand corrected ~~~now having crow for dinner!

 

NumberDummy: I'm in Long Beach.

Thanks, everyone, this is why I throw items like trans swap plans out to this forum. There are guys here with much much knowledge and experience than I and I use them as a sounding board.

The one aspect of using this trans that is holding me back is not being able to get parts. It seems fool hardy to invest time and money if parts are not available. I like the trans, have found it is stout, etc., but absence of replacement parts has got me unable to move forward. I suppose I have switch back to searching for a small block ZF trans, 2X style, early 90's with the mech. speedo drive.

 

Southern California Truck Wrecking - 8229 S. Alameda Street - Los Angeles 90001.

323-587-3144, ask for Marty (SoCal is closed weekends).