3spd od question
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Nashville
3spd od question
I finally got the 3spd od installed in my 55 f100. I know that everything is wired up right. I have checked the system with the rear wheels jacked up off of the ground and the truck running in place. The governor gives ground at the right speed, the relay clicks on, and the solenoid engages. But the overdrive never engages. The free wheeling thing happens, but the reduction in rpm doesn't. I checked it statically with the truck not running and the cover off of the solenoid. I can see that the solenoid shoots out, but not far enough to make the pawl engage the balk ring gear. I changed solenoids and the same thing happens. I put a stethoscope on the solenoid, down through the master cylinder hole, and listened while it was running. I could hear the solenoid engage at the right time. Then, when I let off the gas, I could hear the pawl trying to get into the balk ring gear, but it never did. Same thing when it is running down the road. Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks,
jeff Moore
Thanks,
jeff Moore
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: AKRON ohio
I'm not going to be much help as you are already deeper into this than i've ever been. I know when driving mine down the road and I let off the gas while in 3rd gear and this is when the shift into overdrive is supposed to happen. when you get back on the gas is when you are now in overdrive. I'll tell you sometimes I'm not so sure mine is in overdrive but everytime I tromp on the gas it down shifts. What I'm trying to say is its not a very noticable difference in RPM's from 3rd to OD.
Did you try to see if it would downshift, do you have the switch under the gas pedal? Maybe there is some sort of adjustment on the solenoid to adjust the throw of the mechanical action?
Kevin
Did you try to see if it would downshift, do you have the switch under the gas pedal? Maybe there is some sort of adjustment on the solenoid to adjust the throw of the mechanical action?
Kevin
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From: Nashville
Hey Kevin,
Thanks for the input. I actually finally got it to work!! And believe it or not, after all of the wiring headaches, it was a really simple problem that was keeping it from engaging. I didn't have the cable adjusted properly at the transmission so that the shift rail was keeping the pawl from extending fully. It is now happily driving down the freeway at about 65 mph, where before I was pushing the heck out of it to get to 50, and everybody climbing up my back bumper, obviously annoyed.
Jeff Moore
Thanks for the input. I actually finally got it to work!! And believe it or not, after all of the wiring headaches, it was a really simple problem that was keeping it from engaging. I didn't have the cable adjusted properly at the transmission so that the shift rail was keeping the pawl from extending fully. It is now happily driving down the freeway at about 65 mph, where before I was pushing the heck out of it to get to 50, and everybody climbing up my back bumper, obviously annoyed.
Jeff Moore
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Nashville
Hey Kevin,
What I did was replace the stock 3 spd without overdrive with an overdrive transmission out of another truck. The one that I got out of the other truck has 2 mounting holes on the bottom of the overdrive unit for mounting to a crossmember. Someone told me that he thought that the trucks did not have crossmembers and that the mounting holes are there for applications in other vehicles. Does your truck have a crossmember under the overdrive unit?
Thanks,
Jeff Moore
What I did was replace the stock 3 spd without overdrive with an overdrive transmission out of another truck. The one that I got out of the other truck has 2 mounting holes on the bottom of the overdrive unit for mounting to a crossmember. Someone told me that he thought that the trucks did not have crossmembers and that the mounting holes are there for applications in other vehicles. Does your truck have a crossmember under the overdrive unit?
Thanks,
Jeff Moore
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Joined: Dec 2000
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From: San Diego CA
Kevin and Jeff I had a 59 with the O/D and it had no crossmember. My buddy has a 61 Studebaker truck same tranny and a crossmember for the tranny but none at the bellhousing.
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Joined: May 2004
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what year is your truck and what year was the donor for the tranny with OD? I am having some problems now with a T85C-1A. Came out of a late 50s car, I think, and input shaft is smaller and shorter. The smaller diam is no problem, but the length will require a different bell housing. There is no other bellhousing that I know of that will provide for the engine mounts and the hydraulic slave cylinder while accomodating the shorter input shaft. The difference between the cars and trucks I guess. Anyway, let me know if anyone has any ideas.
Thanks,
Rob
Thanks,
Rob
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