Im posting this here cause the guy's over at the trany forum dont seem to know much about the early overdrive trany's.
I was going tru my Detroit Iron CD , ( complete Factory manuals for 1966 F100 ) and hapen to notice that the 3 speed overdrive trany is a overdrive unit bolted to the back of a 3 speed trany. Now in looking at the breakdown it looks like the unit could be made a "Standalone "with the addition of a cover ( it would have to be fabrcated ) with a seal to keep the gearlub in.
this would permit the unit to be use as a seperate overdrive, with a set of mounts ( agin Fabracated ) you could drive it with any trany even a automatic.
My question is this, Has anyone ever done this ? if so how did you fabrcate the mounts and faceplate, And if this worked, how many of these tranys are still around? ( maby I could make a few and sell them . It seems to be able to handle power pretty good, and on the back of a C6 would be a realy cool setup.

 

Jav409, many years ago i adapted a (R11 or R12?) to the back of a turbo 400 by resplining a Pontiac tail shaft. Worked great behind a 396 in the 66 PU. This was a unit install, not a stand alone. There must be a way to use a passenger car tail shaft splined to the OD unit. Weld a plate to the machined tail housing, this would bolt up to another machined plate for the OD unit. Anything is possible with enough money and "suds". Carl...o&o>....

 

A few years ago I traded a nice '65 Falcon 2 Dr Sd body to a machinist to have him make me a "tran. replacer" for an R-11 OD unit. He had an aluminum casting made, then machined it to bolt up to the OD unit and to accept a yoke and seal on the front end. I found a spline made for farm equip. that fit the "slider" splines on the tranny mainshaft and welded the yoke to it. I threaded the pilot bearing end of the mainshaft to accept a nut to secure the splined yoke. I have yet to put this piece together. My original intent was to install it behind a toploader/351C in a '56 Ford 2 Dr Sd I had at the time which I have since sold. I am now on the lookout for a SB Ford P.U. in which to transplant a later model F.I. 302 with the 4 speed and the O.D. unit. I can't imagine how much it would have cost me to have this done if the guy had not been a Falcon guy who wanted to make a hot little Falcon and needed the solid body I had. Incidentally, I kept the 302 w/4 Bbl intake, toploader 4 speed and brand new Hurst shifter that came with the $100 car when I bought it. I think I'll dig out that casting and yoke and take a few pictures for posting. It may help someone else who has the wherewithal to tackle a similar project. Brian G. NY

 

I have not tried what you are refering to but I do have the orignal 3 speed with the overdrive. from looking at mine it should be possible. they have their own fill spot for the gear lube. The bigest problem i can see is that the solenoids are not all that easy to find.

 

The solenoids come up regularly on e-bay; albeit, sometimes a bit "pricey". I have a few 6 volt solenoids and a very few 12 volts as well. I have had a variety of O.D. trannys dating back to the early sixties in my '51 Ford conv. and I never once had a solenoid fail for any reason. From what I understand, tho, the 6 volt solenoids don't tolerate 12 volts too well. The one thing I'm a bit concerned with is that the O.D. housing itself holds only a small amount of oil and the adaptor housing I had made holds practically none so there may be a need for a circulation system and a cooler; maybe like the ones used to cool the NASCAR 4 speeds. The original setup circulates the combined volume of oil of both the tranny and the O.D. itself which keeps everything "cool". Brian G. NY

 

Seems like a waste of time if you want stand alone look at volvo wagons! there way more plentifully, and cheap and yes there good for some moderately high HP too.

44

 

Hey 44, years ago i had a 62 P-18 Volvo, 4-speed with a cone clutch OD. That was a great unit but would slip if the pump pressure was low. I installed a 3.5 litre Rover V-8 engine and the OD took the abusive driving habits i had back then. What type of unit are you talking about? Seperate from the trans? What are the engine HP and Torque numbers that this OD can handle? Carl.
.......o&o>.....

 

what year of wagon has the overdrive unit in it??? Is it stout enough for a truck?? thanks, Steven

 

Yeah, let's hear some more about these Volvo units. The Borg-Warner R-11 unit is built to withstand the torque of a 390 FE; ideal for truck applications. Torque, rather than HP is what stresses transmissions. Are these Volvo units "divorced" from the transmission? Even if they are designed for less torque, they might be suitable for small blocks and sixes? You've certainly got my curiosity aroused. Are they really all that plentiful? How about the cost? Have you actually "transplanted" one into an American car or truck? Brian G. NY

 

Yes there stand a lone. I've not used one my self but see them on vintage races cars a lot when i go to limerock. I've seen a few in trucks as-well. They were offered in a turbo wagon that had a towing package so they should hold up to a stock motor.
I'm out of town i'll see what i can dig up next week.

44