my uncle has a 50 chevy rag-top with a 350 small block with the stock 3 on the tree tranny. he has an overdrive that he engages via lever or **** under the dash. is there any way to get this set up in my 68 f100? I have a 360 with a three on the tree. -OR- what can i do to gain an extra gear but keep my colum shift? Thanks

 

He probably has a saginaw 3 speed, they did have a box on the tailshaft of those that has an electronicly controlled over drive. I am not sure what three speed you have, but if it is a saginaw you might be able to do some searching for one of these little gems, but good luck finding one. I am looking for one for my 57 Chevy that has a 4sp saginaw trans. Would be nice to have that 5th gear.

 

Ford had a similiar set up that was available in the car and trucks of the 60's. Looks like a std 3 spd toploader, but had OD and was controlled by a lock out cable under the dash.

My 64 Galaxie had it, and I know it was an option on the bumps as friend had one years ago. Just need to find one and install it. There was a kickdown button "for passing" and the lock out cable that you could pull to keep it out of OD.

 

Would a Gear Vendors Overdrive work with that? Then you'd have 6 gears, if it would......don't know much about them but now you got something to google!!

 

The 3 speed overdrive that Ford used was a Borg-Warner T85N trans. The powers that be outlawed them in the early 70's because of the freewheeling feature that allowed the driver to coast down hill. The powers that be claimed this caused accidents because there is no engine braking in neutral. As far as I know the first Ford engines to be backed up with T85N's were Y-Blocks. GM, Mopar, Studebaker, Nash and Packard also used T85N's.

The Saginaw 3 speed overdrive was a Saginaw 3 speed with Borg-Warner OD unit attached.

If you can find one cheap grab it. A guy on another site I chat with shelled out $1200 in parts to repair a T85N.

 

Since we are on overdrives. Would this bolt behind an FE with a 3 speed manual? Meaning bolt to the bellhousing? Says it goes behind a 300/302 but you never know.

Ford PU/Van 4 speed OD transmission (300/302 engines)

 

Might be a direct swap in. Two problems:

-shifter will be very far back. This is from a van (like mine). The PU version uses a top shift, or a turret shifter farther forward.

-strength. You can run it behind an FE, but don't lay into it, and don't bang shift it. In OD, you'd best take it real easy. The forward and turret shift (SROD for "single rail over drive) 4 speeds are even weaker.

The previously mentioned T85 three speed with add-on electric OD is a stronger box.

As for a GV behind a 3 speed, you would have to mount it remotely methinks. $3000 buys a lot of gas....

 

Thanks, just had the gears turning when I saw it. Would not give up the column shift for anything.

 

If you can score a T85N from a Ford you'll be in luck. As far as I know all of the ones used in pickups used column shift.

 

Parts for these are SCARCE! IMO, you're better off with something better suited to Ford trucks, and not column shift freindly, such as the TOD, T5, ZF5, M5OD, etc... or AOD for an auto.

M5OD and ZF5 speed won't bolt up to an FE, so nevermind those. There were a couple 3 speeds offered in the late 70's early 80's that had OD, maybe finding one of those will work. IIRC, they're call T170 or something like that. here's the link: http://www.motivegear.com/tech_info/...nny_guide.html

 

Borg Warner T-85N 3 Speed Overdrive.

Optional on 1965/72 F100's (240/352/360/390) / 1963/67 Galaxies (352).

Also used in 1955/56: Packards, Nashes, Hudsons. 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawks, and 1956/63 1/2 pickups.

This trans is hard to find, but the parts are even harder to find.
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Careful, there's another which looks the same but is not the same.

Borg Warner T-86 3 Speed Overdrive.

Optional on 1949/62 passenger cars, 1953/64 F100's.

Both these Warner Overdrives have a non syncro first gear.

Expect 20-22 highway MPG EZ, even better under certain conditions (terrain, speed).
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Ford TS-OD RUG 4 Speed Single Rail Overdrive, originally offered in 1975 Granada's with 250 I-6's/302's. Also used in Fairmonts/Zephyr's with 200's and 302's.

Used in 1976/85 F100/150's, E100/150's (Econolines) with 300's and 302's.

This trans is a weak sister. One speed shift, you can kiss it GOOD BYE!

The shift lever assy. is a complicated mess, falls apart when you look at it.

Parts are hard to find, and expensive when you do find them.
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Chevrolet's with overdrive: Used Truxtells for many years. Had a 1941 Coupe with one many moons ago.

 

Mine was NON sychro'd in my '64 Galaxie, as it was a 289ci car.

I gave it away for $100 last summer. Didn't know they were "all that" and worth alot?

 

To the right person they are worth a lot more. Can you guess how I learned that?

 

First was non syncro...fer sure.

If second and third weren't syncroed, the brass blocker rings were worn out.

It's just like the 3.03 3 speed manual all syncro (non O/D) trans used 1963/96.

Peeps with this trans say no syncro first, but do not realize the one and only first gear syncro blocker ring is history.

T-85N's: BIG demand, few are available. This trans also fits 1955/56 Packards and 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawks that used the Packard V8.

The Ultramatic auto transmission (Packard nuts call it ULCERmatic) used in these cars is C-R-A-P, so peeps are always on the lookout for T85N's.

 

Mine shifted fine, just hadda kinda double clutch it to get into first(if you didn't come to complete stop). Kinda a pain to drive(in my eyes). Never did like column shift(any 3 spd for that matter), so it quickly got replaced by 4spd toploader. Sat under the bench for 14 yrs til someone needed it. Figured it wasn't worth much and gave it away cheap.