New to FTE. Hello! Just picked up a '66 F100, 240 cid 3 spd manual w/overdrive. 1st & 2nd gears are dead. Wanting to replace the tranny, but can't seem to find one w/Odrive. Is Overdrive on this unit part of the internals/gearing, or is it an external attachment? And/or... anyone out there have a source for a reman'd tranny? I've looked thru some of the posts but can't find a forum topic related to this. Please be gentle, I'm new to Fords :}

 

I have a couple, one that is still in the truck and one that is out already. Where are you located? I would try to find one locally as any shipping wiil be very high. I am in Arlington Texas.

Chris

 

Welcome to FTE

Overdrive transmissions are tough to find, especially for 6 cylinder F100's.

What's wrong with the gears?

Is it that you can't get the shift lever to engage the gears, or is it internal?

The O/D unit bolts to the back of the Warner transmission, so any part in the trans itself is not related to the O/D unit.

Warner Transmission: Usually the 2nd-3rd syncro brass blocker rings (2) wear down. When that happens, the gears will grind when shifted. Double clutching solves the problem...temporarily.

With O/D, there's no first gear syncro like the 1963 and later 3 speed manuals have. To engage first gear when rolling--slowly, double clutching is required.

Parts ARE available for this transmission from NAPA.

My guess is all you need are basics: two new brass blocker rings, seals and gaskets, front and rear output shaft bearings, and input and countershaft roller bearings.

The Warner T85N Overdrive is a very reliable and tough transmission, and was used with much larger engines than 6 bangers.

One other thing that causes shifting problems:

On the bottom of the steering column, under the hood...are the two manual control selector levers. The shift rods attach here.

In each lever is a bushing and insulator. When these parts wear (or fall apart), the shift lever binds up between 1st and 2nd.

The repair kit to fix it...is still available from Ford = C5TZ-7343-A .. Bushing & Insulator Kit.

One kit takes care of both levers.

 

Hey NumberDummy & Chris,


Thanks for the replies! My gal just got this truck a couple days ago to use for her furniture work ('course, I'll be doing the repairs :} ), and the previous owner said he lost 1st gear a year ago. Said his mech told him the "cluster" had gone out, but he could still drive it using 2nd, 3rd, and Odrive... which he did for a year. Then (a couple weeks ago) 2nd gear went out. He had another 66 F100 (A/T) which he then started to use, and put "ours" up for sale. We got it for $800, which was in our budget.

We're not "restorers" (I'm a shade tree mech), we just needed a reliable work truck. We pretty much work paycheck to paycheck, but this was too good a deal to pass up. All other mech aspects of the truck are just fine: strong motor, straight body, good interior... tranny needs work, or replaced.

NUMBERDUMMY: Lots of tech info that I can discuss with the dads and uncles that are very pleased with our purchase... they used to have this same model/type Ford, back in the day. But, the question of REPAIRING or REPLACING is what's up, now. I'll run it by them and see if it is in their knowledge base to do it, or assist. Your initial assessment sounds like dropping the trans and replacing some parts, which is cool. Good to know the O/D is an external component (for sure, right?)

CHRIS: Yeah, shipping would be a killer. But, just to consider it and put it in the brain stew, how much is this tranny worth to you?

 

1965/72 Warner T-85N Overdrive ~ Most of the internal transmission parts 6 or V8 are the same.

C5TZ-7113-F .. Cluster Gear ~ 31 - 26 - 19 - 15 teeth / 7.888" long.

C5TZ-7100-A .. First Gear ~ 31 helical teeth / 6 helical splines / 1 39/64" overall thickness

The O/D unit bolts to the back of the transmission...internal trans parts not affected by the unit.

 

I was looking at this thread and it brought up an additional question for me, can a 3 speed be easily retro fitted with an overdrive unit? My lack of tranny knowledge is frightening..... But I gotta learn somehow...

 

If you find and overdrive unit, most likely it will be attached to a transmission.

Only the two Warner trans' had O/D, the T-86 & T-85.

Ford's 3.03 3 speed all syncro never had an O/D attached.