factory overdrive in 1970 f100 302 3speed
 

I am restoring a 1970 F100 302 3speed, Back to original, What, Ineed to know is did ford make an overdrive for the 1970 f100 3speed . Iv had an older gent who works for ford tell me that in 1969and early 1970 that ford was working on an overdrive for the f100 but cant give any more information. I plan to show the truck and dont want any aftermarket stuff on it. Any information on this questionable factory option would help.

there was athree speed with od available for several years, worked real nice too. i think it is a warner trans with a manual, [cable operated], overdrive with an electric kickdown. i have seen a few and driven 2 myself, nice to have with the right motor and gears!

Do you know if these OD units can be bolted onto the back of a regular 3 speed or is it a special tranny too.

Thanks

...............Ford did install a Warner OD on both 3 spd's and I believe on the 4 speeds as well . There was , a standard unit , and there was a heavy duty OD unit with the designation of R-11 cast into the outer case . A couple of years back there was a member with the name of "ranger66" or there abouts who really had extensive knowledge of all the pertinent details of these OD units . Don't know if he is still an active participant here on the website . My next project for my 77 hiboy is to try and find one of these HD\OD Warner units that will boltup to my NP 435 . I'm running 4:10's in my truck now and it is just TOO expensive to drive as is given the fact that it gets 8mpg . I'm not sure if I'll have to modify my tranny cross member support under the truck but it would be nice to beable to drive at 70 mph on the hiway at 2000 rpm instead of 2900 . Gas is JUST too high but I drive my 99 PSD on a daily basis . Maybe ranger66 will read this thread and respond . sk :-X22

I also have a 1970 F-100 with a 302 and three speed column shift. My transmission is a Borg Warner T-85N with overdrive I believe it is a special tranny and can not be bolted to the back of your current one, but I am not positive. You will also need the electrical parts for it(kickdown switch, overdrive relay)

I have one behind a 360 in my '70 and I love it. But...
 

...for those interested in one for OTHER than a stock situation you should probably look elsewhere. I was informed here that while the trans is fairly stout the overdrive unit itself is not. It doesn't hold up to make-power/go-fast mods very well. Subsequent rebuilds are murder as parts are sparse and very expensive. For a stock truck resto I think you'd be happy. FINDING one may be a whole other story. I'd start checking yards here in So Cal and out in Az.
Good luck!

Thanks guys for the info on my 70 3speed OD you guys have been a great help. Sorry its taken so long to respond back.

if you really wanted an overdrive a good one.
i know you said no after market. but if you had no choice you could get a gearvendors overdrive and paint it like the tranny to match?

What about that Clark tranny that was a 4 speed with over drive? I know they used them in the mid 70's, but not sure how far they went back.

Ford made a toploader 4-speed that 3rd gear was actually 1:1 and 4th was an overdrive. Very rare, though.

overdrive
 

Hello to all, this is my first response to the forum. I have a 68 f100 with a 360 and yes, the overdrive unit, 3 speed. Thing is, I do not need it. I am using the body , but not the drivetrain. It is ALL there and it is for sale. If interested in it email me and we can work out a deal.

Factory Overdrive
 

Somebody should take "sanman" up on this! If ALL the pieces are there, including the lockout cable, relay, kickdown switch and solenoid, this will be a "bolt-in swap". Contrary to one comment about the O.D. unit being weak, in fact, it is darned near "bulletproof". The Borg-Warner R-11 overdrive unit is a 4 pinion planetary system as opposed to the 3 pinion system in the lighter duty units. It is designed to handle the torque load of a 390. Even the LD units are virtually trouble free if treated with some degree of respect and not allowed to run low on oil. I hope somebody does something about this offer; if it's in good condition, believe me, you won't be sorry. Brian G. NY

Im told bey several people that the over drive unit i have is pretty well bullet proof but will it hold up to a ford motor sports built 302 got a pretty good deal on this engine it would by a shame to put it in this truck and the tranny not hold up to it

Are we to understand that between your first post and this post that you have obtained an overdrive transmission? If so, and if it is a T-85/R-11 unit in good condition, I believe it will stand up to the "hot" late model 302 as I don't believe the "new" 302 will have the torque of a healthy "old" 4 Bbl 390. Of course, if you "beat on it" enuf anything will break. LOL Brian G. NY

Im sorry if ive caused any confusion between my first post and my last. I have a 70 model f100 with an aparent factory 3speed od. I was trying to find out how common they were and what type,I have either a heavy duty or a light duty . Then i ask if it would hold up to a Ford motor sports 302. Built when i say built i mean built.