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By John gipson - 7 Years Ago
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Recently I have purchased a 54 Monterey with a 272 in it. The previous owner say the trans was overhauled 20 years ago. well the trans shifts beautiful but no third gear to be found. My local trans shop is stumped. He un hooked the throttle pressure linkage and we drove it around and still no third gear.. any help appreciated! Beautiful car,no third gear! Bummed out!
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By KULTULZ - 7 Years Ago
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John gipson Posted-
Recently I have purchased a 54 Monterey with a 272 in it. The previous owner say the trans was overhauled 20 years ago.
well the trans shifts beautiful but no third gear to be found. My local trans shop is stumped. He un hooked the throttle pressure linkage and we drove it around and still no third gear..
any help appreciated! Beautiful car,no third gear! Bummed out!
A TRANS SHOP unhooked the linkage and drove it. And still had no idea... 
You need to find a reputable experienced shop or buy a TRANS SHOP MANUAL that will contain a DIAGNOSTIC SEQUENCE to trouble-shoot it.
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By darrell - 7 Years Ago
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i guess you know these things take of in second so only one shift.
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By miker - 7 Years Ago
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I’ll second that, it’s been a long time since I had a fordo, but disconnecting the linkage isn’t a trouble shooting item. Note that as K says, you’ll need the transmission manual. At least in my 55 manual (Ford copyright November 1954) it only covers the manual trans and clutch. You’re referred to the transmission manual for all automatic work.
If you add your location to your signature line, someone may have a local referral.
As darrell says they start in second. If you don’t know the first gear start process, someone here will explain it.
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By KULTULZ - 7 Years Ago
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darrel Posted-
"i guess you know these things take of in second so only one shift."
... D'oh! ...
For some strange reason I a$$-u-me everyone knows how an early FORD operates.
THANX for the wake-up call...
OP
Your transmission style is known as a SINGLE RANGE FORD-O-MATIC and it starts in 2nd gear mainly for fuel usage reasons. It starts in 2nd and goes into 3rd making one think a gear is missing. If you want a 1st gear start, you either pull the selector lever into L or use WOT (wide open throttle) from start.
1958 saw the intro of DUAL RANGE where the car could be started in either 1st or 2nd, driver's choice with gear selector positioning.
Damn I feel stupid ... sigh ...
...
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By oldcarmark - 7 Years Ago
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John gipson (11/1/2018)
Recently I have purchased a 54 Monterey with a 272 in it. The previous owner say the trans was overhauled 20 years ago. well the trans shifts beautiful but no third gear to be found. My local trans shop is stumped. He un hooked the throttle pressure linkage and we drove it around and still no third gear.. any help appreciated! Beautiful car,no third gear! Bummed out!
I would strongly suggest obtaining a Shop Manual for the Automatic Transmission and find a Shop willing to diagnose the Problem using the Manual as a Guide. It could be something as simple as a stuck Governor which can be serviced without opening up the Transmission. Basic diagnosis using the Manual is explained and Illustrated . Anything less is just guessing and can be expensive. Shop Manual on Ebay. Item # 273311264225.
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By KULTULZ - 7 Years Ago
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Good idea on the manual. It will allow keeping the linkage in adjustment along with giving details for band adjustments, service intervals, etc.
You say 272 so I assume it is from a later FORD. THE MOM was introduced for the 1955 model year for LINC ( TURBO-DRIVE), MERC (MERC-O-MATIC).
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By John gipson - 7 Years Ago
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Merc o matic... my Monterey trans acts like a power glide in the scence it shifts twice. In drive 2- it shifts smooth from first to second,but as I get in the I interstate highway the 272 roars at 55 mph.previous owner says he drove it this way all over Minnesota and Wisconsin. The added on tac reads 35k ... dang ... I’ve read in the sales broshere that it has a 354 gear... all said do I have to live with this or is a third gear? Some have on this site have said that there is no third gear.I live I. Kansas City, my phone is 913-980-4375 if you can help.John
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By KULTULZ - 7 Years Ago
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Read This Again-
"Your transmission style is known as a SINGLE RANGE FORD-O-MATIC and it starts in 2nd gear mainly for fuel usage reasons. It starts in 2nd and goes into 3rd making one think a gear is missing. If you want a 1st gear start, you either pull the selector lever into L or use WOT (wide open throttle) from start."
If you feel two shifts, it is either a FOM or possibly a later COM (or even FMX for that matter). Can you get under the car to find the TRANS ID PLATE?
If the car does reach 3rd (direct) and you are experiencing high RPM, then the rear axle ratio is too low for highway cruising.
Is is possible the car was assembled with a 3/S/OD from the factory and the previous owner installed an AT?
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By Pete 55Tbird - 7 Years Ago
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Until you can get the engine RPM from an accurate tach o meter it is just a big guessing game. For reference my 55Tbir ( FOM and 3.31 rear axle ) reads about 3000RPM at 60 MPH. Pete
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By mjs - 7 Years Ago
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Actually what you need is the Lincoln/Mercury manual. It will cover everything from 1951 through 1958 on the Merc-O-Matic and 1955 trough 1958 on the Turbo-Drive. I have one that I've scanned. It does have an excellent trouble shooting quite.
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By John gipson - 7 Years Ago
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Merc. Matic blues! Well I’ve been told by many of you on this site that my 54 takes off in second,then shifts to 3 rd.I guess I thought these cars would run at 70 mph all day and now 55 mph is my limit without ruining my engine. Any thoughts guys?
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By Ted - 7 Years Ago
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I’ll suggest first verifying the rear end ratio. What should be there versus what actually is there after 60+ years may not be the same. Once you know that for sure, then post both the rear gear ratio and your tire size and someone here on the site can do the calculation to determine a given rpm for a given speed.
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By miker - 7 Years Ago
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Here’s a link to getting the rear end ratio. Note the cautions-blocked wheels, jack stands, this is not a bumper jack operation.
It can be difficult to tell the difference from a 3.5 to 3.7, (or a 4:11 to 4:30 whatever) but careful marking will get you real close.
http://www.how-to-build-hotrods.com/gear-ratio.html
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By darrell - 7 Years Ago
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your not going to hurt your engine.back in the day as they say we drove these things 70 and 80 all day.we forget what they run like when i got my 56 after 40 years i took it down the road and i thought the motor was going to come through the firewall.i cant drive this thing. 2 days later i had the window down stuck the arm out and let her fly.
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By miker - 7 Years Ago
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Nicely said darrell. In these days of 1500rpm cars we do tend to forget.
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By KULTULZ - 7 Years Ago
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I was mistaken and gave false info.
The MERC-O-MATIC (medium main case) was introduced in 1951 along with the FORD-O-MATIC (small main case).
Sorry if I caused any confusion.
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By Pete 55Tbird - 7 Years Ago
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If your engine RPM is reasonable (ie around 3000/3500@ 60 MPH) maybe what needs work is your exhaust system?
Another thought to see how many transmission gears you have access to. Put gear selector in LOW. speedup to 20MPH then shift to drive (quickly after it upshifts pull gear selector BACK to LOW) this locks the transmission into second gear. Accelerate to 35MPH and then put gear selector back into drive. That should access third gear. This WILL NOT HARM ANYTHING. Tell us what happens. Pete
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