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By YukonCor55 - 15 Years Ago
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Hi gang, Sorry, I've been away for awhile. During the layoff, I sold my 55 Fairlane so I could concentrate on my 55 Ranch Wagon. Life's a little easier when you can focus your time, energy and $$ on a single project!!  I'm currently running a 3 spd OD behind the original Y-Block but the electrical circuit was so buggered up I decided to disable it. While the T-Handle under the dash does look cool, I really have no desire to get the OD operating again. Mechanically the tranny is fine. I'd almost leave it as is except that I'm turning about 2800 RPM in 3rd gear at 50 mph. I don't want to run the old 272 any harder than necessary. Are there any 3 or 4 speed non OD trannys that would swap right in or is there some wizardy required? I have no problem with cutting a hole in the floor for a shifter if necessary. As always, thanks for your time. Best,
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By rick55 - 15 Years Ago
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Your current gear box is like all manual gearboxes - it is a 1.00:1 final gear ratio. An overdrive transmission is basically the same as a standard three speed except for the transmission case. The overdrive is couple to the output of the three speed transmission.
The best way to overcome your problem is to repair your overdrive but there are other options - you can put a different differential in your car.
The standard diff's with overdrive are 3.89:11 or 4.11:1.
The standard (non overdrive) diff is 3.78:1 but there are 3.30 and 3.56:1 diffs for you to choose from. The latter ratios are fitted to cars with automatic transmission.
These may load your engine up too much but will be great cruising diffs.
I am sure there members of this forum who have done diff swaps and will be able to advise which one they consider to be the best.
These options may prove easier and cheaper than trying to install a different gear box. All non overdrive boxes are 1.00:1.
Hope this helps.
Regards
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By Y block Billy - 15 Years Ago
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If your OD is functional you could just wire a switch for it and remove all the other stuff. then you just click it in and out as you want.
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By YukonCor55 - 15 Years Ago
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Y block Billy (1/24/2010)
If your OD is functional you could just wire a switch for it and remove all the other stuff. then you just click it in and out as you want.Most of the system is gone or unusable. The kickdown switch is toast, the wires to the centrifugal switch are cut off at the switch, and the old relay on the firewall is long gone. However, the OD solenoid on the tranny does work. The PO had a switch going to it using lamp cord and of course no fuse! I think I can live without the kickdown or centrifugal switches. It's not like I'll need to floor the accelerator to pass anybody on I-95!  If it is cost prohibitive or a major undertaking to replace the transmission, I was considering using a modern heavy duty relay on the fire wall to operate the solenoid and simply running the ground circuit thru a switch under the dash. That would keep the high current out of the passenger compartment.
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By crenwelge - 15 Years Ago
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If it has the original rear end in a wagon with od it would be a 4.27 Spicer which really needs an overdrive. In order to change, you would have to swap the whole rear end. The usual rear end for a non overdrive was an 8.8" @3.78. Non overdrive rears are pretty plentiful. I have several in old parts cars. You can just run the transmission you have and keep it locked out of overdrive. Or you can find a 3 speed without overdrive. I have a couple of them too. Its a shame you are not closer. We would work out a trade. I think the cheapest route would be to try to fix the overdrive. Here is a pretty simple wiring diagram for the od. 
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By speedpro56 - 15 Years Ago
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One hot wire to the solenoid from a switch under the dash is all you need working separate with the pull handle. Yblock billy is right, That's the way I drove my tbird for years and I would never trade an overdrive out for just a 3speed, and that's just me personaly, I really like that extra gear when crusing the highway
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By Ol Ford Guy - 15 Years Ago
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Frank Rice uses a later fully synchronized three speed. It seems to work well for him. But, if you go on long trips, the OD would be nice.
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By charliemccraney - 15 Years Ago
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speedpro56 (1/24/2010)
One hot wire to the solenoid from a switch under the dash is all you need working separate with the pull handle.
I think that's what Dennis is doing. It gives him a 6 speed.
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By marvh - 15 Years Ago
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If you are going to run the OD with only a push pull switch there are a few things you must do or not do when driving it as the safety features and the automatically done features have been bypassed.
1.Take your foot off the accelerator when up shifting into OD and take your foot off the accelerator when shifting back to std drive.
2. DO NOT back up with the unit in OD as it will pile up your OD planetary
marv
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By Doug T - 15 Years Ago
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I agree with those that say keep the OD and just power the solenoid. It is very easy and you can't keep the high amperage current out of the pass compartment, it is already there at the ignition switch. Remember the ignition switch sees full generator output. So run a new 14Ga wire from the aux terminal on the ignition through a 30 amp fuse to an on/off switch under the dash. A small pilot light to show that the solenoid is energized is very handy and then to the solenoid. Connect this power to the solenoid as shown on the schemetic above. The second wire is just a ground for the kickdown and you do not need to connect that to anything. You still need the T handle also. When you have the car running down the road at about 30 mph in 3rd, push the T handle in and then flip the switch. Nothing will happen until you lift your foot off the gas then it will shift into OD. Your motor will love you. The important thing to remember with this set up is that the OD is engaged until you turn the switch off. So as you slow down the OD stays engaged even if you come to a stop. Starting in OD-first gear feels like starting in second, so turn the switch off. Another thing is you probably can not reverse the car without first turning off the switch and pulling the T handle out. The regular OD tranys have a link between reverse and the OD that should disengage the OD but if the link doesn't work you will break the OD.
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By Oldmics - 15 Years Ago
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If your interested I have a regular 3 speed tranny (actually a couple of them) if you would like to swap trannys.The length of the trans that you need is important. I"m in Balto Md. so not too far away. On a related note,if anybody has the attachment pivit that goes on the O.D. arm and attachs to the cable-I need one. Not the O.D. arm that goes into the transmission, just the pivit that hooks to the cable. Oldmics
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By DANIEL TINDER - 15 Years Ago
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There is a reason the OD was automatic in operation. Manual shifting is demanding enough, without having to remember switch positions, etc. Forget once, and the OD is toast. I don't think my handle has been pulled for ten years, I am so used to the automatic/freewheeling system.
Just get a used or NOS relay and have it converted to solid state, repair the governor wires & kickdown switch, and you'll fall in love with the original system.
The increased engine life alone will pay for your trouble many times over, not to mention the improved gas millage.
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By YukonCor55 - 15 Years Ago
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I appreciate all of the replies and advice. I think I'm going to wire it up with a simple switch first to get a feel for how it all works.
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By Y block Billy - 15 Years Ago
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I installed an overdrive unit on the tail end of a truck tranny and there was a rod which I had to drill the case for which would automatically disengage the overdrive if you put it in reverse. I don't know if all tranny's had this feature so as others mention above make sure it is disengaged before trying to back up. I also had to drill for the oil passages. Anybody have a spare solinoid, I could use one?
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By popbreed - 15 Years Ago
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I put a OD in my 56 sedan with a 3.89 rear end gear. I used a $7.00 35 amp polastic case relay to power the solinoid. Wired in the governor switch on the trans to the ground side of the relay coil. This satisfies the reverse problem and also gives you the automatic pull out of the OD at low speeds. I did wire in a OD shut off switch on the dash but it really is not needed. Also used a repo kickdown switch but seldom use it because I have 3x2 on a 312 and the slam to the floor results in too much neck jerking. (when the wife is with me). If I do want to switch out the od while driving 60 mph to pass a car, I let off the gas, throw the dash switch off and then hit the gas again. I love the OD and plan on putting one in my 64 292 PU this summer. POP
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By DANIEL TINDER - 15 Years Ago
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Anybody have a spare solinoid, I could use one?[/quote]
Billy,
I have a NOS 6V that I pirated some parts from, if that would be useful? I also have rebuilding instructions on my computer I could forward to anyone interested.
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By Old Y Block - 15 Years Ago
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Hey Rick; Would 3:89 gears be too low for hiway use with a 3 speed standard tranny? I'm running a 292 in a 55 Fairlane. I also have on hand a 3:30 rear end from a automatic, would that be too high? I guess where I'm getting to is what would you suggest? I am real easy on my old ride so there won't be any abuse. I thank you for your time.
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By speedpro56 - 15 Years Ago
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The 3:89 is to low for highway use. Thats one of the ratios that came with an overdrive. Keep the 3:30 with the standard 3speed. My tbird has a 3:89 and in high gear 1:1 is no good for hwy but great for side roads crusing around 40 mph.
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By joey - 15 Years Ago
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I have the 3:56 diff from a '56 wagon in my Bird along with the standard (non-overdrive) 3-speed, and it's perfectly driveable around town and on any roads up to say 50 mph or so. Certainly easier than the original would be (which I think was 3:78) and my 312 has no trouble handling it. But even so I don't like to go more than 60-65 for any duration longer than a fairly short burst because I can't help feeling those rpms are taxing the old girl. I have to think a 3:89 mated to the 3-speed would be pretty uncomfortable for today's modern highway speeds, for any substantial length of time. For those reasons I have long coveted the old overdrive tranny, even though it obviously wasn't the most ergonomic setup. It would be nice to have that option just for distance-highway cruising. I certainly wouldn't get rid of one if I had it. Just one man's opinion. 
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