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By ejstith - 13 Years Ago
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OK guys I have my T-85 overdrive all back together. I made one out of two plus put in a new input shaft. Things are working fine, it shifts, it turns & does all the stuff it's suppose to do EXCEPT sometimes it won't go into reverse & the overdrive lever (that the cable hooks to) won't move forward (towards the engine which I think would be overdrive). I can unbolt the solenoid & pull the unit up, without disengaging it and everything will operate normally. If I bolt the solenoid back down everything may work for a bit then back to the same thing. If I just activate the solenoid electrically it makes no difference to being able to move the levers.
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 13 Years Ago
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E.J.: It sounds like something is amiss or binding in the solenoid or the pawl that it actuates.
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By ejstith - 13 Years Ago
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I don't think anything is binding John, these damned things are a complicated mess inside. I can hear the solenoid click when I put power to it. There is no adjustment unless you put washers between the solenoid & the case & you shouldn't have to do that. And one shouldn't have to actuate the solenoid to go from overdrive to non-overdrive. One of these transmissions had a reverse lever lockout on it but I took that off. The other one didn't have one to begin with. I figured as much old time knowledge as there is on this board someone would eventually know what the problem was and I expect in time someone will.
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By SkylinerRon - 13 Years Ago
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There should be an internal rod to positively disengage o.d. when shifting into reverse. Locking in o.d. actually creates a hillholder and if you backup it can distroy the sun gears. Goodluck, Ron.
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By ejstith - 13 Years Ago
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There is a rod Ron, and it seems to operate normally. The thing is, I can pull the solenoid up & everything works normal for awhile then it may revert to the above condition for no apparent reason.
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By ejstith - 13 Years Ago
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I am interested in finding an expert on T-85 overdrive transmissions in the southeast. I have been messing with one for about 3 years and I have it all back together but something just doesn't seem right to me. The main box is fine but it just seems like something isn't quite right with the overdrive unit. It may be fine. I just do not have enough experience with overdrives to know. I would like to bring it to someone who really knows these units & have them take the rear housing off & check it out before I go to all the trouble of putting in the car and then finding out something is wrong. Any ideas will be appreciated.
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By carl - 13 Years Ago
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E.J I sent you a pm about your overdrive Carl
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By ejstith - 13 Years Ago
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Thanks Carl. I'll take care of it Monday...
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By Y8er - 13 Years Ago
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What's necessary to install a T-85/R-11 in a '55 S/D? It appears the trans mount would be on the back side of the trans support instead of the front, like the 3-sp manual. I also have a O/D trans out of a '55 T-Bird with 272. Would a T-86/R-10 be correct for a '55 S/D? Thanks for any help or tips.
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By ejstith - 13 Years Ago
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Well Y8er, I've been messing with this for the better part of 3 years. First I had to change the input shaft but mine was a T-89 which is the truck version of the T-85. I put two bad ones together to make one good one. I hassled with various problems for years. I finally have it ready to go. On mine the trans mount is going to work I think. If you had a T-85 out of a '57 or '58 ford it should be a plug & play. If I was going to do it all over I'd have just got a T-86 R10 out of a '56 Ford. My 272 doesn't need anything as heavy duty as a T-85. I am just going to run a hot wire to the solenoid to activate it with a switch. I hope to have everything in & running within the next month or so. If yours is a '55 and still 6V then you'll have to deal with that. The good part of that is 6V solenoids are a lot cheaper than 12V ones...
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By Richard - 13 Years Ago
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I am facing a similar issue with instal of a T85 R11 in a 54 Ranch Wagon. Either the rear trans mount needs to modified or the rear cross member needs to be modified.
Regarding the shifting of the T85 R11, you probably know already the trans won't shift into reverse or first with OD engaged. Sticky solenoids can sometimes be traced to poor wiring, internal or external. Points must be clean and a little lube on the shaft helps.
I must commend you on the rebuild, although straight forward it no easy task. Are you testing on the bench or in the car?
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By Ted - 13 Years Ago
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Y8er (6/9/2012)
What's necessary to install a T-85/R-11 in a '55 S/D? It appears the trans mount would be on the back side of the trans support instead of the front, like the 3-sp manual ......My solution has been to modify the transmission crossmembers for the ‘55/’56 cars to use the later model trannies. While I’ve sectioned the factory transmission crossmembers in the past to shorten it so it the whole assembly could move further back in the V section of the frame, the last one I did was just a matter of adding a flat plate to the top of the crossmember so I could relocate the holes for the rubber tranny mount.
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By Y8er - 13 Years Ago
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EJ, My T-85 C-1A / R11-1E came out of a '56 Merc. The trans mount is about 18" from the bellhousing, which puts it behind the trans support of the '55. I'd have to fabricate a mount to cope with this. Do you know of any reason why the '55 T-Bird O/D for 272 wouldn't work? It looks like it would bolt right in using the stock 3-sp driveshaft. Do you know if this trans is beefier than the passenger T-86 / R-10? See pics below of my (rusty, red) T-85 C-1A / R11-1E and the (black) '55 T-Bird O/D (model #?) showing a "AF-7006-" casting number on the trans and "R10F-1A" on the O/D.   
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By Y8er - 13 Years Ago
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Sorry, Ted. I didn't see your post. Would you mind commenting on the "beefiness" of the '55 'Bird O/D vs. the T86 / R10? Will the 'Bird O/D work in my S/D and bolt right in? Thanks.
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By Ted - 13 Years Ago
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Someone else correct me if this is not right. The ’55 ‘Bird tranny is a T86 which is straight on the bottom portion of the shifter cover. The T-85 and T-89 trannies have a curved bottom on the shifter covers. The T-86 has three planetary gears in the OD unit while the T85/T89 equipped overdrive units (R11) have four planetary gears. The four gear unit is much the stronger than the 3 gear unit. The T86 gearbox is also weaker than the T85/T89 boxes and starting in 1956, was replaced by the T85 in the heavy duty applications in the Ford cars. Mercury car got the T85 trannies regardless. The T86 boxes were still used in the standard duty Ford car applications. While I don’t have a Thunderbird T-86 sitting here, simply measuring from the front tranny face to the transmission mount should verify if the transmission will bolt in without a crossmember modification. I suspect it will physically bolt in to a ‘55/’56 Ford without issue.
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By chiggerfarmer - 13 Years Ago
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I thought the T86's were all top loaders? And the 49-54 or 55's were like Ted says, with the straight bottomed side shift cover? If they started using T86's in 56 then weren't they top loaders with the tin cover on top? All of my 56's have been Fordomatics or just regular 3 speeds so I have never seen a 56 overdrive. I have a 57 T85 that I want in my 54 car, and I am thinking the tail shaft is longer on it, so I will have that problem plus the rear mount. I have the driveshaft from the 57 car but have not checked wheelbase on them yet. Maybe I will get lucky and can use it by changing the rear universal joint.
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By DANIEL TINDER - 13 Years Ago
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Ted,
To be exact, the OEM 55 T-Bird OD transmission was a BW 259. The side cover (3 rounded corners) DOES have a straight bottom though.
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By Ted - 13 Years Ago
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DANIEL TINDER (6/12/2012)
Ted, To be exact, the OEM 55 T-Bird OD transmission was a BW 259. The side cover (3 rounded corners) DOES have a straight bottom though.Thanks Daniel. Never could keep it straight which tranny was the T86 between the straight bottom side cover units and those with the top cover. I’ve a collection of both here. That’s the first time I’ve heard the BW 259 designation but sounds good as I vaguely do recall the top cover units being called T-86’s in the past. Good thing I’m not a tranny guy by trade.
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By DANIEL TINDER - 13 Years Ago
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FYI: In future (should it ever come up), all T-Bird trans. measurement specs., photos & casting #s can be found in the CTCI resto manual.
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By speedpro56 - 13 Years Ago
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I accidentally added a new topic above on the overdrive.
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By pegleg - 13 Years Ago
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Does anybody have a photo of the BW so we can seewhat it looks like. Comparedto the T86. Same Od unit, or different?
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By Y8er - 13 Years Ago
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Frank, Which BW unit do you want pics of? On 6/10 I posted pics (this thread) of my T85 C-1A / R11-1E ('56 Merc) and my BW 259 / R10F-1A ('55 T-Bird).
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By pegleg - 13 Years Ago
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I thouht it was a t85 and T86. I'd like to see the comparision between the T86 and the 259 or whatever. I have a couple T85's and a T89.
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