Thanks for the info! It really helps.

Dan.  Yes, some '56 Birds did come with 292 engines equipped with the 3 speed only manual transmission.  A friend in the Syracuse area had one and I've seen several at CTCI conventions.

I'm still surprised that Dale has a '57 C code that was equipped with a 3 speed with overdrive transmission from the factory.  Since it did come from the factory with overdrive per his data plate, AND assuming that the tranny hasn't been changed out over the last 60 years, I'd expect it to be a T-85 rather than a B-W 259.  As Dale indicated, having been produced THE last day of production of the '57 'Birds in December of '57, who knows what they did on the production line that day.  Maybe they put a 312 in it, too, but used the two barrel intake manifold to make it look like a 292 that C code 'Birds were scheduled to have installed.

Usually considered to be the 'base' model, I saw one C 'Bird that was LOADED with options about a year ago in the Buffalo, NY area.  It had power windows, seat, brakes, steering, two tops, fender skirts, AND a Fordomatic transmission that I ASSUMED had been installed since it was originally produced.  I did not check the data plate beyond noting that it was a C 'Bird.

Hey!  Life can be full of surprises!  


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

Several of these posts suggest that some '56 T-Birds came with 292 engines. I was under the impression all '56s were 312 (?).

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

I GOOFED! I went by my "impaired" memory when I said it was a number "3" transmission. I went back and looked. The plate says it's "2"! (edited my original post)

Dale.  Yes, my understanding is that all kinds of things were done in the last months of production of the '57 'Birds when the '58 model year production was going on, too.

I'm not sure what you're using for data plate decoding.  Click the link below for the one offered by the Classic Thunderbird Club International.
http://www.ctci.org/decoder.php

There are numerous Forum members who own 'Birds.  Many are not purists when it comes to component date codes, etc.  but they respect those who are.

Regards,


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

Thanks for the response! The ID on the car shows it is a "C" code and a "2" transmission which is the overdrive. Perhaps it was ordered that way, or it was also built the last day of production for the 57. ( Dec.13 '57 ) Maybe they had a leftover 292 that needed to be used??

I have a D code 57 bird and many years ago replaced the 312 with a 292.  Used the 312 intake and carb.  It's perfectly fine with the 292 and frankly I never noticed any change in performance.  But then, or course, I never did hot rod it all that much.  BTW, also have the T85 with overdrive.

That's what it's all about ... helping & sharing information with fellow enthusiasts politely...

Mike

Mike.  Thanks for catching my error!  No excuses, I messed-up.  One of the great things about this Forum is that we help each other to get it right.  

My statement that the Borg Warner T-86 was used in '55-'57 'Birds was incorrect.  Mike is correct, the designation for the gear box used in '55 through '57 'Birds behind 292 engines was Borg Warner 259.  The side cover is rectangular in shape and has nine bolts used to secure it.  Three of the side cover corners are rounded while the lower front corner is square.  My information is that the '55 and '56 case numbers are AF7006A, AF7006B, or AF7006D.  I'm not sure of what appeared on the '57 C code 3 speed cases, but they use the B-W 259 components.

My information is that no B-W R-10 overdrive units were installed behind the B-W 259 transmission boxes used in '56 and '57 292 equipped 'Birds.

See the link below to the Articles section of this web site for pictures Doug Thrasher pulled together of the '57 Ford transmissions
http://www.y-blocksforever.com/tech/html/57trans.html

This should corrects the blatant error in my previous text entry.      


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York