I now have the stock 3 spd OD transmission in my 55 Crown, She has 1957, 312 with G heads and 57 distributor. 570 Holley SA carb. Did not do overhaul so don’t know internals. But runs good and strong. I would like to upgrade the Butter Box stock 3spd W/OD. With something more durable and have OD if possible. As I am reluctant to lean on it from past experiences with this type transmission from back in my day. I final found a tranny that would take a beating and keep on ticking, but lost to many brain cell to remember what I used. I do remember that the gears inside were thicker and fewer teeth then the stock tranny. So hopefully you all are willing two find something I can upgrade to as I always fear that broken teeth that cursed me long ago but learn fix and replace in my sleep. What would you all suggest I look for, are you are using.

I doubt the 55 had a T-85, it probably has the lighter duty trans with R10 OD. A T-85 with R11 OD is a heavy duty version. I use a T-85 from a 1961 390/401 hp and ran many back in the day, you can't blow them with a Y block.. I believe many of the early Birds also used the T-85.

I have yet to find a Ford transmission that I can't break with my Yblock except so far the one out of the Ford 7 Liter with the 31 spline output shaft.

  Vic Correnti

I doubt the 55 had a T-85, it probably has the lighter duty trans with R10 OD

If wanting to stay period correct -

A 55 most likely came through with the T86/RIO.

The T85/R11 only came through on a HP FORD and/or MERC in 1955.

ILL shows top loader T86 and below it the T85. This is a 57 ILL as the 55 BIRD used the T86.




I stand corrected -

From 'THE OTHER FORUM' -

zoegrant Posted 09-30-2012]

The 55 t-bird tranny case is stamped AF7006-B  the overdrive was R 10F-1B. This was a BW 259 tranny...side cover has 9 bolts and is rectangular in shape.three side cover corners are rounded,the lower front corner is square.

The overdrive housing is 18" long,the input shaft has 10 spines and a diameter of 1"....the output shaft has 16 spines and a diameter of 1.175". Some passenger cars 1952-1956 have similar tranny`s....

This info is from the restoration manual by Gil Baumgartner of CTCI

The T85 and BW 259 (both side loaders) can be ID'd by the side cover detail.



T85 C-1A - R11-1E (56 MERC) - BW 259 - R10F-1A (55 BIRD)

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Melly,
If your not staying period correct I might have a later model 3 speed that is fully synchro'd.

  Vic Correnti