Well went to Moultrie Swap Meet yesterday and got another T-89 transmission. This one is from 1968 and is in a lot better shape than the first one I got back in November. Only problem is that this one has a spicer universal joint on the back of the transmission. I'll take the tail shaft from the other one and put on this one. Does anybody happen to have a schematic for a T-85/T-89? I couldn't find one on the net anywhere. In other words, when I take the tail shaft off and break the gears apart is little needle bearings going to go everywhere like they do in a Chevy transmission? .. Thanks .

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

Amazing!

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

EJ.  I’ve not a clue as to the answer to your particular question and due to the lack of responses, I suspect no one else visiting the site while your question was posted does either.  But ask me a question regarding something I do know and I’ll be happy to respond if several others don’t beat me to it first.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Ted, thanks for responding. My question was, if I take the tail shaft out of the main box will little needle bearings fall out and go all over the place. On a Chevy transmission, which I haven't messed with for years, comes apart needle bearings go everywhere. I have never opened a Ford transmission up other than the side plate. I have to change the tail shaft and housing on this T-89 because the one I got has a spicer U-joint on it. Thanks again ...

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

Yes, little needle bearings will go everywhere. No big deal, just clean it good and using wheel bearing grease stack the bearing needles back in place and reinstall.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

They made T89 with and without overdrive. If it's an OD, there are lots of small parts to deal with. Warner made lots of variations of everything, and I would be hesitant to try the swap. The T89 is a very good transmission and probably overkill for a y Block. One solution would be to use a drive shaft with a slip joint in it. Then you wouldn't have to take anything apart. Make sure you measure everything including pilot shaft diameter and length. If it came out of A pickup it could be different than what you have now.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

Yeah, mine's an overdrive. Thanks for the info on those little bearing going everywhere. I'll be careful taking it apart. I have to change tailshafts because of the spicer u-joint. I'll just be real careful taking it apart. I'm going to have to get the u-joint shaft of one transmission welded to the slip yolk of the other one. The ears are broke on the slip yolk I need. It's going to be an ordeal but do able . Thanks again for the info ..

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

EJ,
I have one of these in my 56 Fairlane. Here are some helpful links I've collected on the T-85/89's. Enjoy.

The first is an index link.
http://speedprint.com/deves50/overdriveindex.php

Click on the "overdrive rebuild document" for a direct answer to your question about how not to spill those needle bearings.

Here is a link to a much sharper image of the same OD wiring diagram given in the "overdrive wiring document" in the above link.
http://www.classictruckshop.com/clubs/earlyburbs/projects/over/drive.htm

In the following link there is an article posted from Hemmings Motor news on the T85/89 and some of the cars and trucks that it saw duty in.
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/53630-which-3spd-ods-w-223-a-3.html

Intrestingly, the Hemmings article missed some of biggest muscle applications of the T85/89's. For example, check out the specs at the bottom of this link for an idea of the Hp they could handle.
http://mecum.com/auctions/lot_detail.cfm?LOT_ID=CH1008-72981

Jerome

Jerome, Thanks a ton. This is the kind of stuff I was lookin' for. Again, the forum comes through. I had one in a '57 back in the 60's. I put a T-10 in it and I guess I just threw that T-85 away ... Not the only dumb thing I did over the years .......... but who knew? Thanks again ..

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

Well I don't know if any of you have been inside one of these gearboxes before, I suspect somebody on here has, but when I tore T-89 #1 apart the planetary gears were all stripped. Everything else looked OK. Sun gears looked fine. Only thing this causes is that tranny is a parts tranny now, won't be fit for re-sale. I put it all back together on T-89 #2 today and something's not right. Will have to tear into it again tomorrow. Where the od lever his hooked to the cable, that unit won't move. Have done something wrong. Everything else worked fine, so far...

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL