Thanks Mike, that's some good stuff there. I had the spicer (bolt on) output U-joint on one of mine but I took the tail shaft off of the other one and put it on. It has a slip joint output shaft. My only problem right now is the input shaft. It is about 3/4 inch too long. My other one is 1/2 inch too long, like the article said. Thanks again ..

EJ

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

The T89 has a lot larger bearing and the teeth would nut mesh with the cluster gear. A T89 was built with a 10 spline. The one I have was out of a 64 or so model with a 390 in front of it. If the spline is the only difference, you can get a clutch disk to fit as long as the diameter and the hub offset is the same.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

Have you ever checked to see if an input shaft from a T-86 would fit into a T-89/85? Bearing size etc ..

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

That input shaft from the transmission I have with the 21 teeth is about a half inch shorter than the 10 spline one. I wonder if one could take the input shaft to a machine shop and get it cut down to 5 3/4 or 6 inches. Ever heard of such a thing? It looks like, from the measurements you sent that the pilot bearing is the same inside diameter as the T-89. (.670). No I don't plan on a bunch of rubber burning. Used to do that and tore a lot of stuff up "back in the day". It's told how strong a 9" rear end is, on that '57 Ford,I had, I launched one time and twisted the whole pinion shaft out of the rear end. Sheared all of the bolts holding it in. Pinion was laying on the ground hooked to the driveshaft. I've got a Schieffer 11" clutch for a 383 Merc and an 11" aluminum flywheel. It's all brand new but 40 years old ..Too bad it won't fit.

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

The 5 5/8" is from the snap ring grove to the tip. However, the T89 has a little different setup in the input shaft bearing. Both the T86 and T89 are around 6" from the front of the transmission where it bolts to the fly wheel housing to the tip of the shafts. I measured 3 different T86 transmissions and there is 1/8" variation between the 3. Also , I stuck a shaft about the diameter of the pilot bearing in a junk engine that I know had a T86 behind it. By laying a straight edge across the clutch housing, the shaft goes in about 6 1/4" before it hits the crank. Use your 56 throwout bearing. Later models used a different fork. Unless you plan on laying rubber at every red light, the stock clutch will be fine.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

Good, I need some "doable" .. I'm still dealin' with that input shaft thing. Right now that's my biggest hurdle. You said it was 5 5/8th. I'd think maybe a 6" one would work. I would think there's some wiggle room there. I doubt there's 3/4" wiggle room though. I think my manual says they have a 10" clutch disk .. I'll probably replace all of that too. I am assuming the throwout bearing is the same. ??

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

I looked at a 56 station wagon parts car that still has a T86 in it. It looks like the shift linkage is quite similar to the T89. Just make sure you have enough throw to put it completely in gear. You may have to shorten or lengthen the levers a little. The best way is to put the transmission all the way in 1st gear and then make sure that's where the linkage is comfortable when the column shift is in low. Then try the other gears. I think that part is very doable.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

Yeah, it has the 3:78's. I don't know, it just seems like a lot of revs. On my '57 I had back in the day it had factory OD so it was a 4:10 and I didn't have a problem with all those rev's back then. When I took the T-85 out of it and put a T-10 in it 4th was 1:1 so I guess it was really hummin' at 70 or so. I think this T-85 with the 3:78's will be about right. I've got a little Pontiac Sunfire and it cruises at 3,500 and is smooth. I had a Mazda Miata and it really was hummin' but was smooth as glass. Just seemed like the higher it wound the better it liked it. They old Y-block just doesn't seem to really like it. I called a transmission shop here in Tallahassee yesterday about that input shaft and he never did call me back. It's a big online place that just happened to be here. (http://www.manual-transmission.com/. I see there's a big one in Houston too. Somebody should have that input shaft.

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

It's pouring down rain and my transmissions are in a shed 100 yards from the house. I will be in Houston for 2 days and then I will go look. I am assuming you have the 3.78 rear the car came with. You can expect a lot of noise with solid lifters and a steel fan and not much insulation. You aren't hurting the Y Block at 65. One of my 1956 is one that I bought in Long Island from the original owner and drove it to Texas. It was a 3 speed std. There were times my wife and I were cruising at 80 and it seemed quiet because it had single exhaust instead of 2 glass packs. 3.89 which is behind 6 cylinders and T86 makes a fun car to drive. I have a 4.09 out of a station wagon that I plan to put behind the T89.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

Are the shift levers on the T-86's like the ones on the T-89's? That one that's offset, I can heat it and bend it straight if I have to. Or if my T-86's will work I'll just put them on there. Man, you've got a lot of stuff. I've only got one and it keeps me busy and, for the most part it's complete and ready to go. I just put a new radiator in it and that was my biggest hold up for drivin' any distance. With this T-86 though, it just seems like at 65 mph the motor is about to jump out of the hole. It's tachin' around 3 grand at 65. With the OD it should be about 2100 ..

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL