At the risk of exposing a good ebay find, here is the transmission in question.

Item # 180414797099

The seller says that it has a 10 spline front and a 16 spline rear shaft. I was thinking about hooking this to a blown 292 in the club sedan . I also have a good 56 wagon rear end that I would like to use (obviuously taller gears for good low end torque) for this setup. What do the numbers T86E-1N stand for?

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Dan

If you are asking for advice, mine is don't use that trany, for sure it has the small 3 pinion OD.  That is a late '50s -'60s light car small engine trany. The only 3 speed OD I would use is the T-85 with the curved side cover which also has the heavy duty 4 pinion R-11 OD.

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

It is a T86. What the E stands for, I'm not sure. I have built T86 using what ever case I had, as long as it was Ford. The T86 was really designed for 300 cu in or less. A T89 was designed for up to the 390. It all depends on how much you want to show off your hp. I always had Hurst Mystery shifters on my T86 and I really think that the transmission was still meshing with first when I hit second because I would shell all the teeth off of the cluster gear. However, I would still have second and first and could drive until I built another transmission. Next time I build a T86, I am going to measure the shifter shaft holes with a small hole gauge and mike the shafts. This could have been my problem 45 years ago. As far as just giving it the gas, I think they can stand the torque. In regards to the transmission on eBay. I think the guy has too big numbers in his head. And he has demonstrated that he knows very little about the box. I doubt if anyone will break the reserve. I too have a SW rear. They really smoke the tires. I haven't had it in a car in about 10 years.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

I'm with Doug on this one. The t86 is ok for a stock 292, BUT when you build up the 292 or go too a 312 the smaller t86 gearbox WILL NOT stand up to the torque these engines put out if you want to play some. This trans is great for a grocery getter and gas milage. When it comes to playing the t85 gives a lot more insurance of staying together, been there done that, changing broken transmissons is not fun, changing 3 in a weeks time is even less fun and calls for an upgrade.

-Gary Burnette-

Alright fellas, enough said on this one - I see your point about standing up to the horses. I'll keep looking...

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

I think the T86 will be fine for street use. My T86 is still in one piece after the 8 years I've used it. If you'll be racing on the weekends, get something better.


Lawrenceville, GA