I pulled an engine out of a 1955 wagon this past summer, and while inspecting some of the electrical parts, the regulator, I noticed it was a 12v unit dated 1954. Can anyone shed any light on this? The main switch wasn't made till 1956. Also I read somewhere that some of the pickups came equiped with a stronger 3 speed overdrive transmission. Could I get some information on this?

Cadillac, Buick as well as larger GMC had 12 volt in 1953. I'm not sure about larger Ford trucks. I'm quite sure the regulator was not original on your car. Its hard to say what has been put on vehicles over the past 55 years. The standard overdrive unit for a 55 was a T86. They will stand up to a 292 unless you get into competition. A T85 and T89 are heavier built, but you can run into input shaft problems, slip joint problems and linkage problems if you keep the shift on the column. A T86 is a simple bolt in and wire it up installation. In my opinion the heavier transmissions are installed for bragging rights.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

Maybe someone put on a 12 volt regulator on instead of a 6 volt.I know you cant use a 6 volt on on 12 volt system BUT does a 12 volt one work on a 6 volt system? 

  

Nope.  There are three relays inside; voltage relay, current relay, and cutout relay.  The voltage relay is set to open when the battery comes up to the maximum charging voltage.

That's why the voltage regulator must match the system's voltage.  It is also why an 8-volt battery is always undercharged in a six volt system.

Royal Oak, Michigan (Four miles north of Detroit, and 12 miles NORTH of Windsor, Canada).  That's right, we're north of Canada.

Ford 292 Y-Block major overhaul by simplyconnected

The regulator is an original FoMoCo part dated Dec 1954, didn't know that they were producing 12v electrical parts that early still. But some did say some of the trucks were 12v. As for the transmission I was asking about, would that be the same one they would have put into a 55 or 56 car? The one I will use may of come out of a 1956 Ford wagon.