I have 2 different T85 R11 Transmissions.

One has a tail ID of R11-1E that have a tail support further South than the other I have plus it has an appearent adapter plate on the bottom..

The other is a T85 R11-1N.

Would anyone know what car/truck these actually came from?

Thanks again

Dale

I believe the one with the adapter plate is for a 56 tbird and later the mount on the tail shaft was moved to do away with the adapter plate in 57.

-Gary Burnette-

Hi Dale,

This is written in support of what Gary has written.

The T-85 with R-11-1N overdrive extension housing is '57 'Bird. From the front face of the R-11 extension housing to the center of either of the extension housing mount holes the measurement is ~2 9/16 inches.

The '56 'Bird used the same T-85 w/ R-11 overdrive used in the '56 Mercury. From the front face of the '56 Merc R-11 overdrive extension housing to the center of either of the extension housing mount holes the measurement is ~7 7/16 inches.

To permit the '56 Mercury T-85 w/ R-11 overdrive to work with the '56 'Bird X frame and rear mount location, Ford devised an 'adapter' piece for the '56 'Bird as Gary indicated.

For the '57 'Bird, Ford had Borg Warner change the R-11 extension housing mount location so the adapter used in '56 was no longer necessary.

To see pictures of one of these '56 'Bird T-85 with R-11 overdrive adapters...
- Google 'eBay Motors' and open the eBay web page
- use the eBay search function to find item 310408772916 which is currently advertised

On this eBay page listing you will see a series of pictures of the original '56 'Bird T-85 overdrive transmission adapter mount and an adapter being offered to accomplish the same thing.

The '57 'Bird overdrives are hard to come by. This adapter permits the use of numerous FoMoCo '50s passenger car T-85 overdrives in any '55 - '57 'Bird.

Hope this helps...

NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

Fantastic information!

Now I now which one of these to put in the '57 Tbird.

Thanks for you help.

Anyone needs the other just let me know.

Thanks again to all!

Dale