You could, but it would be way easier to buy the whole o/d trans. This is ***uming your talking about the stock '50 3spd manual trans.
If you had all the parts you could build anything, right? The parts would include the main shaft/gear cluster attached to the overdrive section. Remove the non OD main shaft/gear cluster and tailhousing. Install the OD unit and main shaft/gear cluster. There is a hole in the gearcase that allows a shaft to p*** through to prevent the transmission from engaging in reverse while in overdrive. Doing so will damage or destroy the OD unit. Then there is the electronic component. This requires a governor, OD solenoid, relay, and kickdown switch. The governor and OD solenoid are attached to the transmission. These would need to be 6 volt for your application. And one more thing, the cable that engages the lever on the OD unit that allows the solenoid to operate. Easy.
I'm using my Ford/Borg Warner overdrive without the governor or the kickdown switch. I'm utilizing a simple push/pull switch to manually activate the solenoid whenever I want. Sometimes I just leave it in OD all the time depending on the situation. My '56 Ranchwagon does have a 4.27 rear end ratio so that gives me some flexibility.
That has been done, but then you really don't get all of he advantages of having the overdrive. If you have ever driven a vehicle with a properly functioning overdrive, you would know what I mean. Also, unless you are careful and know the limitations, it's real easy to break components by doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. I am sure you know how to use your particular setup, bu***'s easy to forget and make a mistake.
That's the way my 50 shoebox was set up it worked really well but if you got out of sync when stopping you were in trouble. I got it locked up one day in traffic dont know how I did it and dont know how I got it unlocked but it will scare the hell out of you because the engine is running but it locks the trans and it will not roll. Sent from my SM-A102U using Tapatalk
I did that on a 49' F-1 in about 1964.... Liked it... Drove it like for about 5 years till I sold the truck.... Ran good.... LynnW
I don't believe that you will damage the OD unit if you get it into reverse. The car simply won't move because of the overrunning clutch. If I remember right, the rod pushes the sun gear into the planet carrier so that the car will move in reverse. When you shift out of reverse the sun gear move back out of the carrier so that the overdrive will work.
A properly working OD unit will allow you to shift gears without using the clutch. The trans has to have the OD cable pushed in, and you have to be below about 28 mph. When you let off the throttle in low gear, the overrunning clutch in the overdrive disconnects the output shaft from the trans allowing for torque freedom and the ability of the synchronizer for second to work. When you let off, the engine will drop to idle just like using the clutch. Once the trans shifts into overdrive the transmission output shaft and OD output shaft are connected through the planetary gears and the overrunning clutch can no longer overrun.
you'll need to make a hole in the main gearcase for that reverse lockout. you may notice that the od unit has a lockout switch just aft of the mechanical od shift lever (where the cable goes). you'll have to fab a cover for that because you can't get that switch. switch was eliminated in '51, anyway. need a relay? i use a starter relay from a mid-'60s mopar. think i paid about $25 for one at napa!
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