I recently picked up a overdrive trans for a mid to late fifties ford from here on the HAMB. When I got it I noticed it has a top load cover with a huge input 10 spline shaft about 3/4 to a inch longer than the input shaft for my 59 custom 300. I am thinking it is a OD for a ford truck. Question I have is there any way to adapt the OD drive ***embly to my stock trans.
If you do indeed have a Ford transmission, it is mostlikely from an early/mid 60's Ford/Mercury.. I have one that fits your description that came from a '63 Ford with a 260 V8. As for adapting it to your '59 Custom 300......I'm not so sure. If you have a 292 V8 there may be a bellhousing from a later car or pickup (trucks used 292 thru '64) that will provide the bellhousing length needed for your ******. But the easiest way out is to get an earlier Ford OD trans.......that has the correct length input shaft already in place.
If my old failing memory is correct, trucks used 1-3/8 - 10 spline (same as early flathead) and cars used 1-1/16 - 10 (except '58-'63 which were 23 spline). Truck shafts were also a bit longer, I think. If both transmissions are B-W T-86's, which is a very common '50's Ford overdrive transmission, you may get by by swapping input shafts and front bearing retainers between the two. If they have different gear ratio's, you will have to change most of the internal gears, probably everything except the mainshaft. You just need to confirm transmission model and do some tooth counting.
Numbers off the transmission tag would help here alot. There were more than a few OD transmissions through the years. Is the case iron or aluminum? Any casting numbers?
The trans is a iron case. The casting numbers on the case are T86E-IN with a smaller 5N cast next to it but a little lower, in between the shift lever is cast H22-8 and on the tail shaft housing is cast R10F-1C.
Sounds to me like all you need to do is change your clutch disc to accomodate the large input shaft and bolt it up. (And wire it up). T-86/R/10 is the combination used in all Fords and Mercs from 1949- ? '50s. At some point they changed to the heavier duty T-85/R/11. I have a T-85 out of a '49 Lincoln with the large input shaft but I also have one -reputedly from a '56 Merc- with a small shaft.
The T86 has a longer input shaft so I would need a different bell housing and clutch fork as the throw out bearing is larger also.
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