My Ford model A is equipped with overdrive, which I cannot identify. Seller said that it may be a Saginaw-unit, but I cannot tell if it is or not. There is no tag in the box. Can you help me? Pictures of overdrive: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28836346@N03/5933052606/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/28836346@N03/5932494571/in/photostream/ I also have a 4-speed gear-box which was attached to a flathead. It may be from truck, but it would help if you could identify it too. http://www.flickr.com/photos/28836346@N03/5933052798/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/28836346@N03/5932494779/in/photostream/
nice overdrive! looks like a Borg Warner unit from a Ford car (probably from the early 50s to late 60s). BW made these overdrives that fit several different transmissions, there was a version that fit a Saginaw transmission, but this is not that one, it's a Ford unit. The speedometer cable is a clue. The 4 speed looks like a flathead truck transmission. The side cover plate where a power take off would go is a clue.
Thanks for quick reply squirrel. As far as I know overdrive does not work, at least according to seller. I have not been driving the car on the road yet. Do you know which are the most common faults in those overdrives? I know it has not been used much. At least this car seems to be rarely driven.
You should check the electrics first, make sure it is properly wired, make sure the solenoid and governor are working. Understand how it is supposed to work, read the theory. http://www.fordification.com/tech/overdrive.htm should get you started.
Interesting way the conversion was made in connecting the open driveline O.D. to the enclosed driveline rear end; backyard/farmer enginuity at it's best. R-10 O.D. by Borg Warner, like Squirrel already said, and used by many manufacturers. A Saginaw would have used the stronger R-11 Borg Warner O.D. An OLD Motors Manual will have a unit on O.D.'s, and schematics. Butch/56sedandelivery.
If I understood correct, it´s originally from V8-car. Is it? I´m changing the engine to Mercury flathead and it would be great to have this overdrive in the build. I´ll take some better pictures of overdrive later if anyone is interested on how it´s done.
Id be suspect of the engineering that went into that.. the support rods welded to a cast overdrive look super hokey to me..makes you wonder how the shafts were joined (more hokey welding?) might live behind a 40 horse A motor, but a post 100hp flathead might break it !
Saginaws did not use the R-11 unit, they used the R-10. I have two of them on Sag 4-spds. They hold up just fine if you lock out the o.d. before doing any hot rodding. Use only for crusing!
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