how do you hook up overdrive?

I have a 51 ford overdrive trans and I need to know how to hook up the over drive. What is that thing on the side of the trans looks like a large cylinder shaped switch? There is also a small square switch or relay? Any help would be appreciated.

I think overdrive would be good to help me get to Austin.

thanks.

 

i take it that you have a borg warner r-10 OD unit on the back of your trans. the large can on the left is the solenoid that engages the unit, the little can on the right is the governor, which is a centrifugal switch to engage OD over a speed set by the manufacturer (generally 35-40mph).
what i have done with mine is byp*** all the governor and kickdown switch (i think they were a hudson only thing, could be wrong) and wired a switch under my dash to a relay that switches the OD on and off. this way i get to choose from 6 speeds instead of 4. being a 51 it will be 6 volts. if you are running a 12v system install a 1ohm resistor to drop the voltage to around 6-8v or find a solenoid from a factory 12v car. i also wired my switch off the ignition so the solenoid won't kill the power if left on parked.
be sure to have that control knob pulled out in reverse or you'll smash the clutch in the unit. the small switch you describe is likely the reverse kill that turns the solenoid off when you engage reverse. there is a lot to these units, i found a manual online in a packard site. i forget which one though!

 

BTT - can someone help Jeff?

Thanks

Malcolm

 

I only know a little about OD Trans...

That said, do you have the original carb? From what I have been told, the over drive temporarily kills the engine when it engages. It uses a solenoid on the carburator to do this. There also should be a lockout under the dash, for driving on dirt roads or hauling a load. If don't have the carburator then I'd try to wire it the way that Blue Collar Stu did.

In my 69 C-10 I have a 3 Speed Borg Warner w/ OD out of a late 50's chevy, the carb has the solenoid, but none of it hooked up. I drive with the OD locked out.

I hope that that helps a little.
- Joe

 

This will give a general layout of the '49-'53 OD.

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/FH_images/FH_trans-pics/Flathead_TransODcontrols_1949to52merc.jpg

 

Wiring diagram for reference.

 

Here is the schematic diagram of the wiring shown above. This is the factory hook up. There is a relay usually on the firewall, a kick down switch mounted in the floor under the gas pedal, a solenoid in the trans and a governor in the trans. The schematic shows how they are wired.

The overdrive wiring harnesses are available but there isn't much to them. If you want the factory harness let me know I'll look up the guys number that makes them.

If you are adding one to a car that never had it from the factory, there are other ways of wiring it.

This overdrive manual is for a Studebaker but the basic operation and components are the same.

Rumbleseat's tips will help if you need to trouble shoot the system.

 

Hey , thanks guys. The diagrams help, just what I was looking for. All I could find were some loose explanations of the hook-up. This is what I was looking for.
thanks again.

 

i hope someone is still on this forum, i fried my overdrive relay, pickup another, it has to many mounting screws, has anyone replaced 1 lately?, use my email address, thanks jerry gealdchainsaw@aol.com

 

You can use a relay off a early VW bug, I believe it is for the headlights.