Technical Shoebox with Floorshift and Overdrive

Hi All,
I am running a floor shift in my 50 Ford Tudor. I picked up an original overdrive which I was planning on installing in place of the regular transmission. As I look at the transmission I see that the solenoid and governor are in the path of the shifter mount. Will this trans work only with the original column shift setup? Any options?
Thanks, Steve

 

It will work with the original column shift setup.

Floor shift conversions were available for the overdrive transmissions in these cars back in the day. I happen to have an original Fenton OD floor shift conversion for these cars. The shifter mechanism sits higher than the standard conversion kits, The instructions that come with the kit say that the floor pan might have to be modified to make the kit fit. I have the installation instructions that came with the kit if you are interested.

 

^^ From what I see on the Ford Barn (more 55 and up Fords) any o/d floor shifter is pretty hard to come by. Almost all Ford factory o/d’s used the column shift, but the arms on the transmission might need flipping or modification. I’ve run both T-86 and T-85’s with o/d and floor shifts, but that was years ago when you could just walk in and buy one. If tubman gets you the instruction and maybe a picture or 2, it isn’t anything you can’t figure out and build. Might be bending or modifying the arms, but pretty simple stuff with a welder around.

Your transmission is probably an earlier model, but pretty similar externally. Transmission mount might be different, but again, not a big deal. Most Fords in that time frame had them as options. Rear gears usually were different too.

 

Thanks Guys,
Tubman if you were able to make me a photo copy or PDF of those instructions I would be greatly appreciative. This car has a Flathead 226, I am also in the process of building a Mercury V8.
The Hurst shifter plate I am using would not fit with the solenoid in place, not sure how to work around that.

 

Here's a page from the installation manual for a Fenton shifter for an overdrive transmission. Take a look at the picture on the bottom right which will show the bracket that mounts the shifter mechanism high enough to clear the overdrive solenoid. If anyone is interested, I can publish the whole instruction manual and take some pictures of the actual NOS Fenton overdrive shifter I have. The whole Fenton mechanism is mounted on a large bolt that goes through the big hole in the bracket. A "Hurst", it ain't.

 

Here’s a link to the Hot Rod Reverend’s blog on his 55 ford. There’s pictures of a NOS hurst bracket and synchro lok on an overdrive transmission. Might be helpful seeing how Hurst did it and got clear of the o/d parts. May or may not work in a shoebox.

https://www.hotrodreverend.com/post/2017/09/20/55-ford-restoration-blog-part-10

 

I had a gypo floor shift in my 51 Merc with overdrive after the tab at the top of the shift tube broke and couldn't be repaired. Best advice, don't use a cheap ****py shifter use a Hurst or Mr Gasket.

My Cheap shifter and I think it was a Spark-O-Matic from Valuemart that I paid about 18 bucks for new got hung up between gears a lot and I'd have to use a flat tire tool to pop it back in neutral.

Every floor shift converson for a 3 speed that I have ever seen requires the shift arms on the transmission to be reversed to point in the opposite direction that they do with the column shift but I have never seen one that used stock arms, Always using the arms provides with the shifter. If you don't reverse them the shift pattern is backwards if you can get the linkage to work at all.

With the kit I had and that was (2022 - 1963 = 59) 59 years ago the shifter was placed a bit high to clear the overdrive but with the provided brackets that part was simple. The hard part was bending the rods that were straight when you bought the kit to the correct angles to smoothly work the shift arms. Unless you find the rare complete kit designed exactly for that trans you will have to do a bunch of bending and fitting. Agree with the others who say you end up with a pretty big hole to deal with.

I'd throw in that those transmissions aren't that strong if you are running more HP than a mild flathead.

 

Thanks Guys,
Your information on kits and install is awesome. I believe with the pictures and directions I can fabricate something that will work.
Steve

 

Some very nice cars in the links above!

 

You can use the 55 to 57 tbird shifter as it bolts to the floor and not the trans.