57 Tbird tail shaft ID
 

I bought a 1957 Thunderbird two years ago and I am thinking about putting a new seal in the output end of the 3 speed standard tail shaft. Over the years the engine and drive line have been bastardized. The engine may be out of a Y block pickup truck, at least the oil pan is, power steering and brakes were added with disc in front and the auto trans was replaced with a three speed standard shift. There are many other changes so it is hard to tell what they are for replacement parts. I have most under control except for the transmission. I can see the tail housing casting is different than the standard Tbird housing. I know there are several seal sizes both OD and ID and I would be guessing at the right one. I jacked up one side of the car today and tried to get casting numbers off of all the transmission parts and I got some. I'm old and can't move around under cars much but I'll be putting the car up on ramps in a few weeks to hopefully measure the tail shaft. Here is what I have gotten so far. Side cover on the trans, (AB 7222-b) and that may be from a BW 259 Three-Speed. The tail shaft looks like (WAR 7651-a) the W may be a T but it's hard to tell. I found a post online what the poster said he pulled the trans out of a 1962 Mercury Monterey 4-door Sedan and it had the same side cover and tail shaft number but the trans number was different. The only number I can see on the trans is (9M17). I would appreciate any help.

Re: 57 Tbird tail shaft ID
 

Don’t feel alone, my bird has a Dana rear end out of a truck in it. Lots of things happened over the years. Has the pan been hammered in the front? I didn’t think a truck pan would clear the crossmember.

If you don’t get an answer here, try the HAMB. It’s got a number on member who seem to know a lot about out of the ordinary ford transmissions.

Re: 57 Tbird tail shaft ID
 

From what I have read Tbird pans are non existent but the pickup pans if modified will work. Mine had to be modified to miss the steering. I wanted to post a photo of the pan but don't see a way to do it. Found it.

Re: 57 Tbird tail shaft ID
 

Modified is a much nicer way of saying it. The bird pans are out there, just a bit pricey. If yours works, no problem.

Might double check the dipstick when you do an oil change. If it’s the bird stick it might be off a bit.

Re: 57 Tbird tail shaft ID
 

The AB-7222 shifter housing (side cover) denotes this as the common Ford light duty 3 speed transmission. They all used the 21C-7052 rear oil seal. The aftermarket seal mfrs all made their own version of this. The Ford version was a fully enclosed (steel shell) seal. We stock this seal as do most vintage Ford parts vendors.

Re: 57 Tbird tail shaft ID
 

Thank you.

Re: 57 Tbird tail shaft ID
 

Are you looking for a T-Bird oil pan?

Re: 57 Tbird tail shaft ID
 

The 9M17 looks like a date code....possibly December 17, 1959.