The Ford Barn

54mainlinetim · 11-07-2010, 10:12 AM

hey everyone names tim, ive had my 54 ford for awhile now and had ups and downs with it but now its time to get it back on road but need help!! i was given a 292 with a air cooled auto tranny. i installed both and got the motor running but now im stumped on what to do with the tranny it has two levers on it one for gear shifting and the other ?(kickdown/overdrive)?i got the three on thee tree linkage to work for the gear shift lever
but my problem is mine was a three on tree now im going auto and never had linkage for the other lever and dont know what to do? i was told the motor and tranny was out of a 56 ford and tranny was rebuilt the tag may have been replaced on tranny but these are the numbers i found:
19-268902

can someone id the tranny and tell me what i need to do to hook up the tranny. i have no idea what the linkage looks like or where it would go

thanks tim

34pickup · 11-07-2010, 11:16 AM

I would think your best bet would be to try to find a 54 that had an auto in it and get all of the linkage off of the steering column and transpose it.I used to have a 54 that had a 302/C4 auto in it. It was originally a 3 on the tree.The guy I got it from just ran a rod down from the lever that operated second and high down to the trans lever and used it that way.I didn't like it though because you never could be sure what gear it was in unless you counted the clicks like on a motorcycle.

alcan · 11-07-2010, 01:23 PM

The prefix 19 on your trans ID number goes back to a 1955 Ford, 272, 8 cyl with a 2 barrel carb; according to Hollander interchange.

Gerry · 11-07-2010, 02:54 PM

That's the kick down linkage, it should be useing the year of trans linkage, 54 trans=54 kink down, 56 trans 56 kinckdown linkage. Might have to tweek it in a little, make a down shift rod or so. You can also wire the trans rod open a certain amount in order to make it shift won't be right but should work. Let's see what others say. Gerry

54mainlinetim · 11-07-2010, 03:17 PM

well after looking at my 54 shop book ,pics of 56 linkage and through my box of parts i have linkage that mounts to intake and the linkage that mount to fire wall and block but dont have linkage rod down to tranny ,and ran into some other problems as well the intake on motor doesnt have the two mounting holes for braket in it and the carb is not the orignal two barrel there is no way to hook up the old tranny or throttle linkage to it (im running a lokar throttle cable)! once again stumped? is there any type of aftermarket way to set it up maybe a manual setup? and is it ok to drive with out it hooked up?

Daves55Sedan · 12-05-2010, 02:45 AM

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I recommend that you do not try to drive the car without the passing gear linkage hooked up and properly adjusted per the Ford-O-matic shop manual instructions. Improperly adjusted linkage will cause the trans to shift at the wrong time and damage the transmission. If the engine has any of the original intake manifolds, it DOES have the two holes for mounting the Ford-O-Matic link bellcrank. You need to remove the old bellcrank for the carb linkage (used on cars with manual transmission) and replace it with the Ford-O bellcrank in the same spot. Re-connect the carb linkage and connect the passing gear link to the Ford-O bellcrank. See the 1954, 55 or 1956 Ford-O-matic shop manual for illustrations

paul2748 · 12-06-2010, 12:12 AM

I assume you have a two bbl carb? If so, the linkage on a 54 and I assume 55 and 56, was mounted on the back of the block/intake and connected with the carb on the RIGHT (passenger) side of the carb. 2bbl engines did not have a mounting point on the left rear of the intake (for sure on 54, most likely on 55/56). There should be one or two mounting holes on the back of the intake

What you should do is get a 54 steering column for an auto car, with the trans linkage, kickdown lever and carb linkage. The should be relatively easy to locate through Hemmings and www.1954ford.com. The only problem with this is the column and steering box is basically one piece (although they do come apart).

All the stock 4bbl manifolds I have seen, plus all aftermarket, had the mounting pad for the carb and automatic linkage on the left rear of the intake, with one mounting point on the block in back of the intake.

Get a shop manual or a Motors manual which should have a picture of the linkage for both the 2 bbl and 4 bbl.

11-07-2010, 10:12 AM	#1
54mainlinetim Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 49	new guy needs help! hey everyone names tim, ive had my 54 ford for awhile now and had ups and downs with it but now its time to get it back on road but need help!! i was given a 292 with a air cooled auto tranny. i installed both and got the motor running but now im stumped on what to do with the tranny it has two levers on it one for gear shifting and the other ?(kickdown/overdrive)?i got the three on thee tree linkage to work for the gear shift lever but my problem is mine was a three on tree now im going auto and never had linkage for the other lever and dont know what to do? i was told the motor and tranny was out of a 56 ford and tranny was rebuilt the tag may have been replaced on tranny but these are the numbers i found: 19-268902 can someone id the tranny and tell me what i need to do to hook up the tranny. i have no idea what the linkage looks like or where it would go thanks tim

11-07-2010, 11:16 AM	#2
34pickup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Huntsville Al Posts: 1,553	Re: new guy needs help! I would think your best bet would be to try to find a 54 that had an auto in it and get all of the linkage off of the steering column and transpose it.I used to have a 54 that had a 302/C4 auto in it. It was originally a 3 on the tree.The guy I got it from just ran a rod down from the lever that operated second and high down to the trans lever and used it that way.I didn't like it though because you never could be sure what gear it was in unless you counted the clicks like on a motorcycle.

11-07-2010, 01:23 PM	#3
alcan Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 10	Re: new guy needs help! The prefix 19 on your trans ID number goes back to a 1955 Ford, 272, 8 cyl with a 2 barrel carb; according to Hollander interchange.

11-07-2010, 02:54 PM	#4
Gerry Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lake Forest, Southern California. Posts: 148	Re: new guy needs help! That's the kick down linkage, it should be useing the year of trans linkage, 54 trans=54 kink down, 56 trans 56 kinckdown linkage. Might have to tweek it in a little, make a down shift rod or so. You can also wire the trans rod open a certain amount in order to make it shift won't be right but should work. Let's see what others say. Gerry

11-07-2010, 03:17 PM	#5
54mainlinetim Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 49	Re: new guy needs help! well after looking at my 54 shop book ,pics of 56 linkage and through my box of parts i have linkage that mounts to intake and the linkage that mount to fire wall and block but dont have linkage rod down to tranny ,and ran into some other problems as well the intake on motor doesnt have the two mounting holes for braket in it and the carb is not the orignal two barrel there is no way to hook up the old tranny or throttle linkage to it (im running a lokar throttle cable)! once again stumped? is there any type of aftermarket way to set it up maybe a manual setup? and is it ok to drive with out it hooked up?

12-05-2010, 02:45 AM	#6
Daves55Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granite City, Illinois Posts: 3,008	Re: new guy needs help! Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I recommend that you do not try to drive the car without the passing gear linkage hooked up and properly adjusted per the Ford-O-matic shop manual instructions. Improperly adjusted linkage will cause the trans to shift at the wrong time and damage the transmission. If the engine has any of the original intake manifolds, it DOES have the two holes for mounting the Ford-O-Matic link bellcrank. You need to remove the old bellcrank for the carb linkage (used on cars with manual transmission) and replace it with the Ford-O bellcrank in the same spot. Re-connect the carb linkage and connect the passing gear link to the Ford-O bellcrank. See the 1954, 55 or 1956 Ford-O-matic shop manual for illustrations

12-06-2010, 12:12 AM	#7
paul2748 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Midland Park, NJ Posts: 4,406	Re: new guy needs help! I assume you have a two bbl carb? If so, the linkage on a 54 and I assume 55 and 56, was mounted on the back of the block/intake and connected with the carb on the RIGHT (passenger) side of the carb. 2bbl engines did not have a mounting point on the left rear of the intake (for sure on 54, most likely on 55/56). There should be one or two mounting holes on the back of the intake What you should do is get a 54 steering column for an auto car, with the trans linkage, kickdown lever and carb linkage. The should be relatively easy to locate through Hemmings and www.1954ford.com. The only problem with this is the column and steering box is basically one piece (although they do come apart). All the stock 4bbl manifolds I have seen, plus all aftermarket, had the mounting pad for the carb and automatic linkage on the left rear of the intake, with one mounting point on the block in back of the intake. Get a shop manual or a Motors manual which should have a picture of the linkage for both the 2 bbl and 4 bbl.