transmission interchange question

[40cpe]

Is a '49-'53 transmission a T-86, or is it a weaker version? I know there might be some rear mount differences, but will it be OK behind a Y-block?

[Fordknut]

Are you talking overdrive or non-overdrive?
In my opinion, the 49 thru 54 overdrive tranny (which is bacically the same as the 49-62 non-OD tranny is better than the 55-64 T-86 OD. BTW, I once added a '49 overdrive tailshaft to a '56 Ford 3-speed when I discovered that the '56 countershaft was significantly larger than the one in the earlier trannys. The '65 and up T-86 is a better tranny than the earlier one. The best OD tranny is the T-85 which was used in some Mercs, some T-birds and most all FE powered Ford/Merc Cars and trucks. Incidently, the T-10 4 speed was derived from the T-85 3 speed. The T-85s equipped with overdrive used an R-11 OD unit which has 4 (instead of 3) planetary gears and a larger sun gear.
As with the T-86, the T-85 tranny saw improvements in 65 with wider, heavier gears akin to those used in the super T-10 4 speed.
The T-85 (especially the '65 up ones) are darn near indestructible under "reasonable" hard use situations.
This is my experience from "playing with" overdrive trannys since the late 50s.

[Jay in Mass]

If you are interested, I have a nice heavy duty T85 non overdrive transmisson that I took out of a Y block Mercury about 50 years ago. $175. plus shipping
Jay 1508 866 2671

[William H. Blalock]

Jay:
Do you still have the T85? I have an R11 overdrive unit and am in need of the transmission.
Hexbore

[Fordknut]

Originally Posted by William H. Blalock

Jay:
Do you still have the T85? I have an R11 overdrive unit and am in need of the transmission.
Hexbore

I successfully mated a '49 R-10 OD unit to the back of a '56 Ford side-loader 3 speed because it had a large countershaft and I preferred it to the early T-86 tranny.
A couple of things I ran into on the smaller tranny which may or not be an issue with the Non-OD T-85.
I had to devise a trough at the top of the tranny and drill a hole thru the back so that the oil thrown from the gears would be picked up and drain to the OD.
I also had to drill 2 other holes in the back of the case; one for the oil from the OD to return to the tranny and another for the reverse lockout shaft to go from the tranny to the OD unit.
Incidently, you will need the correct low/reverse shifter which has the cam on it to actuate the reverse lockout.
I have a few of the different ODs used in the Fords as well as parts.
If you work out a deal for the non-OD tranny and you run into any problems or have any questions, feel free to contact me.
I haven't worked on them much since the 70s but I think I remember most of the important stuff yet.
I put the '56/'49 tranny into a '75 F-100 when it had about 1,500 miles on it. It worked really well with the 300 six and the 3.70 gears.
goodfell @ midtel.net

[Jay in Mass]

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William - Hexbore
I sent you a pm.
Jay

[Jay in Mass]

40CPE
To answer your question about a 49-53 transmission behind a Y Block. Yes... It will bolt right on. If you are not going be speed shifting and smacking 2nd gear like I used to do in the old days with my 56 Ford, it will work out just fine. Sometimes I had to reverse the transmission mount depending on what year tranny I was able to pick up in the junk yards.
Jay

[Fordknut]

Here is a comparison of the typical '49 to '54 Ford tranny with the R-10 OD to the much heavier T-85 and R-11 OD.
The T-86 was a top loader tranny with basically the same R-10 OD unit mated to it and was used as the base overdrive transmission from '55 to '66 ('72 in trucks) altho the entire gear setup was changed and improved in '65.

[Fordknut]

This picture should be larger........

[William H. Blalock]

Jay:
No PM in my box?

[Jay in Mass]

William
Sorry...It seems like I must be doing something wrong when I send a PM. Please call me at home or send an email. I also have pictures of my T85 that I can send to an email address.
My phone number is 1508 866 2671 . email [email protected]
Thank you. Jay in Mass.

[JeffB2]

There is an ad posted on www.1954ford.com for a complete overdrive transmission, it actually came from a 1951 Ford,the guy posting it is disabled and cannot repair it himself.His "mechanic" let it sit around for almost a year before telling Him the overdrive was "bad" so he could not return it to the original seller.Same "mechanic" couldn't even install a Petronix in his '54 and get it to run for several months,wish someone was in the area to help Him out.http://1954ford.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2085