Anybody ever use a mitchell overdrive?

Since this thread is back from the dead I did put a mitchell in my '47 a couple years ago and I love it!

 

Here's one in a car I drove last Monday. '32 with '41 Merc V8, '39 trans, '32 rear. It was great - quiet, no noise and super slick to shift. The shift knob called it a Mitchell Gear Splitter. I'll have more info when I get the car home.

 

Just put 500 miles on mine last weekend. Love it.

 

I put one in a 32 5w last year and it work great. No noise and used the optional shift cable that I mounted to the right side of the column.Did have to cut the floor to clear the unit. After driving it for a year I wieh I would have put in a T-5 trans instead. It would be nice to have a fully syncro trans with O.D. You also could change the R&P to a Speedway 3.25 which I also done on another 32 for a lot less money.

 

Any idea how a volvo OD would handle a v8 for street driving?

 

I found this thread doing a google search regarding Mitchell Overdrives.

I have a newly overhauled, according to the original owner, in the crate overdrive that I was planning to install on my 87' F350 6.9 with a C6 but the motor finally quit on me so I'm aborting my plans.

I have some paperwork, trying to locate now, I got with it and I also talked with Mrs Mitchell about the retrofit. She said when I was ready to start the install to give them a call and they might be able to find any additional parts I may need; they had recently moved from their old warehouse, fire I think.

I was planning to list it on the web for sale in a couple places but saw this thread and thought I'd see if anyone may be interested.

Please send me an email with your phone number and I'll be happy to give you a call.

 

Don't know if he's a member on here, but Jonathan is a Hagarty employee who undertook a the challenge of driving his Model A for 365 days. He had a blog about it (365daysofA) and recently finished the year. Anyways, a few of his blogs talk about the Mitchell overdrive that he recently installed, and then used to drive from Michigan to Hershey through the mountains. He covered installing it, driving with it, and his impressions of it. Might provide some insight.

http://www.365daysofa.com/post/10225805716/day-337-overdrive

http://www.365daysofa.com/post/10542948752/day-345-the-overdrive-arrived

http://www.365daysofa.com/post/10584346803/day-346-getting-our-hands-dirty

http://www.365daysofa.com/post/10715044729/day-349-overdrive-is-back-in

http://www.365daysofa.com/post/10795069088/day-351-overdrive-is-done

http://www.365daysofa.com/post/10871214176/day-353-overdrive-observations

http://www.365daysofa.com/post/11301391612/day-363-fuel-mileage

 

Max, what rear gear ratio are you using in the '37? Would you go to a different one after experiencing things?

 

I just picked up a Model A that had the Mitchell OD unit installed. I have yet to take it up to 55 - 60 mph, but the previous owner did and was quite happy with the performance of the unit.

 

I see this thread is a tad old, but here it goes...

I'm seriously interested in purchasing and installing a Mitchell Overdrive into my 1940 Standard Coupe. My hope with this post is to come in contact with someone who has done this exact install.

Did you run into any issues? Did the floor need to be cut and modified? Floor shift vs. cable shift options? Any photos of your install?

Basically, I want to know ALL the details. (haha) It's a big purchase and I want to make sure I've learned enough about my specific application before I dive in.
From what I've been told, these Mitchell units fit great into 40 Pick-ups and Sedans, but in the Coupes, there's fitment problems. True or false?
I have a 39 trans in my 40 so the Mitchell floor shift option ain't no big deal for me, unless it's super 'in-the-way'. Or perhaps it's not?
So, if there's any one out there with 'hands-on' 40 Ford Coupe & Mitchell Overdrive experience, I would love to hear from you. Your words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

 

Well I put it in my '47 coupe and the floor had to be notched slightly under the back seat. It would clear in the garage but it bottomed out going down the road. I could tell you by looking under my '40 convertible that it would probably require more cutting than my '47 did to clear, but the 40 coupe floor pan could be different. Picture a box on your driveshaft 6" from the banjo and you can see where it could hit.

I ran the cable shift, I think it's much cleaner looking on the dash but that's probably just preference.

 

I appreciate your reply. After doing more searching on-line and physically calling Mitchell myself, I got the overdrive's dimensions and 'eye-balled' the fitment using my tape measure under my 40. You're right, looks as if I'd have to hack a decent amount out of my floor to allow for suspension travel, etc. Not so sure I want to start cutting on my 40.
Now, my rear-end is in need of a rebuild. Perhaps I replace the 3.78's and go taller? This is a whole other Thread topic, but this option would be considerably cheaper, although it wouldn't give me the huge benefit of a Mitchell O/D. Yet, it would certainly help my freeway speed for the better. Always more to consider. Thanks again!

 

I put one in my 40 Conv and didn't have to cut any floor.Just turned the cable arm to the bottom and away we go.Had it in for 4-5 yrs and no trouble best thing I did.Running a flathead and 36% Mitchell OD with 378 gears.Also used a set of Posie reversed eye springs.and did the cable shifter.Don't want a lever in the way in the floor.

 

Gotcha, so cool it's working the way you had hoped! All I hear is great things about the Mitchel OD. I guess the next question would be, is a 40 Convert rear floor same or diff from a 40 Coupe rear floor? After eye-balling mine, I'm pretty sure I would need to do some fitment floor surgery.

Cheers!

 

I put a mitchell 36% on my 38 truck last year. Love it.

Might want to ask on the fordbarn about the floor interference, most likely a couple guys have a mitchell on a 40 coupe.

 

Roger that! Thanks for the reply!

 

I got a mitchel and i love it. No noise and its rad.

 

Don't know but I put a Paul Bradly complete floor in it and he rolled it like it suppose to be.