Technical Ford (maybe T-bird) 3 speed w/ OD

Hi all, A friend is having a sale and needs some help identifying some transmissions. Do the old (50's) Ford (and maybe Thunderbird) 3 speed w/ OD have a lever for the OD operation as well as the solenoid? The three he has all have 2 shift levers on the side cover or on the side of the case, and a solenoid on the tail housing, AND an additional lever on the tail housing. I'm a Chevy guy and haven't seen a lever operated OD. My HAMB searches were inconclusive. Online searches didn't yield any pictures. Sorry, I don't have any pictures. If I go out again, I'll take my camera.

Any help??


Thanks for any info.

 

Yes those are overdrives

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

ALL BW R10 and R11 OD units have a lever on them, regardless of which brand transmission they're installed behind. It's not actually an 'operation' lever, it's an enable/disable (lock out) lever. The actual engaging/disengaging of the OD is done by the solenoid/governor as conditions warrant unless it's locked out.

 

Very good, thanks for the info. So what is the difference between the one with a top cover and the one with side cover?
Thanks again.

.bjb

 

Ford used three different three-speeds in the '50s, all available with OD as an option. There's a light-duty Ford-built trans that's a side-loader, this has a square side cover. Next step up is the T86 BW unit that's a top loader, this is considered as a medium duty. Top of the line is the T85 BW, a side loader again with the bottom edge of the cover being curved. The T-bird would have the T85 as standard.

 

Basically the trans is the same as a regular 3spd whatever the make and the o/d units are fitted to those trans. The o/d housings are different but they all have the same components (cable lever, solenoid and governor).

 

Thank you very much.

.bjb

 

No problem, also at least around here the Chevy o/d trans is worth more then the Ford version.