1953 Ford Mainline Trans swap questions

[squigy]

What transmission adaptors are available for my 1953 Ford Mainline 216 engine?
Or is there a factory bolt in alternative?
I have a 3speed in it now but want and need overdrive for highway driving..
Any help would be great

[donald1950]

just use the stock 53 ford OD trans and it should be a bolt in......

[JSeery]

Other option would be a T5 conversion. There are several threads on that approach. Might depend on how stock you are wanting to keep the car.

[squigy]

Id like to go automatic maybe c4, aod
The car is not stock on the sheet metal but completely stock drivetrain

[38 coupe]

I put a stock Borg-Warner overdrive transmission in my 53 behind my 215. It is a really good overdrive for highway driving.

[squigy]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

How and what did u have to buy and where did u buy it????

Originally Posted by 38 coupe

I put a stock Borg-Warner overdrive transmission in my 53 behind my 215. It is a really good overdrive for highway driving.

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by squigy

Id like to go automatic maybe c4, aod
The car is not stock on the sheet metal but completely stock drivetrain

C4 will not give you overdrive, that would require the AOD.

[donald1950]

to find a 53 OD trans, call around to wrecking yards that specialize in older cars. Mac Vanpelt can rebuild it if it needs rebuilding. you can get 6v or 12 V relays and solonoids from Fifth Avenue Garage. you can use 52 or 53 not sure about 54 and 49-51 trans are totally different internally and externally......

[George/Maine]

I have a 54 with OD and its great do 70 easy.

[38 coupe]

Originally Posted by squigy

How and what did u have to buy and where did u buy it????

I got lucky. My dad bought a 53 Mercury parts car and we pulled the transmission out of that Mercury.

You will need at a minimum:
1- a complete overdrive transmission (any Ford overdrive transmission from 1952 to 1955 will work, and with some clutch & driveshaft attention many of the 1956 through early 60s transmissions will work)
2- a working solenoid in the voltage to match your car (6V or 12V)
3- a governor (need not work)
4- a lock out cable (the pull cable that mounts under the dash)
5- the dash bracket for the lock out cable
6- the bracket at the transmission for the lock out cable
7- a bit of wire and an on / off switch
With these parts you remove your three speed, pull the gear off the bottom of the governor and install it in the transmission to fill the hole, bolt in the overdrive transmission (turn the rear motor mount to the other side of the transmission cross member), install your solenoid and lock out cable, and wire your on / off switch between the "on" post on your ignition switch and the wire on your solenoid that engages things (when you put power to this wire the solenoid engages violently).

With this setup you can engage or disengage overdrive anytime you are driving forward above ≈3 mph.

If you want the overdrive to work more automatically (like the factory intended) you need the above parts plus: a kickdown switch, a relay, a good working governor, and a wiring harness for it all.

I like to control when things happen myself and have my 53 set up for manual control. I can get more detailed if you need.

Sorry for the long post...

[squigy]

Excellent post very detailed Thank you so very much!