Questions - Borg Warner Overdrive

[Del in NE Ohio]

I am working on a '31 Coupe a new friend just bought. He bought it from an estate and the owner is not around to ask questions and his survivors know nothing about the car. It sat for a while and the coolant in the engine froze, cracking the block. So, I agreed to put a new engine in the car along with lighting upgrades, turn signals, seat belts, etc. I have no experience with Borg Warner OD and so I downloaded Tom Endy's article. While crawling around under this car I noticed there is a wire from the OD to the solenoid is disconnected (see photo) and there looks to be some kind of switch on the clutch pedal. What's up with that?

Any guidance from the 'Barn would be appreciated.

[Tom Wesenberg]

The pictured relay is to pass heavy current from the battery to the overdrive solenoid. Most Model A's probably use a toggle switch to engage the relay, which sends voltage to the overdrive solenoid. On an original car, such as my 1950 Studebaker with a B/W overdrive, the governor sends the signal to the relay, which passes current to the overdrive solenoid when 30 MPH is reached and the overdrive lever is pushed in.

You should also have an overdrive cable to lock the overdrive out of operation when you want to back up and when you don't want freewheeling while driving without the overdrive engaged. NEVER back up unless you pull the cable to lock out the overdrive, or you can destroy the overdrive.

[Del in NE Ohio]

Tnx Tom. There is a toggle switch with an indicator lamp mounted to the steering column. Any idea what the leaf switch on the clutch pedal is about?

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Del in NE Ohio

Tnx Tom. There is a toggle switch with an indicator lamp mounted to the steering column. Any idea what the leaf switch on the clutch pedal is about?

Is it a slide switch with two positions (off-on) or is it a 3 position slide switch with center off (on-off-on)? Three position with center off might be a turn signal switch. A two position switch might be used to kick out the overdrive for hill climbing or passing.

You'll have to follow the wires and see where they connect.

[Ed Wendell]

Del,
You should Google the BW overdrive and should be able to find a good schematic of the electrical system along with detailed information on the operation. With the schematic you can try and figure out how they modified it. The switch on the clutch MAY be to kick it down and out of OD.
Ed

[160B]

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Originally Posted by Ed Wendell

Del,
You should Google the BW overdrive and should be able to find a good schematic of the electrical system along with detailed information on the operation. With the schematic you can try and figure out how they modified it. The switch on the clutch MAY be to kick it down and out of OD.
Ed

here is two links
BW overdrive electrical system schematic

http://www.classictruckshop.com/club...over/drive.htm

http://www.wiringdiagrams21.com/2008...iring-diagram/


another site

http://www.fordification.com/tech/overdrive.htm