The Ford Barn

German guy · 01-14-2025, 03:10 AM

Decisions decisions. Any input regarding which makes driving more pleasant? I am considering one of the two options and lean toward the synchronized trans with slightly taller 1st and 2nd gears over the OD system. A separate OD shifter just seems too clunky and takes up a lot of the limited front seat floor space. Constantly having to shift back and forth between high and low and shifting gears as well seems to be a lot of work. I have had cars with OD but they were only really useful at highway speeds to reduce consumption. Anyone who has tried/owned both?

Bruce of MN · 01-14-2025, 04:49 AM

Mitchell has an option for an OD shifter cable attached to the stock shift lever. I have only an OD and it lets me cruise at lower revs. I have been double clutching for 60 years, so no synchros is not a big drawback. Reducing the big gap between 2nd and 3rd would be nice, but I am "thrifty", so I can overlook that.

butch chase · 01-14-2025, 09:23 AM

Kinda depends on where you live. rural higher speed roads an Overdrive shines. If you drive mostly in town or hilly terrain the synchronized transmission is a dream. I had the transmission first but added the overdrive soon after.

nkaminar · 01-14-2025, 09:34 AM

I love my Mitchell synchronized transmission and overdrive. Great for hills and highway.

Planojc · 01-14-2025, 09:41 AM

If I could only have one it would be the overdrive. I mainly use it for highway speeds only.

JayJay · 01-14-2025, 12:28 PM

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Depends on your driving. Tranny will make getting to third a bit more pleasant, but you don’t get any additional speed in third. Overdrive keeps the crash box tranny but you get reduction in rpm in any gear, which translates to additional speed in that gear. Like Bruce of MN, I’ve been double clutching for so long it’s not an issue with me. I do think that if I was facing a tranny rebuild I’d likely opt for a Mitchell tranny, though.

Keith True · 01-14-2025, 01:07 PM

I think that reading stories on the internet gives people the idea that the OD has to be constantly shifted up and down.Just drive it as you would normally drive an A,and when you are in a situation where you want to drop the RPM's,clap the OD into high.I have never,ever,run into a driving situation where I felt I had to split gears with it.Now you can have fun doing that if you would like,but a stock A will take you up any hill you want to go up.I have spent thousands of hours splitting gears in B model Macks with triplexes and quadruplexes.But,that was with a 140 HP weighing 60-80,000 pounds.Not 40 HP moving 2200 pounds.

ModelA29 · 01-14-2025, 01:57 PM

It appears you live in the Alsace-Lorraine region. I would go for the syncro trans in hilly areas. If you ever move to the flatlands or Germany I'd get the OD for those trips on the Autobahn.
The OD shifter is not intrusive. It sits between the shifter and brake.

PS my great grandparents also couldn't figure out where they were born on the US census. They said Germany until 1920 then France. Once I found they were born in Alsace-Lorraine it made sense.

Y-Blockhead · 01-14-2025, 04:22 PM

I have had a Mitchell O/D in my Town Sedan for ~5 years now and love it. But there is still that big jump between 2nd and 3rd. Yes, I know shift from 2nd O/D to 3rd Standard... So I decided to get the Mitchell Synchro Trans with 15% over 1st and 2nd this last August.

What a difference! I should have gone with the Synchro Trans to begin with and not bought the O/D. I don't drive on the freeway so I really don't need the O/D, but it is still nice to have.

What a great combo for around town, 1st > 2nd > 2nd O/D.

01-14-2025, 03:10 AM	#1
German guy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2023 Location: German/French border Posts: 163	Mitchel's synchronized transmission or his OD? Decisions decisions. Any input regarding which makes driving more pleasant? I am considering one of the two options and lean toward the synchronized trans with slightly taller 1st and 2nd gears over the OD system. A separate OD shifter just seems too clunky and takes up a lot of the limited front seat floor space. Constantly having to shift back and forth between high and low and shifting gears as well seems to be a lot of work. I have had cars with OD but they were only really useful at highway speeds to reduce consumption. Anyone who has tried/owned both?

01-14-2025, 04:49 AM	#2
Bruce of MN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: VA Posts: 2,049	Re: Mitchel's synchronized transmission or his OD? Mitchell has an option for an OD shifter cable attached to the stock shift lever. I have only an OD and it lets me cruise at lower revs. I have been double clutching for 60 years, so no synchros is not a big drawback. Reducing the big gap between 2nd and 3rd would be nice, but I am "thrifty", so I can overlook that.

01-14-2025, 09:23 AM	#3
butch chase Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Polk County Mssouri Posts: 51	Re: Mitchel's synchronized transmission or his OD? Kinda depends on where you live. rural higher speed roads an Overdrive shines. If you drive mostly in town or hilly terrain the synchronized transmission is a dream. I had the transmission first but added the overdrive soon after.

01-14-2025, 09:34 AM	#4
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 6,854	Re: Mitchel's synchronized transmission or his OD? I love my Mitchell synchronized transmission and overdrive. Great for hills and highway. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

01-14-2025, 09:41 AM	#5
Planojc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Plano, Texas Posts: 1,122	Re: Mitchel's synchronized transmission or his OD? If I could only have one it would be the overdrive. I mainly use it for highway speeds only.

01-14-2025, 12:28 PM	#6
JayJay Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 2,673	Re: Mitchel's synchronized transmission or his OD? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Depends on your driving. Tranny will make getting to third a bit more pleasant, but you don’t get any additional speed in third. Overdrive keeps the crash box tranny but you get reduction in rpm in any gear, which translates to additional speed in that gear. Like Bruce of MN, I’ve been double clutching for so long it’s not an issue with me. I do think that if I was facing a tranny rebuild I’d likely opt for a Mitchell tranny, though. __________________ JayJay San Francisco Bay Area ------------------------ 1930 Murray Town Sedan (under reconstruction) 1931 Briggs S/W Town Sedan It isn't a defect, it's a feature!

01-14-2025, 01:07 PM	#7
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 3,693	Re: Mitchel's synchronized transmission or his OD? I think that reading stories on the internet gives people the idea that the OD has to be constantly shifted up and down.Just drive it as you would normally drive an A,and when you are in a situation where you want to drop the RPM's,clap the OD into high.I have never,ever,run into a driving situation where I felt I had to split gears with it.Now you can have fun doing that if you would like,but a stock A will take you up any hill you want to go up.I have spent thousands of hours splitting gears in B model Macks with triplexes and quadruplexes.But,that was with a 140 HP weighing 60-80,000 pounds.Not 40 HP moving 2200 pounds.

01-14-2025, 01:57 PM	#8
ModelA29 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,595	Re: Mitchel's synchronized transmission or his OD? It appears you live in the Alsace-Lorraine region. I would go for the syncro trans in hilly areas. If you ever move to the flatlands or Germany I'd get the OD for those trips on the Autobahn. The OD shifter is not intrusive. It sits between the shifter and brake. PS my great grandparents also couldn't figure out where they were born on the US census. They said Germany until 1920 then France. Once I found they were born in Alsace-Lorraine it made sense.

01-14-2025, 04:22 PM	#9
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 7,293	Re: Mitchel's synchronized transmission or his OD? I have had a Mitchell O/D in my Town Sedan for ~5 years now and love it. But there is still that big jump between 2nd and 3rd. Yes, I know shift from 2nd O/D to 3rd Standard... So I decided to get the Mitchell Synchro Trans with 15% over 1st and 2nd this last August. What a difference! I should have gone with the Synchro Trans to begin with and not bought the O/D. I don't drive on the freeway so I really don't need the O/D, but it is still nice to have. What a great combo for around town, 1st > 2nd > 2nd O/D.