What's Behind Your Flattie?

[tubman]

I agree with Seth about the current transmission being up to the job, even with a "warmer-over" engine. I think Seth may also be confusing early vs "shoebox" transmissions. While the combo he mentions works well for the earlier cars, the OD (which the O/P has) makes all of that moot. The later car with a working OD and 4.11's will be superior in every way to an early car, even with the mentioned mods.

That being said, I wonder if anyone has ever replaced a stock shoebox transmission with a T85/R11 combination. From what I understand, it should be almost a "bolt-in". Ford sold FE's with this combination behind them in the early sixties so they should be plenty strong. The only problem is availability. I have been looking for one locally for a while with no luck.

It is possible to hurt a stock transmission with a stock engine (even one that doesn't run the best) if you try hard enough. I know I got good at replacing them when i was about 19.

[Seth Swoboda]

Originally Posted by tubman

I agree with Seth about the current transmission being up to the job, even with a "warmer-over" engine. I think Seth may also be confusing early vs "shoebox" transmissions. While the combo he mentions works well for the earlier cars, the OD (which the O/P has) makes all of that moot. The later car with a working OD and 4.11's will be superior in every way to an early car, even with the mentioned mods.

That being said, I wonder if anyone has ever replaced a stock shoebox transmission with a T85/R11 combination. From what I understand, it should be almost a "bolt-in". Ford sold FE's with this combination behind them in the early sixties so they should be plenty strong. The only problem is availability. I have been looking for one locally for a while with no luck.

It is possible to hurt a stock transmission with a stock engine (even one that doesn't run the best) if you try hard enough. I know I got good at replacing them when i was about 19.

Yes, I forget that the shoebox Ford's had an overdrive. Maybe I ought to own one so as to get familiar with them? I still think unless you are trying to tear something up, he'll be fine.