I.D. this trans

[Vanspeed]

Got an email from a guy asking if I would be interested in this and honestly I do not know what it is. He said it came out of a 48. Is this correct? I have not seen the extra tailshaft section before. Overdrive? What is it worth?

[Mac VP]

1949-50 Mercury overdrive trans.

[62pan]

I talked to a person in Canada that uses one of those in his Model A with a Clings adapter. Never heard of anyone else doing that.

[Vanspeed]

Any value to it? He wants 300.00

[Dick Webber]

If both transmission and overdrive are good it ought be worth 300. Pull the shifter and inspect. The solenoid has value. Make sure OD hasn't been run dry. It has a separate filler.

[V8COOPMAN]

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The other side! DD

[19Fordy]

Originally Posted by Vanspeed

Got an email from a guy asking if I would be interested in this and honestly I do not know what it is. He said it came out of a 48. Is this correct? I have not seen the extra tailshaft section before. Overdrive? What is it worth?

2/15/2016 It's not worth $300 if you don't know it's condition.
Offer him $100.

[flathead47]

He had it installed in a 48 , wonder what modifications were required to the X frame. Has any one installed one in 46 - 48 ford convertible & have some pictures of the install.

[tubman]

I knew a guy who had one in a '34 coupe years ago. The overdrive was fully functional and, as I remember, it was a really slick deal. I'm not into torque-tube Fords (I think it's my "over-exuberant" driving style), but if I were, I would think it would be a good idea. Some cross-member work, a handful of pickup rear end parts, and Voila!

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

I had one out of a 48 Lincoln one time, looked just like it, wish I'd never sold it. It had the 26 gear set. Walt

[rotorwrench]

The early Lincoln ODs would work with a torque tube but that tail shaft is a long one. A person would have to shorten the tube on the early fords a good bit.

The input shaft, synchro hub, low gear, reverse idler gear, 2nd gear, and cluster from those boxes will work in the early cars. The Overdrive parts are valuable to anyone that runs one of these Borg Warner R10 boxes in a 49 thru early 51 Merc on a daily basis.

300 bucks isn't bad if it isn't all rusted out or pitted up inside.

[moefuzz]

I had one many years ago, including shifter mechanism, cables/controls/bracket for the od, electric relays, drive shaft, rear yoke, and a good solenoid.


Was planning on putting it in a nice '30 rumble seat coupe but didn't have the heart to wreak a low production (Canadian) 58,000 mile Model A.


I traded the whole shit-a-roo and a couple of 94 carbs for
a freshly machined 8ba with a box of new pistons.


I wouldn't pay much for an unknown one today, if no good, the solenoid along will cost you dearly.... And if you don't get the torque tube (or drive shaft), rear yoke, shifter mechanism and actuating cables, (and electric/box/stuff), then you are going to spend dearly in accumulating all missing and required items.


I think most installation issues are for early bodies/frames in which a person has to relieve or notch a little c in the bottom side of the frame rail for the solenoid to hang out into. That would probably not be a problem on 41 and up cars but honestly, some days I don't even remember my own phone number so we'll just leave it at that.

[moefuzz]

I always wondered if a rear yoke form a 60's 70's 1/2 ton Ford Van or Truck (standard tranny) might be made to work.
There are long and short yokes and I believe that the output shaft splines might be very similiar to early overdrive. I suppose a big enough hammer could make it work.

[CSArno]

will the overdrive part work on a 3 speed toploader? I have to go look at one of these that is attached to an 8BA. Guy wants $250 for both. course im going to try to beat him down...
looking at it though, does it look like this trans is an overdrive or something else on back? doesnt look big enough to be an overdrive.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Walt Dupont--Me.

I had one out of a 48 Lincoln one time, looked just like it, wish I'd never sold it. It had the 26 gear set. Walt

That Lincoln OD is just a smidge BIGGER than the Merc OD!

[rotorwrench]

There is a fellow that frequents this forum that made up a top shift mechanism that bolts to the top of one of these gear boxes and uses a shift tower from a truck to shift it. It's a pretty slick set up. I don't think modifying the case would be worth the time to even try it. There are too many other top shifter types a person can use like the Tremec T170 RTS 3-speed overdrive pickup transmission. They can even be modified to work with a torque tube and no electrical system involved.

[petes 50 merc]

ive got one in my 50 merc great trans . great for road trips.

[Marv]

Originally Posted by CSArno

will the overdrive part work on a 3 speed toploader? I have to go look at one of these that is attached to an 8BA. Guy wants $250 for both. course im going to try to beat him down...
looking at it though, does it look like this trans is an overdrive or something else on back? doesnt look big enough to be an overdrive.

It is not a overdrive transmission.

[Ol' Ron]

The R-10, is a weak unit, good for stock engines and a light car. I had a 50 Merc and blew the OD several times. The Lincoln uses a different OD with 4 Planetary gears and can realy take the torque. I wouldn't use one of these, their are better options.

[Cecil/WV]

Originally Posted by CSArno

will the overdrive part work on a 3 speed toploader? I have to go look at one of these that is attached to an 8BA. Guy wants $250 for both. course im going to try to beat him down...
looking at it though, does it look like this trans is an overdrive or something else on back? doesnt look big enough to be an overdrive.

No OD on that one!