Help in info on 3 sped manual trans. for 55 For

[ahshoe]

I am looking for a 3 speed NON overdrive trans to be an "exact bolt in replacement "for my 3 speed overdrive trans. I just took out of my 55 T-Bird.It is a 312 "Y" block motor, also if that makes a difference
My question is :Is there only one 3 speed that will match the overdrive unit in bolt pattern, linkage hookup ,speedo cable location,lenght,(same driveshaft to be used) .What years work? Is there a short and long shaft?What should I be looking for? I only want to buy the correct one? Shipping is a killer.Does anyone have info on what will work and maybe have one,I can use as a direct replacement for my 3 speed overdrive trans.?

[Noswal]

Is the "Bird" transmission the same as a passenger car? Where are you located?

[ahshoe]

I don't know if it is the same ......that would help me know what I'm looking for ,if I knew they were the same.
I'm in eastern Iowa

[parklane]

Linkage hookup should be the same, but not sure about the speedo. If the trans are the same length, the speedo hookup should also be the same. Try going to the Y block forever website, as there are several Bird owners on there. 'Hoosier Huricane' that comes on here on occassion, would also have all the answers. If you find a post where he has been here, you should be able to email/PM him. He is very knowledgeable, and runs a supercharged 57 Ford on the strip, lifting the front tires on launch.

[Daves55Sedan]

To my knowledge, the manual gearbox/extension housing assembly from 1954 thru 1964 should bolt up to your bellhousing with no mods.
They didn't manufacture different extension housings for each different model. The T-bird trans and extension housing are the same for the passenger car. The speedo cable itself is different between the different models, but the speedo cable will fit all the extension housings.
Main thing you need to watch for is the output shaft. It needs to be from a 1954 -1956 manual transmission, because the later output shafts have a different speedo drive gear on the output shaft that is NOT compatible with the '54 - '56 speedo gear. Make sure you get a transmission that is 1956 or older unless you completely want to convert your speedo cable assembly with a '57 or newer. That may prove to be a pain in the butt, since the repo cables you can buy often require jury-rigging to make them work due to problems with getting the cable to engage at the speedometer end.
I have a '58 Ford manual transmission here that you could use, but you would need to remove the speedo drive gear from your tailshaft and install it on the '58 output shaft. You could do that on '57 - '64 manual transmissions and keep your original speedo cable.
Just guessing, but i would say you would end up short on your driveshaft with the manual trans excluding the overdrive. At least your gear-shift linkage would hook right up to the manual gearbox without mods.

[Daves55Sedan]

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But why would you want to get rid of the overdrive? If I could change anything in my 55 Ford Courier wagon, it would be to remove the Fordomatic and replace it with an overdrive trans. I have a complete 3-spd manual w/clutch & bellhousing sitting here, but I wouldn't want a manual trans at all without the benefit of overdrive.

[franksford]

Note: I beleive that the rear end ratio for the OD is 3:94-1 the standard is 3:73-1. Frank

[ahshoe]

My rearend ratio was around 3:91 so it could of been a 3:94.I switched out the rear gears when the overdrive unit was deleted to aMustang complete housing and very nice highway gears. Love the mileage now.I have now just need a 3 speed that can downshift (slow the car down now) when going down a hill and putting it into 2nd .Also it rolls when parked in 1st gear ,because of the OD trans yet.Only reverse holds it from rolling when parked Also because of the OD trans.So for that and other overdrive issues we had I completly unhooked the OD.Just need a trans now .I'm not going back to OD!

[Daves55Sedan]

Yeah, the factory gear ratio for T-Bird with overdrive was 3.92:1.
Dont you have A PARKING BRAKE?
You should have been able to downshift with or without overdrive engaged.

[Oldmics]

I have a non-overdrive trans that came from a 55 T Bird.Should be exactly correct for your car.

It was in the pile that I acquired to change my T Bird over from an automatic to a stick car.

I never used the trans as I installed a T-10 four speed.

I"m in Balto.Md.

If interested contact me at

[email protected]

Oldmics

[parklane]

If I remember right, locking out the overdrive, the trans would not freewheel in any gear.

[Paul H]

Parklane is correct.Pulling out the overdrive handle under the dash disables the OD and the transmission then operates the same as normal 3 speed.

[Fordknut]

Ashoe,

Is the O.D. tranny original to the car?
From what I understand, the tailshafts (at least on the HD T-85 trannys) used in the T-Birds were unique and quite sought after.
If the O.D. is mechanically sound, then you have only to fix the "lockout"
to have basically a straight 3 speed tranny.
Do that and sort out any electrical problems and you will have the advantage of both better performance and improved gas mileage that comes with the O.D. tranny.

[Rowdy]

Not sure if any of these are correct, but I do have these tail shaft assemblies pictured below. Also have the transmission housings and various used gears. Rod

[deucemac]

If my memory serves me correctly, the O/D trans is longer than a std 3 speed used in the same car and has a shorter driveshaft. So the trans and driveshaft need to be replaced as a set. That was the case on a '51 and '53 Ford I had.