The Ford Barn

buick300 · 06-18-2011, 10:30 PM

Has anyone had any experience fitting this gearbox to a Model A?

Jason in TX · 06-18-2011, 11:03 PM

I have one. I love it. 27 percent overdrive in any forward gear at the flip of a switch.

CarlG · 06-19-2011, 12:25 AM

"4-Speed"
"flip of a switch"

Are we talking about two different things?

Geo. H · 06-19-2011, 12:36 AM

Lots of "Volvo" overdrives in A's, but I've never heard of installing the trans and overdrive. It would probably require major surgery.

buick300 · 06-19-2011, 09:46 PM

Thank you all for the responses. This is encouraging although not surprising. I retired my '85 240 wagon and loved the O/D trannie so much I saved it for a project in the garage.
well it's good to know that at least the overdrive unit has been done before. I see what you mean by major surgery for the use of the gearbox as well. Thank you for comments!
FYI, the unit is a Laycock J type and has a small switch in the gear stick -super convenient! I imagine that other people have changed the set up so that it can be used in all gears.

leakers · 06-20-2011, 08:24 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by buick300

Has anyone had any experience fitting this gearbox to a Model A?

Full instructions...from the hot rodders!!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...o+gearbox+ford

Jason in TX · 06-20-2011, 10:51 AM

When people talk about the Volvo Overdrive, it is the same concept as the Mitchell Overdrive. It is the overdrive unit spliced into the torque tube. Just like the Mitchell box, except the Mitchell uses levers, like another emergency brake lever, and the Volvo Overdrive is activated electrically.

top is a Mitchell, bottom is a volvo

You send one of the vendors your torque tube, they send you back a "bolt in" stock length torque tube with the Vovlo Overdrive unit now in the torque tube.

My thinking was that if you had unlimited money, you could get one of the Model A Only ( http://www.modelaonly.com/about_us ) bolt in "no modification" 4 speed transmissions, and then also get a torque tube mounted Volvo overdrive and have essentially 5 gears, if your engine was strong enough, and all hypothetically a bolt in application.

06-18-2011, 10:30 PM	#1
buick300 Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 31	Volvo 4 speed O/D to a Model A Has anyone had any experience fitting this gearbox to a Model A?

06-18-2011, 11:03 PM	#2
Jason in TX Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ⓉⒺXⒶⓈ Posts: 2,047	Re: Volvo 4 speed O/D to a Model A I have one. I love it. 27 percent overdrive in any forward gear at the flip of a switch. __________________ -------------- Drive it like you know how to fix it! DMAFC / OILERS CC-MC

06-19-2011, 12:25 AM	#3
CarlG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 9,115	Re: Volvo 4 speed O/D to a Model A "4-Speed" "flip of a switch" Are we talking about two different things?

06-19-2011, 12:36 AM	#4
Geo. H Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 374	Re: Volvo 4 speed O/D to a Model A Lots of "Volvo" overdrives in A's, but I've never heard of installing the trans and overdrive. It would probably require major surgery.

06-19-2011, 09:46 PM	#5
buick300 Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 31	Re: Volvo 4 speed O/D to a Model A Thank you all for the responses. This is encouraging although not surprising. I retired my '85 240 wagon and loved the O/D trannie so much I saved it for a project in the garage. well it's good to know that at least the overdrive unit has been done before. I see what you mean by major surgery for the use of the gearbox as well. Thank you for comments! FYI, the unit is a Laycock J type and has a small switch in the gear stick -super convenient! I imagine that other people have changed the set up so that it can be used in all gears.

06-20-2011, 10:51 AM	#7
Jason in TX Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ⓉⒺXⒶⓈ Posts: 2,047	Re: Volvo 4 speed O/D to a Model A When people talk about the Volvo Overdrive, it is the same concept as the Mitchell Overdrive. It is the overdrive unit spliced into the torque tube. Just like the Mitchell box, except the Mitchell uses levers, like another emergency brake lever, and the Volvo Overdrive is activated electrically. top is a Mitchell, bottom is a volvo You send one of the vendors your torque tube, they send you back a "bolt in" stock length torque tube with the Vovlo Overdrive unit now in the torque tube. My thinking was that if you had unlimited money, you could get one of the Model A Only ( http://www.modelaonly.com/about_us ) bolt in "no modification" 4 speed transmissions, and then also get a torque tube mounted Volvo overdrive and have essentially 5 gears, if your engine was strong enough, and all hypothetically a bolt in application. __________________ -------------- Drive it like you know how to fix it! DMAFC / OILERS CC-MC Last edited by Jason in TX; 06-20-2011 at 12:56 PM.