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08-21-2019, 03:11 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 611
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Overdrive Quandary
In my 50 car project I have the 3 speed od. And I got all the stuff, solenoid, governor, etc., etc. Have been waiting till I got her on the road to address that stuff. Now I got her legal, everything working pretty well and I've driven her into town twice.
Here's my problem: I live in the hills, pretty big hills-they like to call em mountains here. In the 10 miles from my house to the shop, there's not one place to do the OD if it worked. The only straight, level road anywhere near me is the top of Beaver Dam, speed limit 35. And I can't even think of where I'd go. It's got to be at least 40 miles to any sort of cruising road, and then there'd be traffic. A strange problem. |
08-21-2019, 03:51 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Pahrump, NV
Posts: 374
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Re: Overdrive Quandary
If you are a purist by all means go thru the hassle with the OD
But is you want drivability in the hills you need an early Mustang 4 speed (bolts right in) with very little fabrication OR a 5 speed, kits are available and gear either to turn about 2500 rpms @ 70 mph. I had both in this car and 25 years ago went with the 4-speed. Never once thought about going back to the OD after driving it with the 4 speed. |
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08-21-2019, 04:09 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 886
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Re: Overdrive Quandary
Have you considered the 3 +1 ford trans used in the 80's ford pickups ? might be an easy bolt in , they look similar to the ford mustang 4 speed from the sixties with 4th gear overdrive. the ratio may not be what you want ,but with a lot of hills it might be something to consider, no electrical solenoids an relay to worry about.
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08-21-2019, 04:42 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: May 2017
Location: Arkansas
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Re: Overdrive Quandary
I am a little bit of a purist with this car, and I already got my driveability here in the hills. I'm looking forward to when I take her someplace. I was always gonna hook up this OD, but now that I'm about ready I've been thinking about these roads. Gets cooler I'll drive it farther from home.
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08-22-2019, 12:54 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rogers, AR, USA
Posts: 141
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Re: Overdrive Quandary
Hey Leon, are you out near Eureka Springs /Holiday Island? Lotsa hills out there. You could add o/d and use a toggle switch in line with the governor and switch it on at highway speeds. This way you could have it when you want it and not have the electrical part working until you need it.
Rob |
08-22-2019, 02:40 PM | #6 |
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Location: Arkansas
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Re: Overdrive Quandary
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08-22-2019, 06:06 PM | #7 | |
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Location: now Kuna, Idaho
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Re: Overdrive Quandary
Quote:
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08-22-2019, 06:16 PM | #8 | |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: now Kuna, Idaho
Posts: 3,779
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Re: Overdrive Quandary
Quote:
Those Borg Warner overdrives were quite versatile, basically a 6 speed trans (especially if you add a toggle switch to energize the relay below the factory 27 MPH engagement speed). |
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08-22-2019, 06:53 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,436
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Re: Overdrive Quandary
The recommendation for city driving was to start out in second gear from a stop then let off the gas to change to 2nd & over. This was a form of semi automatic shifting that required the clutch only at stops. Hilly country like the Ozarks and other old mountain ranges don't lend themselves as well to that theory. If it requires lock out, then it would be a lot like having a transmission with no OD at all. The overdrive can then be used on longer trips if a person ever has an itch to do that. The planetary will last longer if it's locked out most of the time.
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08-23-2019, 04:30 PM | #10 | |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: New Jersey
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Re: Overdrive Quandary
Quote:
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08-23-2019, 04:58 PM | #11 |
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: michigan
Posts: 74
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Re: Overdrive Quandary
I love my od trans in my 52 merc, when you get it working perfectly it will do everything you need !
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08-23-2019, 09:32 PM | #12 |
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Join Date: May 2017
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 611
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Re: Overdrive Quandary
Thanks, guys. I am going to get it all hooked up.If I still lived in Kansas I probably already would have.
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08-23-2019, 09:48 PM | #13 |
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys
Posts: 10,317
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Re: Overdrive Quandary
As Dorothy so succinctly put it : "We're not in Kansas anymore". Put it in and get it going; the easiest thing to get going is to drop into OD in high. Even with the "limitations" imposed on you by your location, you can easily test the "kickdown" and governor functions in second gear.
I know you can do it! |
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