The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 3 spd od ?

Anyone know what the shift knob or ? is supposed to look like for TF trucks? And how does it work? Do you twist it to lock it in the high or low position? I have never seen one.

There will be one at my place tomorrow. Send him a PM, he is Brother Fourbrads here on the site. He has a '57 with stock OD 3spd.

I am sure if he is close to a computer, he will help you out. If he doesn't see this before tomorrow, we will get that pic for you.

Brother Cosmo is a veteran of rebuilding these transmissions, I had the pleasure of helping on his current build in this daily driver. There is a solenoid that engages once the truck is in motion over 30 mph or so (Cosmo knows the exact speed). Then you lift your foot off the gas just briefly and it kicks it into OD.

This particular trans has a cable to control the od and direct.
There is a motor on the side. I'm thinking the motor is for passing gear? I guess I need to study the book.

motor? I suspect you mean the solenoid, "passing gear" is a kickdown switch that drops out the OD ... the only control in the cab is a T handled cable that says "Overdrive" [as on this page, bottom right]

Bill

Even though its a Ford article, this is a good explanation of the Borg Warner OD. The overdrive part of a Ford and Chev is the same. GM used their own front box while Ford used a BW front box.
http://www.fordification.com/tech/overdrive.htm

I have my OD out of the truck right now for rebuild. Haven't started that process yet, but let us know what you need pics of and we'll get them to you.

My truck (bone stock 57 3100) has a very simple pull cable in the dash to lock out the OD. It pulls on a small lever on the driver's side of the trans that prevents the OD from activating when the cable knob is pulled out. Here is the end that connects to the lever.

Drop me a PM if you need anything.

Best,

Jim

Yeah, what Cletis said! lol!

I'm looking for a 3spd with overdrive for my '52 3100. Is this transmission the Muncie 319 which has the Borg Warner R10 overdrive unit on it? If so, how easy of a swap is it? I want to keep the column shift but an overdrive would be nice.

Tate,
On your truck it isn't the easiest of swaps. First you have to remove the torque tube rearend.

It is possible to retrofit the stock rear with the center section of a 1955-1962 chevy 1/2 ton. However, you would need to have a new driveshaft made and rework the spring perches. The torque tube axle has "pivot" mounts on the springs. This does not work with a conventional open driveline with driveshaft. To correct this, some have welded the pivots solid. Others have cut the pivots off and welded new perches. Another approach is to find a 1954-1955.1 -- 1/2 ton with the open driveline and take the rear springs, rear axle, and driveshaft. This would be as close as you could get to a bolt in axle swap in your truck.

You probably new all the above. The 3 speed column linkage will work just fine on this transmission.

Make that '55.1 only. '54 is closed.

Thanks Cletis... I edited the above with a strike through text.

So is there a detent or what to "lock" the cable control???? With no resistance or lock its not staying in either direct or od.

It does not need a lock. The cable moves a lever to be in OD or out. The cable and internal components hold it in place.
Fred

Lots of good info in this subject. I'm assuming same would apply for my 55 passenger OD trany? This is a unit I picked up, will need to check it out, hopefully it's not just another door stop.

Thanks for the help, lots of useful information. Now all is needed is to locate some parts.

Yes, it's for the most part, the same transmission as what was used under the trucks. The only main difference, depending on year of the truck and what engine it has, will be the side cover and shift levers/forks.

I use the 55-62 rear end because it has the 3.9 gear ratio giving you highway speeds or so. The spring perches need to be changed out and the leaf springs need either an adapter plate or remade entirely with the perch stud in the center of the leafs. Then of course a new driveshaft. This is all pretty easy for just about any full service shop. In Wichita, KS, Powerdrive makes the driveshaft, Atlas Spring and Axle makes brand new original style leaf springs and can weld the perches on if you cant do it yourself. Everything else is bolt up. Lots of people really like the R10 because it gives you essentially a 6 speed transmission. Good stuff! Pretty much exactly what bigbad said!

It takes no effort to move the lever on the transmission in and out of od. A simple cable will not allow it to stay in. Then theres a detent inside?

No detent, Internal friction in the cable is sufficient to hold it in place, same as the choke or throttle cable works on the carb.

The system works really well. Everyone I know that has tried it, swears by it. Now I here that fifth avenue has access to brand new solenoids in 6 and 12v available among other parts for it. Pretty cool!

http://www.fifthaveinternetgarage.com/

I wonder what kind of price they are asking. NOS are really getting high on eBay. I probably have enough spares to last a lifetime and they hardly ever go bad.

bottom right here cren, I won't spoil your surprise

Bill

My friend has a Studebaker shop here in OC. He has purchased a couple of aftermarket 12V solenoids and has not had good luck. They are exact copies of the AC Delco unit but the coils heat up after a short while and stop operating. We did however swap the parts to use with some original coils and were able to salvage a couple of older ones.
Fred