Wow, you guys go way back, how ancient are you anyway? Anybody remember
the "Columbia" two speed vacuum shifted rear axles in the early Fords?
Very long ago I put a V8 engine in a 1940 Chevy. The transmission was a
1948 Packard with overdrive, had a 1938 floor shift top adapted to it.
As you say, the manual pull knob was used to lock out the OD, otherwise
the transmission would free wheel below OD cut in speeds. The free
wheeling actually provided for clutchless shifting below OD cut in speed
if desired. Manual lockout was used to provide compression braking at
lower speeds if desired.
Kick down from OD to direct (passing gear) was available anytime the
throttle was floored.
Packard, Nash, 50's Fords & a few others had this OD arrangement.
Dave Russell
BN2
John Sims wrote:
> And, I remember that mine was fun to drive!
>
> John Sims, BN6 Aberdeen, NJ
>
> www.healey6.com
>
>
>
> -----Original Message----- From: owner-healeys@autox.team.net
> [mailto:owner-healeys@autox.team.net] On Behalf Of John Miller Sent:
> Friday, August 25, 2006 11:00 AM To: healeys@autox.team.net Subject:
> Re: OD Concern----revised
>
> N5572B@aol.com wrote:
>
>> ...the Ford overdrive transmission of the 50's The trans had a
>> manual
>
> engagement
>
>> lever (not sure how it worked, just that it was like a choke cable
>> came
>
> out from
>
>> under the dash)
>
> That little chromed T-handle with "Overdrive" written on it was
> actually an OD lockout when pulled. When pushed in, the OD would
> automatically engage at a certain speed.
>
>> and a "kickdown" switch on the floor. Those transmissions would
>> downshift if you stomped it with the OD engaged and then shift back
>>
>
> up
>
>> when you got off the gas again.
>
> ...what we used to call "passing gear."
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