Fordnatics List Archive

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Barry Freese <(email redacted)>


What can you tell me about overdrive configurations for an FE?

Specifically, I'm running a 325 horse (stock) 390 in my Mustang.

Thanks, in advance...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Barry W. Freese `68 Mustang GT Fastback `88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lindenwood College-Founded 1827 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Bill Poudrier <wdp@vtpo1>



Barry,

Ford made an overdrive transmission ( 3 speed standard ) that they
used
put behind the 390 FE. It was available in full size that I know of ,
My friend has
one in a 63 custom. The one that he has is a borg-warner and load from
the
side and has a curved side cover at the bottom. Pre 65 transmissions
use a
different bolt pattern to mount the transmission. I believe that the
iron bell
housings has the bosses but is undrilled to fit same. These
transmissions are
quite hard to find and need electrical connections. I can supply info
because I
have used then since 1963 ( yes my beard is turning grey ). The most
notable
was a 1957 Fairlane 500 2 dr Hardtop 332 4v 3.89 rear and a 1956
mercury
overdrive transmission. Ah the good old days!!! After all this
rambling I hope
you didn't want an automatic 8+)>...

Bill

All mine and no-one elses.

TO Chuck: I hope that this doesn't go to the request address. All my
incoming
mail comes from there though.
----------
From: fordnatics-request
To: Fordnatics
Subject: Big Block Overdrive
Date: Tuesday, November 29, 1994 1:08PM


What can you tell me about overdrive configurations for an FE?

Specifically, I'm running a 325 horse (stock) 390 in my Mustang.

Thanks, in advance...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~
Barry W. Freese `68 Mustang GT Fastback `88 Thunderbird Turbo
Coupe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lindenwood College-Founded 1827
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: "Fontana Peter" <(email redacted)>

> Ford made an overdrive transmission ( 3 speed standard ) that they
used
> put behind the 390 FE. It was available in full size that I know of ,
> My friend has
one in a 63 custom.

Bill - as you indicated this was from a full-size - I don't think this will
go into a Mustang well (Barry -this is for your '68 GT - right?). Besides,
who wants a 3 speed OD in a world where 6 speeds are creeping in? Can you
say W--I--D--E ratio?

Barry - look at the Tremec 5-speed. It's reputed to be as stout as the
Toploader, with conservative a torque rating of 400-425 foot-pounds -
plenty strong enough for your FE, as long as you're not campaigning with
slicks. It's got a 0.63:1 OD 5th. You're looking at a price of less than
$1500 for one.

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Barry Freese <(email redacted)>


On 30 Nov 1994, Fontana Peter wrote:
> > Ford made an overdrive transmission ( 3 speed standard ) that they used
> > put behind the 390 FE. It was available in full size that I know of,
> > My friend has one in a 63 custom.
> Bill - as you indicated this was from a full-size - I don't think this will
> go into a Mustang well (Barry -this is for your '68 GT - right?). Besides,
> who wants a 3 speed OD in a world where 6 speeds are creeping in? Can you
> say W--I--D--E ratio?
>
> Barry - look at the Tremec 5-speed. It's reputed to be as stout as the
> Toploader, with conservative a torque rating of 400-425 foot-pounds -
> plenty strong enough for your FE, as long as you're not campaigning with
> slicks. It's got a 0.63:1 OD 5th. You're looking at a price of less than
> $1500 for one.

Yes, the application is for my '68 Mustang, which I drive street-only. My
dream is to move it towards a gran touring type of car. Humming along the
highway at 3-4,000 rpm doesn't do much for the range. I figure the torque
in the stock 390 (in that 400-425 range, I believe) would allow for smooth
cruising, even in OD. Still, I like the push from the big block, so I'm
reluctant to change the rear to something in the low 3.xx area just to
get more miles per tank.

Thanks for the lead on the Tremac. Is this a special application for
this mixer, or should there be off-the-shelf bolt-up stuff?

B.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Barry W. Freese `68 Mustang GT Fastback `88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lindenwood College-Founded 1827 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: "Fontana Peter" <(email redacted)>

> Thanks for the lead on the Tremac. Is this a special application for
> this mixer, or should there be off-the-shelf bolt-up stuff?

Hit your local speed shop - it's off the shelf. Or, you can call Forte's
Parts Connection in Waltham MA - tell Mike I sent you. He should quote you
$1450, and he'll ship anywhere in the world (you pay) (617) 647-1530. He's
got one in his 400+ hp '68 C*maro, and he drags AND road races it.