Borg Warner O.D.

[Don T.]

I am new to the forum and just started work on a 50 Fargo 1/2T.  The question I am asking does anyone if the 51 or newer car transmissions can be fitted to the truck block/bellhousing? A little background might be use-full here. I have done a 51 Mercury 1 ton single wheel pickup restoration, changed out the diff in order to go from a 4.8something ratio to a 3.73. The result was great in that I could cruise at 65, maybe 70. The downside was when the truck saw a hill coming it rested. The gearing was close to peak torque at 60. The other vehicle I have is a 50 Meteor, all stock and with the Borg Warner O.D. This car is really sweet to drive, peak torque at about 60 in O.D. , quiet at cruising speeds and decent on gas. The difference from the truck is the car is not scared of hills and has a reserve gear for passing if kicked down. The Fargo looks like a similar animal to the Mercury truck; unless you change the diff gearing it is pretty much a 50  mph truck as the power is similar to the Mercury. How sweet it would be to add a O.D. trans to this truck and I would suggest the performance would be similar to the 50 Meteor. My trips to local car shows here are from one to about three hours one way, all highway, travelling with a group of 60's muscle cars which seem to have a over-weight throttle pedal problem. I am located in Lloydminster Alberta, and I do have access to a couple of cars which do have the O.D.  I seem to be addicted to flatheads. Any help/suggestions/ ideas welcome.  Thanks  Don T.

 

 

 

Edited November 17 by Don T.
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[Tony_Urwin]

I dont know that the R7 or R10 overdrives have ever been adapted to Pilothouse trucks. There are several threads on the forum regarding A833 or T5 overdrive projects.

[Dodgeb4ya]

I put a R10 in a 1952 panel back in the early 80's.

Worked wonderful. Drove it all over Washington state.

It was tedious..lots of difficult linkage fab, driveshaft, e-brake work.

Trans to bell housing problems.

A tough one to do but can be done.

I don't remember all of it sorry to say.

[Don T.]

Thanks for the help guys; just to clarify I am not attempting to add a OD to the 3 speed transmission that is in the truck. The idea is to change out to a car transmission that has the R-10 attached. My intent is to restore the truck; however drive-ability at the end of the day is important.

[Young Ed]

I studied this once upon a time. The R10 is significantly longer and will require modifications to the cross member that is just behind the stock 3spd. I also had to do this for my T5 install. You will also need to somehow account for the input shaft retainer hole in the bell housing being too big on the truck bell. 

If you try to go to the car bell that brings it's own issues as you lose the clutch and brake pedals along with the MC mount. 

[Don T.]

Thanks for your info guys; still in research mode.

[John-T-53]

I, too, was considering the R-10 when first looking onto ODs back in 2010 or 2011....and decided to go with a T5 after similar advice from Dodgeb4ya and Ed (above), and others.