Thanks Daniel.  I have never had one of these O.D. transmissions apart and the picture in the '52 Ford Shop Manual is not that clear.   In trying to re-center the pawl directly in line with the hole in the trans case, do I try to move it up or down or front to back?  Also, does the position of the shift rail lever (the lever that the OD cable attaches to) effect whether the pawl is in the proper position to lock the plunger in place?  If so, what position should the lever be in to install the plunger in the pawl?  Alan

Your pawl may have been pushed up into its channel in the engaged position or even a little ways past that. If so, the plunger from your solenoid cannot reach the the recess in the pawl. I would suggest getting a telescoping magnet (like the pen style) and see if you can get the pawl to slide back towards the opening. You may also try one of those dental picks that have a curved/spiral end that could essentially grab the recess of the pawl to bring it back towards the opening. 

The 1/4 turn you describe is indeed correct for "locking" the plunger end into the pawl.

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

The overdrive in my '54 Ford stopped working and I determined that the problem was the solenoid.   I had a complete extra O.D. transmission so I removed the solenoid from that transmission and bench tested it and it worked fine.  This should have been an easy swap.  I noticed when I removed the solenoid from the spare transmission and the one from my Ford that removal of the two hex bolts did not immediately release the plunger from the transmission but turning the solenoid about a quarter turn did release the plunger.  I assumed that to reinstall the replacement, all I needed to do was turn the solenoid the same quarter turn to engage the squared off end of the plunger in the transmission. I have tried every rotation of the solenoid but I can't get the plunger to reengage in the transmission.  Am I correct in assuming that the solenoid  plunger is not properly installed unless there is the same resistance to pulling the plunger out that I felt when I removed the solenoids?  In other words I can't just attach the solenoid to the transmission with the two hex bolts and assume that plunger is engaged?  I tried to engage the plunger with it fully extended and I tried to install it with the OD cable all the way in and all the way out but nothing made any difference.  What am I doing wrong and why can't I get the plunger to engage? Thanks, Alan Freeman