I decided to go ahead and call VanPelt and take my chances on being chastised for asking a general old car question.  I have to admit that Mac was very friendly and helpful and fully answered my questions.  He said that the Warner Gear T-86 that is now in my Mercury is the wrong transmission and that the correct one for the car would have been the Ford 1A-7006-A.  That solves my transmission problem and I am going to install the Ford transmission in the car.

They were probably buying the parts from him so he didn't mind giving out "free" advice.  Check out his website and you will see how unhelpful he sounds.  

That’s interesting. I haven’t delved into their site in a while. But he was on another site yesterday or the day before telling someone how to do a disassembly to get the o/d unit off.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Miker.....I checked out VanPelt's website and it sure doesn't sound very friendly or helpful.  They basically say in advance "don't call us with general old car questions unless you are buying parts from us".  Doesn't sound like a very smart business model so I think I will save myself the embarrassment of calling and pass on VanPelt.  I did order a '54 Mercury factory repair manual and that should tell me which 3 speed is correct for my car i.e. the T-86 or the Ford 1A-7006-A.

I believe all 312’s used the T-85 due to its strength. All those that had o/d came with the R-11. The 56 birds got a larger tunnel to accommodate it, don’t know about the pass cars. I did put a T-85 o/d in a 55 bird back in the 60’s. Pretty tight.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

I don't know about all the correct numbers, but I understand that when Ford went with the 312 it used the Merc O/D because it was a stouter trans


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Correct, the T-85 came with the R-11. I think the T-86 might be a little more stout than the Ford transmission, but I don’t really know. But at some point, 55 (I think) Ford quit using the R-10 behind their own transmission and bought the whole unit complete from BW. Could just have been a supply deal. But unless you’re planning on real abuse or a lot more hp it should be fine.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Yes, the T-86 in my Mercury has a removable top cover and the transmission with the Ford 1A-7006-A number has a removable side cover.  However, I have read that the T-85 was always mated with the R-11 overdrive where as the T-86 had the R-10.. The T-86 in my Mercury has the R-10 O.D.

If my Google-Fu is working right...it looks like the T86 has the removable top cover and a T85 has a side cover.  If memory serves, the T85 (if that is what you have) is the more stout option.

Do you have any photos that you can post?

Ford transmissions are the same 1949 to 1954 Mercury 1952 to 1954 all interchange as a complete  unit but gear  ratios may be different..