I have a T85 Overdrive, in a 54 Ranch Wagon thinking about a floor shift kit.  Saw  the Hurst master shifter plus the installation kit gets expensive. Looked at Mr. gasket set up but didn’t like it.  

Richard, I'm clueless as to where you found installation kit applications for a '50s or '60s Ford application T-85 3 speed or T-85 3 speed with the overdrive application.  Forum member Dan Jessup (The Hot Rod Reverend) located a N.O.S. Hurst set-up some time ago and inquired as to Forum member interest in having the T-85 w/ overdrive kits reproduced.

I've got an acquaintance who is installing a T-85 w/ overdrive in a '57 Ford in place of the FordoMatic it originally had.  The floor shifter is the way-to-go for him without a source for the column shift components.  Coming up with the needed clutch linkage components has been enough of a hassle!  In the Northeast, 'junkyards' with what he's looking for are not plentiful.  This stuff is getting O-L-D, you know!?!

As you know, the T-85 w/ R-11 overdrive has the overdrive solenoid located on the same side of the 3 speed transmission as the mounting of the floor shifter, AND the shifting linkage accommodations necessary for the manual engagement of the R-11 overdrive unit.  Making-up a floor shifter mounting kit for the T-85 w/ overdrive is proving to be not just a matter of tweeking some 3 speed installation kit that you might have found.  

Please indicate where you found installation kits for your T-85 w/ overdrive.

Thanks!


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

One of the HRR blogs has some pictures of the Hurst Synchro Lock with the brackets installed on the T-85 with the shifter. I just went looking for it and can’t find it this time around.

Given those pictures, it’s not going to be hard to fabricate the brackets in a manner they clear the solenoid. Still going to be fabrication with some heavy plate, but a welder and a jig saw will get it done.

Hopefully Daniel will chime in with that link.

I don’t know about the Master Shifter, in my day it was the Syncro Lock. I see it still has the stops on it. But stay away from the cheap shifters. Unless treated gently they seem to be more trouble than they’re worth.

We used to joke that Hurst called it the Mystery Shifter because it was a mystery which gear you were in.

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

Sorry I have been so busy this summer.

I do have more photos if needed - and yes, finding that NOS Hurst Kit was like finding gold in some ancient mine in Sierra Madre mountain range.

https://www.hotrodreverend.com/post/where-in-the-world-is-the-hot-rod-reverend-part-2
just scroll down to see the photos.





Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

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

You can put me on the list for one of those shifter brackets.
thanks Richard 

Richard,
Are you sue you have a T-85?  The T-85 wasn't intoduced into the Ford line until the 56 Thunderbird with a 312 engine. It was used in the full size car and the T'bird, with and without OD, in 1957and up to at least 1962.
Did you install the T-85 after you got the car?  Many cars were changed over the years as it isn't a difficult conversion. 
You may want to verify your transmission if you are not sure. There were three BW transmissions used with a Y block foom 54 and up, the BW259, the T-86, and the T-85 and all three were built with, and without OD.  
Hurst had any number of kits for them.  Some kits used Mystery shifters, others Synchro Locs, and Master Shifters and of course an OD required an OD kit.  I'm sure some Hurst equipment collectors have it figured or have the catalogs to do it, but the bottom line is still the same.  There is very little of it left.
After almost  two years of looking I have given up and am going to build a mount for the MasterShifter I have.
If you do have a T -85 you also should verify which tailshaft you have because there are at three different lengths and two different mounting methods. I am not sure which bracket Daniel wants to replicate, but I believe it's the one he shows in Part 10 of his restoration blog, even though he shows installed on a BW 259.  It's a heavy bracket  and it requires a second bracket that uses one of the solenoid bolts for attacnment.
If you do need help I can help you ID your transmission,  I have pics of all three and also of the tailshafts. 
I have posted the links to Daniel's info and the info he posted in the H.A.M.B. "That HurstShifter Thread"
  https://www.hotrodreverend.com/post/2017/09/20/55-ford-restoration-blog-part-10
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/that-hurst-shifter-thread.555397/   
Go to page 7 for the start of his info. Note that the instructions fo that kit have 5556 in the number.  I believe that means that the kit fits aT-85 with the tailshaft with 4 short bolts.  Most tailshafts from 57 on up use 3 short bolts and one long so they require a different kit that contains the heavy brackets in Daniel's Part 10.
I am starting on my bracket now and I am using Daniel's bracket pics in Part 10 as a guide. 
Don

Don:

About 60 years ago I put a T-85-OD trans in my '56 Bird.  I bought a Hurst Syncro-Lok shifter without a kit.  I formed a U-shaped bracket with 1/4" steel strap about 3" wide and trimmed the edges of the U to fit the taper and shape of the tail housing to position the shifter to fit the factory hole in the floorboard.  The legs of the U are positioned top and bottom, parallel to the output shaft, not vertically.  I welded the U to the tailhousing and bolted the shifter to it.  That elimanated all the brackets and braces.  I made reinforced shift rods to  clear the solenoid.   I drag raced the car with its 2-4 312 for  several years, and the car is still street driven with the T-85.  Maybe you can do something similar in your installation.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Thanks for that info, John.  That sounds like it's built to last. 
I've already started down the road to copy the Hurst T-85 with OD kit that uses the plate type mount rather than the strap iron one. 
I have a homebuilt hydraulic press brake that can handle the heavy plate, and a vertical mill and lathe for any machine work required.
My son says I always pick the most complicated way just because it requires more tools.

Don