One thing I didn't see mentioned here is when parking make sure it's either in reverse or the parking brake is on or the overdrive is disengaged (lever out). Otherwise it will roll away if on a hill.... Also if the governor is bypassed and the solenoid is operated with a switch if one stops in overdrive the car won't go into reverse until the solenoid is disengaged.

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

One advantage to using a switch instead of the governor is slick-shift freewheeling around the city at higher speeds. Also saves wear & tear since the OD isn't constantly kicking in & out. But, wouldn't want to drive in Frisco without compression braking.




6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

And that's exactly what I did. 12V battery to relay, switch on the shift lever to the relay & 12V to the solenoid & solenoid grounded to the solenoid mounting bolt. Flip the switch OD on. Flip it the other way OD off.

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

Nate, did you resolve hard brake pedal problem and if so, how? regards bill.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

When I ever get my T-85 in mine I'm going to bypass the governor & put a switch to the solenoid & just operate the overdrive with that. I had a '57 back in the day & did it that way.

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

Nate, my 58 ranchero came with a fresh 292 and a 3-speed OD. This car never came with that trans in it, so I had no wiring or kick down switch. After some advice I got on this forum, I wired the OD solenoid to a lighted switch on the dash. It works well, after the car is warmed up I just leave it on, (3.89 gear) I need to adjust my lockout cable linkage, doesn't pull out enough.





thanks, Mark

Doug, what do you mean by the "cable slipping" at the tranny lever?  Do you mean the dash pull out cable that locks out the overdrive?

I have to look back at the wiring diagram to see where the ground wire comes from the governor to the relay, the switch is an inruiging idea.

Nate - Madison, Wisconsin

 

56 Ford Customline Sedan

 

Hi,

 Saw the posting on O.D troublshooting and thought I'd comment....The gentleman who mentioned letting off the acc, pedal at above 27 mph is correct...you can get o.d. in all three gears if you wanted to....In actuality you have a 6 speed manuel transmission.... I had my 57 out the other day and I, was able to get O.D. in first gear with no trouble.....Letting off the pedal when your above 27-28 mph is key....assuming your speedo is reading correctly...Lol...You should be able to hear the solenoide click in and at around the 28mph. point.....  Your not alone when I first put an O.D. trans. in my Ranchero I didn't know how it worked either....Nor did I know how to get it to work....

Happy motoring

Jeff

One thing that may be difficult to diagnose is the governor. I have seen a few with the bronze contact corroded through which makes them not function at all. This means nothing will happen at 27 mph because the ground to the relay isn't made. You can put a switched grounded jumper the relay ground terminal and then turn the relay on manually at a speed above 27mph.



Another thing to look for is the cable slipping on the trany lever so that full engagement is not made.



The gearset is likely to be OK, most OD problems are outside the trany.



Overdrive is one of life's good things, running down the highway and dropping into OD just feels good.

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

Nate:

That's OK - Your a young guy so you have plenty of time to get it back to original. You are doing a good job already. I enjoy reading of your progress and your movie was cool.

We are in good company since John had one the same color as ours.



John:

Ahhh, That was a Real Mean Green - I am kind of a "Poser" now. But one of my projects when I get back is to put on a set of trips.




Jim
Norfolk, VA

"MABLE"
1956 Thunderbird Green / Brown Interior (ZE-XG)

"MEAN GREEN"
1956 Mainline (FG-BE)