If you are trying to keep your T-Bird totaly original and do not plan to push it at all the original light duty transmission will work fine. My personal preference if you want to stay with a 3 speed would be a fully syncronized 3 speed toploader out of a '63 and up Galaxie big block car. Bullet proof and syncronized low gear. Impossible to tell it is not original unless you crall completely under the car and know what you are looking for. 

WoodDean,



Jeff is 100% correct that the Borg Warner T-86 was NOT used in the '55 or '56 'Birds. In looking back, I THINK I picked that notion up from reading the reprint of the May 22, 1956 '1955 Thunderbird Package Book' (overview of engineering drawings and specifications) from Ford Motor Company. That document wrongly indicates that the standard and overdrive transmissions for the '55 'Bird were per Ford passenger car. After Jeff's input, I looked in the '49-'59 Ford Parts & Accessories Illustration and Text Catalogs.



The '55 -up passenger car transmission unit has a sheet metal top access cover and a front snout that is secured by 3 bolts. The '55 and '56 'Bird unit has a cast side access cover, shaped per your description, and a front snout secured by 4 bolts. As Jeff also stated, per the catalog illustrations, the gear teeth on the cluster gear run in opposite directions in the two different 1955 transmissions!



The more I learn, the more I realize that I don't know! THANKS for catching my error, Jeff. Appreciated!



Regards,


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

Hi,

 yes you can tell the differance. I should of also stated tha the T-86 is a top loader trans. And the 259 is a side loader type. Basically the rectangular covers are either on the top or the side. The top loader cover is stamped steel and the side loader cover is cast iron. if I had my choice between the two I, would pick the T-86.....I, feel as though it's more popular and it's pretty tough for a light duty trans....

Best Regards, Jeff

Thanks DQ, So the BW 259 is NOT the same as the T86.



I find it strange that there is little to no internet information on this tranny. Can you tell the cases apart without opening them up?

From the mountains in South Central PA

 

hi the 259 od transmission was only used in the thunderbird for 1955 only. light transmision for the 292 The T-86 was a Passenger car OD transmission for many yrs...Not sure when started...I beleive 1955 n up? T-86 and 259 od transmission parts are not interchangeable....The biggest reason is that the gear teeth run in opposite directions of one another.. Just to clarify u can use either transmission for a pass. car or t-bird as long as were talking complete transmisions being swapped.

Best regards, Jeff

NS,



My CTCI restoration book states;



"The 55 thunderbird overdrive transmission was a BW 259. The side cover is rectangular shaped with 9 bolts. Three side covers are rounded; the lower front corner is square. The case cast is AF7006-b. The OD is 18" long and casting # is R10F-1B. The input shaft has 10 splines with a dia. of 1:. The output shaft has 16 splines and a dia. of 1.175."



The book goes on to say, " The 55 and 56 standard three speed transmissions without O/D were the same. They had BW 259 gear boxes. The case is cast AF7006A or D."





The book doesn't make any mention of a T86. Google searches for BW 259 turned up very little information. Are we talking about the same case?

From the mountains in South Central PA

 

I have a matched set of B heads with Ford valves. They have had some port work done some 40 years ago. Need a valve job seals or maybe guides.

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK    

Hmmm... As you may know, Ford used a B-W 259 Borg Warner 3 speed behind the '55 'Bird 292s and the '56 and '57 'Birds equipped with the 292 engine. These transmissions had the side cover you described above. The '55 'Birds with overdrive used this same transmission with the Borg Warner R-10 overdrive unit behind it. The R-10 has a sun gear with three (3) planetary gears.

In both '56 and '57 Ford used the Borg Warner T-85 3 speed transmission behind the 312 equipped 'Birds. In saying this, I'm not aware of any '56 312 'Birds with the T-85 without the overdrive. In '57, my understanding is that the 312 'Birds could be obtained with either just the 3 speed T-85 or the T-85 with overdrive. The T-85 is a stronger 3 speed unit than the B-W 259 IF you plan to get your foot into your over-bored 312 at all. Too, the Borg Warner R-11 overdrive used behind the T-85 is a stronger unit with a sun gear that has four (4) planetary gears.

I don't recall if your '55 is presently equipped with a standard or automatic transmission. If it is an automatic, you're going to find that the changeover is 'involved' depending on how completely you elect to do it. I pulled the dash to swap the pedal support between the dash and the firewall when doing the swap on a '57. -Yes, there are 'modifications' that don't require this support to be changed out. Too, finding the 'Bird specific components is usually not like swapping a passenger car over cost-wise or availability-wise. I can't believe what original 'Bird floor shifters are going for, as an example.

I swapped a FordoMatic into a 312 '57 'Bird that had a B-W 259 in it. The original T-85 overdrive had apparently gotten trashed at an earlier time. If you want that three speed, I've been saving it for you since the early '80s.

Stepping outside what you've asked, if you are looking at installing a standard transmission, give consideration to going with a 4 speed or 5 speed (4 speed with 5th gear overdrive). The 4th gear greatly improves the driving experience in my opinion. Too, the 5th gear overdrive will significantly reduce the buzz on turnpike driving and increase the life expectancy of your engine.

Contact me at cncbrown2@gmail .com if you want the 3 speed transmission. It was operating fine when I removed it, and the price is right... I just want it to go to a good home. If you're looking for a 'B' intake manifold and carb. I'm sure that we can get together on those cost-wise.

Regards,

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

On the hunt for some tbird parts, thanks all:



56 cast for standard trans

ECZ-B, a matching set would be nice if ya got it



Also in the market for overdrive transmissions



Borg Warner 259 - side cover is rectangular shaped 9 bolts with one corner rounded.

case is cast AF7006-b



O/D housing cast R10F-1B, 18 inches long, input has 10 splines one inch in dia. output is 16 splines and 1.175 inches in dia.



send an email to dlm_cam@kuhncom.net or reply to post.

Thanks

From the mountains in South Central PA