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

 

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    

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

 

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

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,

 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

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

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.