My uncle had a 3-speed manual transmission with an overdrive, and I was wondering what kind it might have been, and if I can get my hands on one for my 1972 Ford Maverick.
There is the Borg Warner T-85 (older transmission but a good one) or you can get the Top Loader look-alike that is a four speed with fourth gear as an over-drive. The look alike uses the gears from the 303 Ford transmission and not the Top Loader four speed gear train so it is not as strong as the larger gear train. Both are fine for 300 ft. lbs. of torque.
I have another question, my dad told me that the transmission had four gears on the steering column, and when you are in third gear, to put it in overdrive you let off the gas and get back on it, I don't know anything about transmissions really, is that one of the ones you listed, or something else?
That would be the T-85 Borg Warner. It used an electric OD solenoid that you could turn on or off and to go into OD you just let up and slam - you were there. It also freewheels in OD so you get even better mileage down long hills.
Would that fit the drive shaft of a 1972 ford maverick, if not, would it be expensive to be made to fit?
I have 2 of these transmisions with shifters. Got one tranny on Ebay and one shifter on Ebay, also. The other came from a member here. I plan on using one in the red Comet GT when it goes together, hopefully soon. Try looking on Ebay for a shifter Jim P.S. I also have 2 3 speed transmisions if anyone is interested.
Ford also used the Borg-Warner T86 transmission (with R10 overdrive) with light duty V8's. I have two. One came from a 64 Fairlane (and was sitting in the trunk of a 76 Maverick 4dr parts car I bought) and one is a six bolt bellhousing pattern one from a 67 Galaxie or LTD that I bought at the Fort Worth swap meet two years ago. Have not tried them in anything yet. Also the T86 is the same transmission as the T90 used in Jeeps. The only difference is the Jeep T90 has spur cut 1st and reverse gears vs the T86's helical cut. The T90 shifter will bolt directly onto the T86 converting it to floor shift, but I have no idea of how big a hole you would have to cut into the floor to make it work, plus you would no doubt have to reshape the shift lever. I would imagine the shifter would come out directly beneath the package tray/glovebox part.
