Re: [Amc-list] overdrive on a 64 American

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

Since it's an American it's not hard to do. If you can pull the 
transmission and rear axle that's all there is to it! You will need to 
change the rear axle (or gears) to a lower (bigger number) axle ratio 
for maximum benefit. The flat head won't pull a lot of gear, and the 64 
had  3.78 rear axle gears with overdrive versus 3.08 gears with a 
standard three speed. The OD won't work well at all with 3.08 gears and 
the flat head six!

As far as the transmission you need the entire transmission and OD unit. 
You can't simply bolt the OD to the standard transmission. The OD 
transmission uses a special  short output shaft  that slides into the OD 
unit, and there is a 1" thick adapter that goes between the transmission 
and OD unit. The trans and OD unit from any 58-65 American will bolt 
right in. The driveshaft might be shorter, but any driveline shop can 
fix that! I think the driveshaft is the same length since the output 
shaft of the T-96 without OD is rather long. The rear axle from any 
58-65 American should also fit, just note that many of the earlier cars 
had even lower axle gears for the OD trans, down to 4.11 with the flat 
head six.

Don't forget to get the wiring harness and all attached switches and 
relays for the OD. It can be wired up pretty easy without the original 
parts, but you will at least need an original type kick-down switch. The 
switch can be put in the floor where you can reach it with your foot 
(near the headlight dimmer?) instead of on the throttle linkage if you 
like, or even where you can press it with your hand. The switch is a 
special four pole ratcheting switch or "snap" switch, I haven't been 
able to find anything to exactly replace it, though it could probably be 
worked out with relays.

--------------
Does anyone know if it's possible, or wise to try to install the 
optional overdrive for my 64 american 220 wagon, 3 speed flat head 
motor.  Provided I even could locate the parts is this a super 
complicate procedure? Has anyone done this? any suggestions?  I'm a less 
than average wrench, but have acess to super qualified friends who might 
be convinced to help out.

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)

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