Yikes! Overdrive Overdose!!!!!

[Brian N.]

Sorting out some to the stuff on the car, I determined from the engine number that that it was not equipped with overdrive as originally constructed. The car, from the VIN and the presence of the themo-automatic carb, is an early 1960 car, but it has the 1961 "mongoose" double bent shift lever. Now it all makes sense. Someone preplaced the trans with a later one equipped with overdrive (hence the later style shift lever). The overdrive switch and label appear correct. But YIKES, it is directly wired to the solenoid with no R-1-2 lock out, or power relay, or throttle relay!

Solenoid will even accuate in reverse, though I have not tried that with the engine operating.

The good news is, the overdrive works. Still works fine even though it is wired with three possible self destruct modes! R-1-2.

Thought this might be of interest to some.

 

[John Loftus]

Hi Brian,

Yes using reverse with overdrive on is a sure way to destroy the OD. I would put in the lockout switch pronto. You can live without the throttle switch if you wish (although I prefer to have it) and just be conscious of when you are engaging/disengaging the OD. Don't try using the OD to engine brake for slowing down and try to remember to take the OD off at the stops. I don't think it hurts much to shift from nonOD 2nd to OD 3rd but it sure is a long shift ... and takes the snap out of your acceleration!

Cheers,
John

 

[Dave Russell]

I had a direct wired OD on my previous V8 BN2. Never did have a problem, but I was the only driver & paid attention to what I was doing. As John says, the reverse lockout should be used just for damage prevention.
D