Re: 1938 Super 8 1605 - adventures with a newbie

Posted by Ross On 2023/9/7 8:15:05

That overdrive is the back half of some 40s-50s overdrive trans that has been fitted with adapter plates and bearings to suit. Since there is only a ground and power cable to it along with the lockout cable I surmise it will work thusly:

Push the lockout knob in. That makes the overdrive available. When you get up to cruising speed, press the little button to the left of your column. That should turn the solenoid and I guess that little red light on. Then lift your foot off the gas a second. It should drop into overdrive. As you slow down, you will have to turn it back off as there is no governor to accomplish that and then the car will freewheel.

To back up you MUST, and I mean MUST turn it off and pull out the lockout knob. Normally that lockout is accomplished internal to the trans but since the overdrive is now independent of the trans, you must do it.