Transmission / Overdrive: T-86 w/od. help

[Drifter22]

I have a T-86 with OD in a Lark (V-8) with column shift. I found a top loader for this transmission. Does anyone know how to get the shifting forks out of the transmission without taking it all apart. I thought I could pull the pins that hold the side shift shaft and pull it out and then take the forks off, but they don't come out far enough. I took the front flange off and thought I could pull the input shaft out, but it only will move about 3/16 of an inch. The gear is smaller then the bearing, don't see why it won't. Anyone out there that has a slick solution would be appreciated.

Thanks, Gene

[JoeHall]

Its been awhile, but IIRC, you need to take it apart to get the forks out of the T86. Lousy design. I have heard the top loader setups work great on them. Is the top loader you found originally out of a Jeep?
Joe

[DieselJim]

The top loader does not lock out the od so you can use reverse. You will need to pull the od cable out to back up.

[Dwain G.]

Since you have overdrive, you will probably want to modify and re-install the low-reverse fork to retain the lock-out feature. See this from Gary Ashe site: http://www.studegarage.com/overdrive.htm

[tbirdtbird]

the tranny must come apart, sorry. also agree with Dwain

[Drifter22]

Thanks Guys, I was afraid of that! This was out of a Studebaker taxi.

[rusty nut garage]

DON'T Force the input shaft too far forward without removing the cluster assembly. You'll damage the synchro teeth on the input shaft if you do. As you've figured out by now the trans must come apart, worth it though to get the top loader shifter function

Thanks Guys, I was afraid of that! This was out of a Studebaker taxi.

[Drifter22]

One more question guys. Does anyone know how much of the floor I have to cut out? If I just cut out a hole just a little bigger then the gear shift tower, 4.5 or 5 inches, will that be big enough to get the transmission in and not be hit if the engine torque moves it? Dose anyone know what kind of hole they put in a taxi? There isn't much room above the transmission. Will the thicker part of this top loader even clear or will I have to cut out as big as the top of the transmission?
Thanks, Gene

[PackardV8]

The original hole was very small. What I did was get a 6"x6" sheet of closed cell foam as thick as would fit between the top of the tranny and the floor pan. Cut a hole smaller than the shifter dome and force the foam around it.

The C-cab trucks have a removable tunnel cover which makes it much easier to R&R the shifter. I'd consider fabricating one on the next build.

jack vines