Driving lesson please

[cycledog]

Tuesday is the day I bring my newly acquired 55 Champion home. I have owned my cars during my life but never one with overdrive, a truck or two with 2sp rear but no overdrive.

How do I operate it, provided it even works. I have to drive about 30 miles on the highway, don't want to do something stupid.

A little tutoring would be appreciated. Thanks for helping the ignorant. At least ignorance can be cured...stupidity, well that's a different subject.

[2R5]

Make sure the OD handle is pushed in all the way .
Driev and shift as usual and when your in 3rd and over at least 35 mph , 40 is probably better , you let off on the gas pedal and gently push the gad pedal back down . You should feel it shift and you should be able to tell by the speed of the engine working . Now while in OD you can shift back down by pushing the gas pedal all the way to the floor , if everything is working properly it shoulf go back into standard 3 rd gear.
If you pull the OD handle out this will keep you in just standard 3 spd mode.

[cycledog]

thanks, not much if any different than a 2sp rear end. I have heard stories of folks ruining an engine because of not using the od on at highway speeds. Never knew if that was an old wives tale or not.

I suppose its best to keep in standard around town or does it matter?

[studeclunker]

Yes, it is best to keep it out of O.D. in town. Also, one thing you should keep in mind: always put it in reverse when parking. This ensures that the car won't roll. OverDrive transmissions have a reputation for rolling whilst in first gear. This way, if the O.D. is engaged when parking, you will know. You see, since yours is a '55 there should be a reverse lockout on the transmission. If it won't go into reverse, the O.D. is engaged. Thus, being in the habit of parking in reverse will prevent any problems.

As to engaging the transmission, I usually pull the lever out before starting onto the Freeway ramp. then when I'm up to about forty or fifty miles an hour I'll back off, allow the O.D. to engage then accelerate a bit more slowly. Remember, you're driving a fifty-five year old car that wasn't designed to cruise over fifty-five miles an hour. You can do it, however it will be... unhealthy for your drivetrain.

[StudeRich]

Yes sometimes it does matter, if you are in a lot of stop and go or many stop signs or red lights kind of traffic, it's a bit hard on the brakes in O.D. because below about 30 MPH it freewheels and just coasts, ABOVE the the 30 MPH solenoid kick-in, kick-out speed, it will have some deceleration in Overdrive.

For going downhill you can shift OUT of Overdrive, but only while in Direct, so just before the top of a uphill grade you floor it and do not release until you get the O.D. handle pulled out, that way you are not actually shifting it since it's already in direct you have just locked the O.D. out to decelerate down the other side of the hill.
Even though '54 & on Studebaker brakes are much improved, Champion brakes are still nothing to brag about, so you don't want to overheat them, because they will not have a good stopping distance if you do.

ALWAYS park the car in REVERSE, that way if you happen to have it in O.D. (handle in) it will not roll away if the parking brake is not working good or adjusted right as most are.
Remember when below 30 MPH (approx) it's in freewheeling when IN O.D. and WILL roll away!

[cycledog]

Great lessons, thanks guys.Know what you mean about the brakes, doesn't take a great deal to overheat the brakes in my 48 Chevy. The brake drums a very thin, probably due to metal shortages during that period.

I will put a sticky on the dash about parking in reverse until it's etched in my brain.

[52-fan]

Just to be clear, pulling the od handle OUT locks it out, pushed IN lets the transmission drop in. As to pulling the handle out while moving, I have done it, but many don't think it is a good idea. If the engine and transmission speeds are not right you will hear lots of scrapping noises. You can push the handle in any time.
To this day I still park any three speed on the column in reverse due to my first car being a Lark with overdrive. The car will not freewheel in reverse, but can roll away if parked in a forward gear.