Transmission / Overdrive: Over drive

[motormike]

Good Day ❗ new guy..who may be a Studebaker owner ..had a few back in the day.. Pair of Larks and a 1940.
I'm interested in a 60' Lark. Flat six, three speed...current owner doesn't know if it has o/d... My 59' had a one..so my question is where and how does it work on a 1960..if there was one. The vehicle us three states from my door. Thank you.

[brngarage]

Just like your '59.

[motormike]

Thank you.. if I recall.. and it's been awhile. I had a T handle.. left side under the dash... get the car roll'n in 3rd.. lift the gas pedal...pull handle.. it slips into OD... once you get back into city traffic.. take it out of OD.. I learn'd that the hard way.. blew the OD...
the owner of the 60' Lark.. says he has no T handle and doesn't think it has OD...
so.. I'm confused...

[bensherb]

Overdrive would have been an option. To verify he could look under the car at the trans. If it doesn't have a solenoid that looks like a soup can sticking out of the left (drivers) side of the trans case it doesn't have overdrive. Also the OD trans is about 10" longer (in the case area) than a normal trans.

[motormike]

Fellow sent this...and several others.. car looks good. It's currently on ebay... red rag top. If I decide on this.. wife said I have to sell some m/c's.. not go'n to happen.. or the Stang (65' base, 200-C4)... which wouldn't be a issue.

[bensherb]

Standard trans no overdrive !

You sound like me. My car in highschool was a '65 Mustang convertable , sprint 200, 4 speed. I hopped up that 6 and blew up 3 of the 4 speeds, then swapped in a C4... blew up the first one of them too. Had that car 15 years, still have that engine and the built C4 I couldn't destroy. Sold it with a whimpy 289 and stock C4 in it. That 6 went in my '26 T, but kept it when the T was sold. Still have 14 m/c's too. My wife also said no more cars until I sell one...then I bought 3 Studes and a VW, I have since sold 2 of the studes.

[stude1964]

motormike
You need to push the handle IN to engage OD. Pulling out the handle - when parked- will put the trans in direct drive. Trying to pull out the handle when driving will generally leave a trail of oil and recyclables behind you.
Rob in PA.

[blackhawk]

Invariably, when someone asks a question like this, the explanations given are either incomplete or incorrect. I wish people would simply read the owners manual that came in the glove compartment or some other comparable document. I found the one for 1956 Studebakers online (http://www.1956goldenhawk.com/manuals/56owners.pdf). It saved me having to scan ones I have. The description is similar, regardless of model year. I've owned '55, '56, '61, '63 and '64 Studebaker with 3-speed transmissions equipped with the overdrive unit. All worked the same. Here is the description for how to use the overdrive from the '56 owners manual:

"HOW TO USE OVERDRIVE

At any speed above about 22 to 27 miles (35 to 43 km.) an hour, you can place the car "in overdrive," if the OD handle just under the instrument board is pushed all the way to the bracket, by quickly releasing the accelerator pedal. After that, and until you either reduce speed below about 20 to 17 miles (32 to 27 km.) an hour or push the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor board (kickdown position), you will continue to drive in overdrive.

On long hills, or to get a spurt of additional power to pass cars or trucks on the highway, you can "kick down"- that is, press the accelerator hard against the floor board. This returns the transmission to conventional gear. After a kickdown, you stay in conventional until you again release the accelerator pedal at any speed above about 22 to 25 miles (35 to 40 km.) an hour.

You Can Lock Out Overdrive, Too

There are times, as in the mountains, for example, when you may want to remain in conventional gear all the time, at all speeds, to get the benefit of engine braking. Just lock out the overdrive this way:

1. Car standing still: Pull OD control handle full out - toward you.

2. Car moving less than 25 miles (40 hm.) an hour: Accelerate engine and at same time pull OD control handle full out - toward you.

3. Car moving more than 25 miles (40 km.) an hour and overdrive already engaged: Press accelerator to floor (kickdown). This puts transmission in conventional. While in conventional, pull OD control handle full out - toward you.

Remember, if you use a push to start the engine, you must lock out the overdrive.

You can push the OD control inward, preparing for overdrive engagement, at any time. If the car is moving, accelerate a little as you do this."

As explained in the owner's manual, you can pull out the OD handle while moving, if you do it correctly. I often kick the transmission out of overdrive when starting down a long grade and lock it out of overdrive by pulling out the under dash handle, to take advantage of the greater engine braking available without the overdrive in operation. It would be ridiculous to come to a stop every time you wish to lock out the overdrive.

The one thing that the owner's manual does not say, but probably should have, is that the car will roll forward when parked in a forward gear if the overdrive handle is pushed in. Many of us have had the scary experience of stepping out of the car at the gas pump to add gas to the tank, only to watch the car roll away and having to run after it! The easiest remedy for this is to make a habit of always shifting into reverse when parking the car. That locks out the overdrive freewheeling.

Regards,
Dale

[Tom Bredehoft]

Well Said, Dale. Stick around, we'll need you again.

[StudeRich]

Good info thanks for posting just the "FACTS".

Too bad the OP won't need this if he buys the 3 Speed Manual.
There was a Red '60 Convertible similar to that (don't remember if it was a VI or VIII) that JUST sold at the Hackenberger Auction.