1958 Golden Hawk t-85 overdrive transmosssion

[fredrico0]

I recentley completed a 1958 Golden Hawk but at the time only had a t-86 and overdrive to install in it. The transmission is now without overdrive and also has no reverse. I purchased a correct T-85 transmission from a 1960 truck. The truck overdrive unit is shorter than the overdrive unit on the T-86 transmission in the car. I realize that Studebaker went to a one piece drive shaft in 1958 for the Golden Hawks which is ,I think, why the overdrive unit is longer. My question is, 1. Can I replace the overdrive unit on the T-85 with a longer one from a T86 or does it have to be from a T-85? 2. What years used the longer overdrive unit, is it just the 1958 model year or were they used for other year? 3. Does anyone know of the availability of one of these units to get my Golden Hawk back on the road were it belongs? Thanks in advance for help with this problem.

[Roscomacaw]

You're looking for a rare piece. Even the truck T-85s are getting scarce. Besides that, they're internally different to a degree, from the car versions.
Some V8 heavy duty cars (59 thru 64) used a T89 which is essentially the same thing, but again - thanks to it's limited application - not common.
With a few minor exceptions, most of the OD pieces are different between a T-86 and a T-85.
'58 was the only year that THE T-85 with the long tail & 1-piece drive shaft was used. And it was only used on the Golden and Packard Hawks, seeing as how they had the extra HP thanks to the supercharger.

Miscreant Studebaker nut in California's central valley.

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President two door

[N8N]

Everything Mr. B says is correct. I don't know that the T-86 OD unit would fit, and in any case it is definitely a different unit than the one originally used on the T-85s. I'm going to say that that almost certainly won't work. Probably your best bet is to keep looking for the right trans. However the unit you have is still worth something so you could sell it to get your money back - heck if you are close to me I'd be interested in it.

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight

http://members.cox.net/njnagel

[sals54]

I used a T85 w/OD behind a V8 in my 54 Coupe back in the day, and I used a driveshaft from a 50 pick up which was a bolt in for that combo. Weird, but it worked.

sals54

[PackardV8]

As mentioned, the '58-only long-tailshaft T85 is a very rare piece, as the '58 GH/PH standard shift cars were among the lowest Stude production ever. As an aside, the long tailshaft transmission was also used in the '55 Packard Clipper, of which the standard shift production was probably even lower than the '58 GH/PH.

The R10 overdrive unit from the T86 is not interchangeable with the R11 and is not nearly as strong. The short-tailshaft T85 OD from trucks is much more common than the car versions. It has different internal gears. A sufficiently long one-piece driveshaft can be found or fabricated, but it will most likely hit the tunnel on hard acceleration. In theory, it is entirely possible to retrofit the more readily available two-piece driveshaft and hardware from the higher-production '53-57 C/K.

thnx,jv.



PackardV8

[StudeRich]

My guess is Fred, you would have a much better chance finding a T-89 long tail (T-85) looking at the Ford and Mercury guy's stuff swapmeets, ebay etc., as they had to have higher production numbers than Studebaker Golden Hawk and Packard Hawk with OVERDRIVE!

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[N8N]

that's possible Rich but if he were to do that he'd need to keep the Stude input shaft and bearing retainer from his existing trans.

--
55 Commander Starlight

http://members.cox.net/njnagel

[PackardV8]

Hi, Nate/Rich,

FWIW, the Ford T85 uses a different gearset and a different mainshaft than does the Stude. They aren't interchangeable. I've got a Ford and three Studes in front of me as we speak. I'll look at the tailshaft and the OD unit and see if that could be interchanged.

thnx, jack vines

PackardV8

[StudeRich]

Jack, are you sure you are comparing the Stude. CAR T-85 to the Ford, and not the more common Truck version?

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[PackardV8]

Hi, Rich,

You asked

quote:are you sure you are comparing the Stude. CAR T-85 to the Ford, and not the more common Truck version?

Agree, since Ford and Studebaker used very different versions of the T85 in both cars and trucks over several years, the only way to get a definitive answer is to choose one year, make and model and compare it to another given year, make and model. As point of clarification, which of my previous suggestions are in question?

thnx, jack vines



PackardV8

[gord holden]

N.O.S still in crate T 86E-1A on e-bay 1500.00

gh