1957 t-10

[Wayne L.]

Re: 1957 t-10

Frank-
If your side cover is cast iron, then it is not correct for any C1. Dan Patch sent a good picture of the early sidecover (aluminum, with no gussets as others have noted here). FYI, the T10-7B tailhousing was used in 60-61 Corvettes and 60-64 passenger cars.
Wayne

[Frank C.]

Re: 1957 t-10

Thanks to all. I'm disappointed but I now know what I have. I bought the car in 1973 from a guy who was a wrench at the GM Proving Grounds. It appears that he did a few alterations to the drive line. During my ground up I've learned he modified the rear springs and now I know about the transmission and I knew when I bought it that he had converted the EL engine to hydraulic lifters and a non Duntov cam because he told me so and gave me the original lifters and cam. Again, thanks to all. This is a great forum. Frank

[Mike M.]

Re: 1957 t-10

a cast iron side cover that fits a t-10 more than likely was born on a Borg Warner T-85 3 speed tranny which was installed in early 50's ford products. I had a t-85 with overdrive ( born in a 51 Mercury)in my 394 Olds powered 49 chevy coupe in the early 60's. When Borg Warner set about to create a 4 speed, they simply converted the T-85 to the T-10 by placing all four forward gears in the main case and positioning the reverse function in the tail housing.
the t-85 replaced a 37 LaSalle tranny in the Olds powered chevy. I was hard on both trannys in my youth. still have a couple 37 LaSalle 3 speeds in the barn. the LaSalle gears were stouter than the Borg Warner t-85 but the LaSalle synchros were good for just a couple of speed shifts. mike

[Dan D.]

Re: 1957 t-10

Oh Mike, you bring back old memories in your post. I too had a 324 Olds engine in a 52 Ford Convertible back in 1959-1960. It too was up against a 37 Cad Lasalle floor shift tranny. They were the 'in' thing back then; a status symbol, but they were the only tranny that would stand up to the Olds torque. This was until the 4 speeds phased them out.

And yes, the shifter button was the Achilles heal of those trannys, the ears would break off with any hard shift. And I too still have one of those tranny's in the barn.

I know this is now 'off topic', but I just had to post it. I won't post any more.

-Dan-

[Jimmy B.]

Re: 1957 t-10

Danny,

I made some of those side covers, (I think around 30), had a sand casting done, the covers also had to be heat treated. then had them machined, I sold a very few then the guy at Chicage Vette that does transmissions bought all I had, you might be able to purchase one of these from him if he has any left. We used my original side cover as a template so they are correct on the outside and even ha ve the t10-148 or something like that on the inside. If I can help you any more let me know. Jim Blakely