Disengaging 3 Speed OD Unit

[derek7871]

I broke the cable that attaches to the handle that you pull to engage or disengage the OD. The overdrive unit slips out of gear and is useless right now. I'm wondering how I can disengage the OD unit so I can just use my normal 3 gears like I have been. Surely this won't require a new transmission, will it?

[derek7871]

Oh yea, it's a 1968, 2 wheel drive, 360 cid, 3 on the tree with OD.

[Freightrain]

Where's the cable broken at? Can you pull it and clamp it using small cable u-bolt?

It's been years since I looked at mine. I still have tranny sitting under bench in garage. Came out of my '64 Galaxie. I'll be out there tonight, maybe I'll pull it out and check where cable attaches.

[derek7871]

The cable was broken down at the transmission. I was able to move the lever and disengage the OD unit. Everything is working good now.

[steveheer]

When I found my transmission in the donner truck the cable was broken, but I took it anyway. If you pull the handle all the way out with the solid core wire attached you can see where it is crimped. I used a vise and opened it up to remove the old cable, went to the hardware store and found some new solid core wire and used non electrical solder to reconnect to the handle end. It's been working for better than 10 years now!

Also, if you use reverse to pre-lock out the transmission the handle pulls out much easier--

Steve