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Transmission swap......

Posted: September 27, 2010, 9:40 pm
by f100matt
I know this subject has come up a lot, but i am having a hard time figuring out which direction to go. I have been thinking about swapping out my old granny four speed for a manual that is little more street friendly. Looking for hopefully a fairly easy swap if possible. What are some of you guys running? Im kind of lost. My truck has a 352 with 3:50 gears in the rear end.

Posted: September 27, 2010, 10:42 pm
by jakdad
Sounds like a job for a "cast iron case Cruisomatic".

Re: Transmission swap......

Posted: September 28, 2010, 6:46 am
by jwh f-100
f100matt wrote:I know this subject has come up a lot, but i am having a hard time figuring out which direction to go. I have been thinking about swapping out my old granny four speed for a manual that is little more street friendly. Looking for hopefully a fairly easy swap if possible. What are some of you guys running? Im kind of lost. My truck has a 352 with 3:50 gears in the rear end.
Ford TOD found in 84 & 85 trucks. 4-speed, 4th is overdrive. Shifts like a car. If you tow alot or run it hard they are not built like a t-18 but perfect for a cruiser. Some say 2nd to 3rd is a big jump but I don't see an issue and I have a 302. Very easy install. You can use you bell. You may need to move you rear mount a bit. I'd save your trans & driveshafts as a set incase you want to use them in the future. Have a second one made/shortened for the TOD.


http://www.motivegear.com/tech_info/tra ... guide.html

Posted: September 28, 2010, 6:46 am
by R Pope
A three speed will work with all stock parts. A toploader 4 speed, direct or overdrive, will work too, but the stick will be close to the seat. If you have short legs, like me, the rearward seat position might be uncomfortable. I went for an M5 in my '66, but not available to fit an FE.

Posted: September 28, 2010, 8:23 am
by stronger66ratfink
after seeing the NASCAR monster at slickstock and how that thing hauls ass with the help of the transmission he Cas was running

I've decided to pull the 4 - speed top loader out of Miss Daisy and put a Auto in.
recently rebuilt, new clutch and pressure plate and comes with a Hurst shifter.

could be something I could box up and ship to you.

Now, it's a great trani, 3rd gear you'll be running 60 then hit 4th and 80 is nothing running about 2 grand

Cost of purchase to be determined,
oh and it's painted for those who like to crawl up under your ride and pick at things

Posted: September 28, 2010, 6:11 pm
by Uncle Skip
Mike.
Did you let Ricky know the transmission is for sale?
U@ss

Posted: September 28, 2010, 7:09 pm
by Michelle
If you would use a Falcon tail shaft on the top loader the shifter would be farther forward and not so close to the seat. On the Falcons the shifter attaches to the front of the tail shaft.

Posted: October 2, 2010, 9:38 am
by f100matt
So the three speed overdrive is almost bolt in, thought i saw a post somewhere that said they had a hydrolic clutch?

The four speed would be out of a full size car? would it need to be off a 352, or will it bolt to my stock bell housing? I have mustang buckets in my pickup so i don't thing the shifter being too far back is a big problem.

Posted: October 2, 2010, 12:34 pm
by jwh f-100
f100matt wrote:So the three speed overdrive is almost bolt in, thought i saw a post somewhere that said they had a hydrolic clutch?

The four speed would be out of a full size car? would it need to be off a 352, or will it bolt to my stock bell housing? I have mustang buckets in my pickup so i don't thing the shifter being too far back is a big problem.
A TOD would have had a hydro clutch but you could use your existing bell/clutch. The shifter location on the TOD would be very close to your granny shifter. If you find a SMOD (toploader look alike) the shifter location will still be pretty good.

Re: Transmission swap......

Posted: October 2, 2010, 1:47 pm
by ICEMAN6166
jwh f-100 wrote:
f100matt wrote:I know this subject has come up a lot, but i am having a hard time figuring out which direction to go. I have been thinking about swapping out my old granny four speed for a manual that is little more street friendly. Looking for hopefully a fairly easy swap if possible. What are some of you guys running? Im kind of lost. My truck has a 352 with 3:50 gears in the rear end.
Ford TOD found in 84 & 85 trucks. 4-speed, 4th is overdrive. Shifts like a car. If you tow alot or run it hard they are not built like a t-18 but perfect for a cruiser. Some say 2nd to 3rd is a big jump but I don't see an issue and I have a 302. Very easy install. You can use you bell. You may need to move you rear mount a bit. I'd save your trans & driveshafts as a set incase you want to use them in the future. Have a second one made/shortened for the TOD.
if you have an f100 and never haul or tow anything they are ok.

also with oversize tires like 33"s you will need to be doing 70+ to stay in 4th.

does get you decent mileage and lower the rpm.

it is definitely not cast iron bullet proof like the t98 or the np435.


i think Ken has a 6 speed in castruck.

i do know some 90s ford 1 ton diesels have 6 speeds, not sure if they can be adapted or not to other bells.

Posted: October 2, 2010, 3:35 pm
by f100matt
A six speed would be neat, but that sounds like a big chunk of change. I don't plan on hauling a whole lot, I just want a nice classic to cruse around and take to a couple shows... I am thinking about doing some small power up grades, four barrel carb, headers, at some point a mild rebuild, nothing too fancy. I was thinking about finding another 60's bed to make into a trailer and paint up like my truck, but again i would not be hauling a whole lot of weight, i just thought it wold look cool.

Posted: October 2, 2010, 4:35 pm
by f100matt
What about a T19? I know it is pretty similar to a T18 but with a synchronized first gear... Is it any better for the Highway?

I was also wondering, doesn't a 300 have the same bell housing as a 352? I was talking to a guy at a local car show who had a 66' short bed with a 428 and T5....

Posted: October 2, 2010, 4:59 pm
by Lowell
Like Ice said, the tod would be fine if you dont plan on towing or hauling heavy loads. Had an 86 Bronco with 300 six and towed a travel trailer . first gear wasnt low enough and i had to really burn the clutch to get moving. I think it had 3:50 rear gears also.

Posted: October 2, 2010, 6:00 pm
by Casey 65
I have a '85 TOD and it is a bolt in behind a 300 six. the drive shaft did need to be shortend. In 4th (OD) I run about 2200 RPM at 80 MPH. (Ask Jim Nichols, I blew by him not long ago.) I'm very happy with the top loader overdrive transmission. :steering:

Posted: October 3, 2010, 11:10 am
by LRS30
What would you guys recomend going behind my stock 292 64 Y block I need to repair/replace the 3 speed bad, 1 its making a terrible noise (ran with low fluid by previous owner) and I want lower rpm on the highway..

Re: Transmission swap......

Posted: October 3, 2010, 12:48 pm
by Greg D
[quote="ICEMAN6166"]

i think Ken has a 6 speed in castruck.

Castruck is running a Richmond 6 speed.
One of the 5 speeds from the 90s Superduty's I believe has a separate bell. I am not sure about adapting it to an FE bell though. If you have the $ Lakewood or one of the others can basically make a bellhousing for about anything.

Posted: October 3, 2010, 11:26 pm
by R Pope
I know TOD's have a rep for not being strong, but I beat the tar out of one in my Mustang with a hot 351 ahead of it. Drove it 100K miles, no prob. We just put it behind a 460 without touching it.
The 300 has the same bell as a 302/351, 390 is different.
SROD trans is aluminum case, at least the one I had, and has a lousy shift mechanism. Not a great setup. I abandoned mine when I found the TOD.

Posted: October 4, 2010, 12:28 pm
by Thunderboy
QuickTime makes a bellhousing to adapt just about any trans to about any engine. A 352 and a T5 might be nice. For less money a toploader for with the early Falcon tailshaft that Michelle mentioned would be good, too.

Posted: October 4, 2010, 4:31 pm
by f100matt
The TOD will work with my bell housing right?

Posted: October 5, 2010, 6:31 am
by jwh f-100
f100matt wrote:The TOD will work with my bell housing right?
Yes, My PA neighbor norville put one behind a 390 with stock bell, I have one behind a 302 with a stock truck bell.

When I install mine (replace a t18) I left the bell/clutch, everything in place and just removed the four "butterfly" bolts that mount the trans to the bell. As long as the clutch is not depressed it will stay in place. The members here suggested I make up some dowel bolts to use during installation, very helpfull. After I had everything mounted I measured and had a new driveshaft made.