I'm looking to swap out my original four speed manual transmission in my 69 F100. What kind of transmission should I be looking for I'm tired of the granny gear. My truck has a 390 in it. Please help any input would be great.

 

What is your budget?

I went with a five-speed: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post13596892

 

Honestly I'm not sure yet . . .

 

Ya might wanna figure out a budget. My TKO totaled about $3,000 but that included a new clutch kit.

The relatively low buck option with no granny gear is a top loader four-speed. However, it is still a 1:1 ratio in top gear so the only real benefit (?) is the loss of the granny gear.

With no load, I start out in 2nd gear with either a NP435 or T18... it just becomes a glorified three-speed.

 

I prefer automatic transmissions, I recommend a C6 with a few upgrades. But, as far as a manual goes, a NV4500 box is a very stout, strong performer with the overdrive gear.

 

First things first we can tell you what all your options are for a manual replacement with better gearing. We need to know your budget. We can be here all day talking about a whole variety of trans but for all we know it could just be a waste if you don't have the funds to do it. What are your long term plans with the truck? Any engine swap in future? If so what? That will help with deciding a trans to if the bellhousing pattern is different then maybe wait until you have your final engine then swap trans. Are you racing it just driving it pulling/towing with it? I like the zf and nv transmissions but for a street burner type truck a tko is nice. I liked mine in my challenger when I did a speed swap.

 

Didn't someone post up a company that now makes an adapter to use the ZF on an FE? I'm a big fan of the ZF. I've ran several of them a lot of miles. The last one I had well over 200,000 on with no problems. They can be had around here for $350 or less.

 

It's either Novak or Bendtsen's.

EDIT: I believe it's Bendtsen's but their website is down and they apparently launched an online store... problem is that their site is incomplete and contains a whole lot of nothing.

 

That's great! I hope Mr and Mrs FE are happy together forever.