Today I Looked at a transmission in a vehicle for sale in my local area.

I believe it to be a Borg-Warner T19.



T-19 Borg-Warner


It is still in a Bronco that is available to me. I don't know which ratio it is, but it is obviously synchro in all forward gears which may be a desirable option for my DD (86 Bronco). I am wondering if I should pursue the option of a purchase and change out my NP435. I understand it is an inch or so longer?, so all of the usual things may need to be changed..drive-lines, cross-member? etc. any thoughts from you on this forum of any advantages over an NP435? My final drive ration is 3.50.

There are times when a Syncro first may be good I can tell. Of course if this trans is NOT a 6.32 low version I may be just stuck with a 4.02 first as a direct drive 4 speed. I think I could live with any of the options, just need to think about the process of changing from what I know works to what I haven't tested yet...and it's a HEAVY transmission...

Thanks for any input.

 

Does it have PTO covers on both sides? If not it is a T18, and not worth the swap from your 435.
T19's did not come from the factory in this era in anything but 460 and 6.9 powered 83-86 F250/350's.
The 1" change in dimension is not enough on a stock height truck to require changing drivelines etc, it is more or less a bolt in.

 

In my opinion, not rare or desirable. Overdrive is king, that's why I would do all that work, to swap in a 5 speed and get overdrive. Not get a super low 1st gear I would not need. But maybe you do need it, I don't know the specs of your truck.

By the way, t19's never came in Broncos. They only came behind 460's and diesel 7.3's in f250's and 350's.

 

Is sitting in a Bronco, and has a PTO on both sides. The Bronco itself has been "modified" somewhat so I get the fact it may never have come in it originally. I may need to make a decision as to whether or not it needs a new home..IE: my Bronco. I kinda like the idea of "synchro'" first..just cogitating on it.

 

Is sitting in a Bronco, and has a PTO on both sides. The Bronco itself has been "modified" somewhat so I get the fact it may never have come in it originally. I may need to make a decision as to whether or not it needs a new home..IE: my Bronco. I kinda like the idea of "synchro'" first..just cogitating on it.

My specs: 300-6, 3.50 final drive.

 

What's your tire size? If you have really large tires with that 3.50 gear, you possibly could use 1st gear to take off, though it's not very handy. There is too much spread between 1st and 2nd.

If you have somewhat normal tires on it, I would not bother I would get a 5 speed for it.

 

I will use at the most 31's. I now have 30's installed. I now occasionally start in "granny low" sometimes based on terrain etc because my now NP435 "2nd" is too tall.

For me the only existing OD option would be a Clark and since this trans is not one of those maybe I've answered my own question..thanks for your valued input.

 

Agree 100%. And they came in different ratios. The only way to tell what is in it, is to take it apart.

Just get a ZF5 and don't even think about a NON overdrive trans

 

I had the 6.69 t18 and Ill tell you what. Even with 36" tires and 3.55 gears, 10k lbs on my f250 with blown rings in the first cylinder, was too low. I revved her way up 3grand or so, shifted and still ad to slip to put it in second and not big down. I said Fudge it and just slipped it through second.

I then built my motor and out a five speed in, BEST DECISION EVER.

 

I gather that most here would opt for a juice clutch 5 speed and I get that particularly for on road use. Thanks for comments about the t19 in general as well. It may be a transmission I just merely have in the parts bin for future use..

 

I've posted this opinion before........but I wouldn't dismiss the T19 if you are intending lower speed driving.

In the close-ratio version T19 (the T19A), synchro 1st is an advantage..........but the big bonus is the practical gear spacing, with four usable gears.

I have a c/r T19 with 30" tires & 3.54 axle; it's an excellent all-round combo.
For a short time I had an NP435 & found the ratios a real headache.

But if you need to drive long distances/high speed, OD would be best.

 

I appreciate your input on this topic Ken. Since my Bronco is used for lower speed adventures on mostly 2 lane roads (and short creek crossings) I have found that overdrive isn't something I would spend any money or effort on with all of the changes necessary. But the gear option issues you talk about I can tell may be worth my efforts in the course of maintenance.

I'm going to take advantage of this transmissions availability I believe and see what ratio it actually has and go from there..

 

I had a close-ratio T-18 (4:1 1st gear) in a CJ5 and an NP435 (1st gear around 6.7:1) in an F-250. 1st gear in the NP435 was useless in general driving, but was good to have when startig with a heavy load. Not having synchros in 1st was no big deal on the street because I ONLY used it to start from a dead stop, I didn't ever need to shift into 1st while moving.

In the close ratio trans I used 1st a lot more often, but even then it was too low to think about on-road except when starting from a stop. So with either ratio I wouldn't have seen a synchro'd 1st being much of an advantage on road.

Off road is a different matter. Especially with the close-ratio in the Jeep it wasn't uncommon to start up a hill in 2nd gear-low range and want to downshift to 1st. A synchro'd 1st would have been really nice there.

 

That T19 could be a medium ratio unit with the 5.11 first gear, it is still a deep gear but it isn't absolute overkill like a T18 or 435. From the trucks I have taken apart they seem to be the most common, but what is true locally for me may not be for you, I have yet to figure out what Ford's criteria for ratio selection was.
Personally I swapped the 5.11 unit that was behind my 460 for a 4.02 close ratio unit, and I run 44's with 4.10 gears in that truck. It is permanently in low range until I get around to putting 5.38's in it, which will effectively give me the same gearing in high as I do in low, and is equivalent to 3.55's and 31's. I am in 2nd gear low 95% of the time, the 5.11 unit I rarely used first and second was deeper than I needed as well.
My 6.9 truck has a 5.11 trans in it, and I very rarely use first.

 

Probably a $50-$100 trans. T18/T19/NP435 are all solid transmissions that don't break often and are plentiful. Most guys wants overdrive so are looking for a ZF, which go for $300-$700 depending on your timing. Not worth much but it's a good trans. Those PTOs may be worth $50-$100 each though, check eBay sold listings for approximate value.