The BIG reason I run a 5 spd Doug Nash in my wagon. LOTS of close gear changes to help keep 4100 lbs accelerating quickly....
When....well IF....the money ever comes around I would like to get a Richmond 5 spd for the '69 F100. The toploader does a great job, but another gear would be
My Nash puts up with my FE with not much of any issues. It pushes 4100 lbs to 11.50 @ 118 mph. Number crunching puts it at about 550 hp.
The Richmond is basically an identical copy of the old Nash. They added roller bearing gears and such, but the case and parts are pretty interchangable. You can't get a Torsion model(like I run), but I think it is still a pretty stout piece.
A friend runs a '70 Mustang with a 393 Windor. It had a pro shifted toploader in it running 10.30's. It had a very low failure rate(couple of minor things, but no big chunks). He did finally put a new Jerico in it, but keeps the old box for any emergencies.
What kind of power any tranny will support has ALOT to due with how you are using it. I have found that tire shake will destroy a manny tranny in short order, but I can launch it at 6000 rpm 200 times without a problem. Clutch is another thing that determines low long it lasts. Big heavy plates are NOT the norm anymore, and that will definitely ease the hit on the gears in the tranny.
__________________
*signature delete option*
Last edited by Freightrain; 08-05-2004 at 12:00 PM.
Scouder, keep thinking on this, long and hard. I'm not saying that the 5.38s are too much, but make certain you are really sure about before you start spending $$ and changing parts. My '71 4wd has 4.56 gears in both ends. I ran 38s for aawhile, and the 421 engine ( 390, 060, 410 crank, big juice cam ) with a NP435 behind it did just fine. I can't even imagine it needing more axle gear. I was looking to swap out the ring and pinions for some 3.50s. Then I got tired of my 38s not really being exactly round and bought some BFG 35/12.50s, mud terrains. The 37s weren't out at that time. The 35s, on an 8 inch rim, makes really nice winter tires. Now I REALLY want to lose the 4.56 gears. But the stock transmissions that our trucks come with are really the biggest part of the problem. Correct me if I am remembering incorrectly, but doesn't the C6 come with 2.48/1.48/1.00 gears, and the NP435 is 6.67/3.5/1.67/1.00 ? The C6 then, is going to need ALOT of help from the torque convertor and axle gears to get going. Add to that the fact the C6 is a big sponge when it comes to power. Unless you are missing 1 arm AND 1 leg, I can't see the C6 as being usefull ( yes, Dino's 2wd has a C6 in it and he is VERY embarrassed about that ). Now the NP435 is much less of a hp sponge, but the rpm drop between gears is terrible. I think the ideal solution, if you are going to do truckish things is the Clark 5spd. The NV4500 is available new, but it is just a NP435 with an overdrive, you still have the same rpm drop issues. The Mighty Clarks were available behind FTs for many years, and that is a good thing for those of us building FE powered trucks. The bell housing, flywheel and clutch will all fit an FE without trouble. The FT wheel WILL need to be rebalanced for your FE, and at 40lbs, you might want to lighten it as well. But the 6.99/4.09/2.25/1.47/1.00 spread is better than the standard 4spd offers. My hope is that with 3.5 gears in the axles, the 6.99 gear will give me plenty of pulling power awy from stop signs ( keeping those 35inch tires ), and the 1.00 to 1 in 5th with the 3.5 axles ought to be very live-able on the freeway. The 421 likes good gas ( more than 11 to 1 ) and that just ain't for sale around here for under $3.50-5.00 a gallon. I have read that a filling station about 30 miles from me is supposed to start selling E85 ethanol soon ( farmer fuel ), R+M/2 is over 100. Maybe my high compression Fe can come out onto the streets again. If you are doing car-style driving, I would give the richmond/Nash trannies a serious look. They can take it. I wouldn't pull a tralier full of firewood with them, but thats why I went Clark. Now if I can just get Mrs Dino to stop spending all of the money on house payments and groceries and that kind of nonsense- maybe I can get somewhere. Also- if you think you simply MUST have an auto tranny, how about 2 of them ? Jump over to the tranny forum, I am going to start a thread on double automatic trannys. DF
There are a various factors to my decision. The first is that the 5.38 gears with my tires is virtually identical to the stock 4.11s with stock tires. It's just a tiny bit lower, but it's negligible, something around 2 mph in 2nd gear at 6500rpm. The second is that this engine, all BS aside, likes to live up high. To let this thing make power it needs to be above 4000rpm, so any gearing that puts me below that, when I'm really airing it out, is holding me back. The RPM drops between gears with the NP435 are still way too much, but the 5.38s will minimize it until I get another tranny. As to the tranny choice. I am torn. The wide ratio top loader is a lightweight tranny with a gearset that looks great, the richmond 5 speed also has a ton of gearing choices, but If I go manual, I have to devise some kind of shifter arrangement. The C6, while having a loooong first gear, keeps the RPMs up pretty nicely between shifts, and is cable shifted, meaning easy shifter mounting. Also, that 2.41 first gear is almost identical to my current second gear, and I can tear that gear up as it stands. It might help to prevent so much tire spin. I'll have to choose a tranny when I get the money, but I am pretty well set on the 5.38s.
Brian, you can also get that lower gear set from Ford for the C6, Im sure your Tranny man is quite aware of different sets he can put in there to satisfy your needs?
I was thinking maybe see if TransAdapt...might have a plate, So i might be able to run a later model AOD trans, for the Fryway!!! LOL!!
Russ
__________________
Blue Saphire 70 F250 436"CJ in Progress/Rollerized C6/4:10 Locker
Man I cant bring myself to put an auto in anything these days...... One I put all that money into making mondo hp I dont want anything stealing it..lol but in your case you hardly have to worry especially with todays technology in transmissions. I grew up with a shifter in my hand so i guess im bias anyways...
Lmao I can understand....... the closest i have got to the auto Is manual valve body. Although I think a tough auto is nice in a 400hp street cruiser. Something to look good, sound good and race around in. but for the srt/10 5spd! all the way gotta beat em at their own game
Have you driven the SRT-10 yet...I'll tell ya they get with the program,but, with that said, the thro on the tranny has a whole lot to be desired!!
They had one of the Salesman at Our local Dog Dealer, brought one out to are Cruise inn night....and I drove it...Comfy,yes,Power yes, Shifting Sloppy!! aint worth 50K to me!!
Russ
__________________
Blue Saphire 70 F250 436"CJ in Progress/Rollerized C6/4:10 Locker
This forum is owned and operated by Internet Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation. It is not authorized or endorsed by the Ford Motor Company and is not affiliated with the Ford Motor Company or its related companies in any way. FordŽ is a registered trademark of the Ford Motor Company.
.
4 Spuds!!!
