I'm thinking about buying my friends 1962 F100. It has a 223 straight six with a 4 speed manual transmission with a granny gear. I like the truck, but I don't really need something geared like that and I'm not interested in the granny gear. Sort of wanted something with OD and gears for the highway.

I was wondering if you all had any experience in making a truck like this into something that can get on the highway and cruise? Is there a 3 speed tranny with OD that I can bolt on easily? Or maybe some other transmission option that will help me achieve my goal?

I already have a 71 f100 with a 360 and 4 speed granny and it is enough for my towing, hauling needs.

andrew

 

Andrew, A 5.0L/AOD setup might be a good choice.


The 223 is a small engine and it takes the gearing to make it work. Your 360 on the other hand is on the other end of that spectrum and can drive a much less ratio.

It's the combination that makes it what it is.

John

 

If this is to be your toy, and not used for hauling, then you have another option that granny gear gives you. This one is cheap, easy to do, and easily undone if you have a Ford 9" rear, which you most likely do.
Raise the rear end gearing.
Change out the rear punkin, chunk or 3rd member for a very high gear ratio, and use the first gear for your starting out genuine first gear.
The output shaft will still be turning the same RPMs as before, the the higher gear ratio in the rear will give you higher speed at the same RPMs.
With the 223, I would sugggest you try a 3.25, and then later maybe try a 3.00 if you can go higher.

What ratio do you have now? If you aren't sure, check the numbers on the tag bolted to the front of the axle. The second line will look like this: 3 73 where this means you have a 3.50 rear. If it looks like this: 3L73 then you have a locking type rear end.

 

Thanks for the idea Banjopicker. I've read over and over again on this forum about changing out the rear end for different gears. and about how easy it is to do and how much of a difference it makes. I've never done it before, and that makes me a litte afraid,but I assume it is just like everything else..you have to do it or get off the pot! It is something I want to do to one of my vehicles though.

Do you think that it will make that much of a difference? Can it really change a truck that is geared low for working, to something that will cruise the highway a lot better? Or will it give only a small change in driving characteristics?

I've heard about it so much that I have to give it a try. If not with the 62 then maybe with my 71.

Oh, are there different spline counts for the 62?
andrew

 

Ford only use 2 spline counts in the light duty trucks, 28 and 31. Yours most likely is 28, so that is what you will need to find.

I changed my truck's rear gears from a 3.50 to a 2.75 - but I also went to a much more powerful engine, a 460. The 460 can produce the extra torque needed to get the heavily loaded truck moving from a stop with those gears, whereas a 300 or 352 engine cannot.

As for your '71, keep in mind your basic physics. If you want to get speed out of your '71, you will lose your torque. That is probably something you do not want to do if that is your towing and working vehicle.
Even if you do try to make it work, the clutch will burn out much faster due to the extra slipping it has to do to get going.

 

My first Unibody F100 had 5.13(!) gears. I swapped them for car gears, 2.76 or something like that. Way too high, but it did cruise at highway speeds a lot better. Wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding, though. I'd recommend something in the 3.83 range, lots of '70's pickups had them.
There is a Ford toploader overdrive that will fit your bellhousing, but they're rare, most have the newer bolt pattern.

 

R. Pope, I agree that we need to use caution about making recommendations of a wide range change on rears. The high numbers are run behind the small 6s for a reason, to put power to the ground.

Another thing, back in the early 60s, pickups were driven in the 45-50 mph range. Most roads were dirt or narrow two lane.

They are making horse power with 4 cylinders today like the monster big blocks did in the 60s, but it still has to be matched up to make it work. IMHO

John

 

Andrew

There was alot of good advise there.
I switched out my 3.50 up to 3.0, My truck has the 352 so it has the torque to get her rolling with no problem, I still don't use my granny gear. You would most likely have to with a six cylinder.
The swap is easy and can be done in half a day. The third members can be had for cheep at your local salvage yard. Mine came from a 70's LTD. I still have the old 3.50 pumkin and if I had to could just through it right back in.

My RPM's dropped about 300 and gas mileage went up by quite a bit.

Tranny swap would be alot harder in my opinion.