I grew up working on/rebuilding ford automatics so I don't know jack about the manual trans offered out there. What all will mate up to a FE? If I can find a 4spd of some sort then I'm gonna put a 390 in my fairlane b/c I really want that o/d gear. Is T4 one of them? The 390 won't be sluggish either so the trans will have to stand up to some power.
A toploader is the only thing to put in your Fairlane behind your 390. It will fit because they came in those cars behind the FE motors. The are bullet proof too.
Now where can I get one? How do ya'll feel about reman'd tranny's? What all year/models did the toploader come in?
They came at least in the 1966 thru 1969 or 70 Fairlanes, Torinos, Mustangs, Cobras, Cougers, Cyclones with FE's in them. Plus other models in the Ford line.
forgive my ignorance,--Can I just get any T4 and then get a FE bell? I'm seeing that there is a close and wide gear ratio, what would be best for my fairlane? It's got 3.00 gears in it now so I guess I can go to a lower gear.
HAHA!! OK, the Top Loader is just that.. a Top Loader, originally they were used in "performance" cars. I have one in my '66 F100 now. The T# is/was used by Borg Warner for their tranny ID. The close ratio/ wide ratio mainly refers to first and second gear in the trans. Google David Kee Top Loader and search around there a bit for more info than you will likely want to digest. Close means less RPM drop between shifts, but not as low a first gear for starting out. Wide gives more RPM drop between 1 and 2, but a lower first gear for starting out. You will likely need a rear gear around 3.5:1, 3.7:1 or so with either option for decent acceleration.Neither of the first gear ratios is very low compared to a "truck" trans.
HTH
Hi, Bear! We should be able to help him out! Spend his money$$$$
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1966 F100 4X2 428 4 and 3 sp. 2.75:1 rear
1989 F250 Super cab 351 4X4
1965 Mustang coupe w/289 2bl.
forgive my ignorance,--Can I just get any T4 and then get a FE bell? I'm seeing that there is a close and wide gear ratio, what would be best for my fairlane? It's got 3.00 gears in it now so I guess I can go to a lower gear.
With 3.00 gears you want the wide ratio. I ran a close ratio with a 3.00 rear for a while way back when and 1st gear would do 60 mph at redline. With 3.91s or 4.30s in the rear the close ratio is a killer off the line. With real good tires or slicks you can lift front wheels. Gear wise it's what the 428SCJ Drag Packs ran for gears.
There is another site, just google "toploader 4 speed"
Not sure what a T4 is, never heard of that.
Forget Borg Warner T10 unless you buy a new one if you can even find that.
You want to run 3.91 or 4.30 gears, an od would come in handy. See the "ID Charts", "toploader imposters". There is an od trans, but it would suck big time.
1st and 2nd ok, huge gap 2nd to 3rd, and if you leaned on 4th it would probably break. (although at least one guy here has one behind a 390....)
$1000 or so for the toploader with all the new stuff and which won't pop out of gear on you, see the site.
$3000 for a GearVendor overdrive to bolt to the back of it.
ok while we are on manual transmissions that fit behind 390's dose anyone know of a race/high performance tranny to go into a 4x4 76' f150? any input is useful im still trying to learn about 390's and what goes with them. Thanks
A wide ratio toploader has 2.78 first gear, the close ratio is 2.32. Unless you run a bunch of rear gear, the close ratio is like starting out in second gear all the time. It's a great road racing tranny, as 1st gear is usable at good speed.
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1967 F100 352/4spd
1969 F100 428CJ/4 spd
64 Galaxie with blown 390 4 spd
64 Galaxie wagon with 428 5 spd 2006 UMTR POWERSHIFT
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OK, the Top Loader is just that.. a Top Loader, originally they were used in "performance" cars. I have one in my '66 F100 now. The T# is/was used by Borg Warner for their tranny ID. The close ratio/ wide ratio mainly refers to first and second gear in the trans. Google David Kee Top Loader and search around there a bit for more info than you will likely want to digest. Close means less RPM drop between shifts, but not as low a first gear for starting out. Wide gives more RPM drop between 1 and 2, but a lower first gear for starting out. You will likely need a rear gear around 3.5:1, 3.7:1 or so with either option for decent acceleration.Neither of the first gear ratios is very low compared to a "truck" trans.
