Does anyone know if there is either an overdrive transmission that could be bolted up to an FE block or an adapter to bolt a different trany that would not normally fit?
adaptor availble for a t-5 manual cant remember who makes it though. A SROD or T-19 ford transmision should also bolt up with the correct bellhousing. gearvendors makes an add on overdrive for auto and manual trannys but I think they cost over 2K. happy hunting in the war on gas prices I feel you.
try fbperformance.com. They have automatics with overdrive that will bolt right up utilizing the stock flywheel, starter bolt pattern, and bellhousing bolt pattern.
Yes, adapters are made for that purpose. Some are complete bells that must be put on the automatic OD trannys. On some, you cut off the OE bell at the pump bolts and attach the new bell with longer bolts. Last time I checked, JW specialties and also others. I know they make them for the 351M/400/429/460 large pattern bells also. I think I saw them at Level 10 also.
Say you save 10% on fuel economy. Your FE probably gets 8 mpg, so now you're pulling 9. That will take a looooonnng time to save enough to offset even the cheapest way to put a reliable OD behind your motor.
Say you save 10% on fuel economy. Your FE probably gets 8 mpg, so now you're pulling 9. That will take a looooonnng time to save enough to offset even the cheapest way to put a reliable OD behind your motor.
I think 15-16 is not out of the question with OD. I can get 13 out of my FE, C6, and 3.00 gears. You would have to have short gears to run at 8. IMHO
John
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In the cool still quiet hours of night, you can hear chevies rusting away.
85e150six4mtod might be right about having a minimal amount of return with the mileage increase. But what about increasing the life of your engine if you are to use it 75% of the time on the highway in overdrive versuses a 1:1 transmission gear ratio? If there was a justafiable amount of "engine wear & tear savings", would it be worth it to swap transmissions (lets say an extra 30,000-50,000 miles on the life of a current or rebuilt motor)? Of course the optimal return would be reduced engine wear and increased mileage in my book, but beggers can't be chosers either. Just some food for thought.
If you are getting 13 and get a 20% increase, you are at 15.6. Getting an overall 20% increase from a 22% OD in overall driving would be unlikely.
15000 miles @13 mpg = 1154 gal (approx) @ $4/gal = $4616 per year.
15000 miles @ 15.6 mpg = 962 gal (approx) @ $4/gal = $3848 per year, a savings of $768 per year. ($576 @ $3/gal)
Say you spent $5000 for a crate motor installed (a fantasy number perhaps). Chrome-plated johnson rods and all, it's designed to run 200,000 miles in the standard application, which means 1:1 final drive.
200,000 miles @ 15000 miles per year: 13.33333 years.
Your OD adds 20% to the life of your motor, so now it lasts 240,000 miles.
240,000 miles @ 15000 miles per year: 16 years.
So, you will delay another $5000 expenditure scheduled 13.333 years from now for another 2.666 years. At which point, the vehicle will have close to 500,000 miles on it, and will probably need tires to taillight bulbs....
Now I'd do the present value of $5000 for 13.33 years vs. 16 years, but I forget how to do present values, I don't have the proper HP calculator, and I think it don't matter....
We could continue here and figure out the cost of buying a lightly used small to midsize car that would push 30 mpg to do the running around, figure out its life and salvage value, etc etc and it might could be that a $5000 Focus is cheaper than a $3000 OD or even a $2000 trans switch.
I know you can do all this cheaper, but I'm thinking "drive the truck" not "work on the truck".
I'm all for better transmissions with more gears and OD, but reality must be faced.
Modern driveline moderndriveline.com has adapt for putting t5s t56's zf's etc behind an fe for about $450. Look back on this page, I posted the info about a week ago.
One thing missing here is more info from the OP. Looking at his other posts, it appears he has a '69 F250 with a modded 390 and automatic. He is also seeking cam advice...
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