Let me get this out of the way right now;

Either decision will leave me wishing I tried the other

Lose - Lose so I just want opinions on which one I should stick with at least for now

I have an NP435 and NP205 from my laid to rest 1978 F250 project. Tranny rebuilt, transfer case refreshed and twin stick ready. I can't sell it, been trying for months on craigslist locally. . .so i was thinking of trying it behind my 1987 F250 (new project truck). Thing is, it is currently an auto.

I also have a 460 C6 tranny case and was going to rebuild that with the wide ratio gear set, shift kit, and "towing" converter. Should drop right when done, not worried about the NP205 t-case but might try an squeeze it in there. . .

So, cost wise the man-tranny is done and ready to drop in. Cost to be incurred is a machine 460 flywheel, clutch, lengthened & shortened drive shafts, shifters, and pedal conversion. I also need to get a z-bar under there (which i have, but not sure if it will fit).

The c6 needs a full rebuild which can cost some green as well but would otherwise drop in. To save not only money but time I will probably stick with the stock t-case. The NP205 would be fun, but totally necessary for me.

The manual tranny in the older f250 was a fun drive. . .just like a dump truck I also find myself manually shifting the c6 because I like getting the rpm's up to around 2500 before shifting (read = fun to drive ). But on the other hand it is nice to be able to just drop it in D and let it do it's thing. . .

So WTF? Might I be better served with a floor shifter for a rebuilt c6 then? Then what do I do with New Process package? I ain't giving it away and it is taking up room in my garage

 

put the NP in, i hate automatics. i dunno why i just hate them.

 

Personally, I would go for the old 4spd. It has the needed low gear when you want the extra umph to pull a load or just creep along, and it has a pretty easy shifting gear pattern in 2 through 4th, albeit a wide one. Plus it is rugged as all get out. The C-6 is an alright tranny, just missing that extra low gear.

 

I put a T18 in place of my smoked C6 in my f350 with the 460. It's great. Only thing better would be a ZF5. If you liked shifting the auto at 2500, you'll love shifting the manual at 3500-4000. It's a wild ride. I usually drive it as a 2 speed, 2nd to 4th and it's good.

 

The C6 is such a great tranny that about the only thing I'd rather have behind a 460 would be the NP435. If the 87 has mech linkage its a no brainer, that is a bulletproof combo.

 

2 real catches I have about the 4 speed. . .

1) I hate working a clutch! Though, being a Sunday fun truck it might not be that big of a problem. . .

2) There is no mechanical linkage stock for an '87. And I'm not sure how to mount an external slave cylinder to the NP435

 

You just need a 460 4spd bellhousing for a hydraulic clutch. Slave mounts to the bell. That's it.

 

I just do not get what is so bad about a clutch. A good working clutch is like working the brake pedal, but if you have been weight lifting with your legs I can see it being an issue. Holding that blane thing to the floor with sore and tired legs is nearly impossible.

 

Lol, drive through Down Town Virginia Beach on a nice weekend and tell me how much fun a clutch is This wouldn't even be an option for a DD for me. . .

The only hydraulic bellhousings are Borg-Warner ones, right? Will they bolt to the NewProcess tranny?

 

Drove through New York and St Louis for the past nine years with a five spd and a NP435. The shifting didnt bother me until I found out the NP435 didnt have any synchros anymore for 2nd and 3rd, then double clutching was a pain. Eh, I guess I can see it for the old 4spd...

 

The NP435 was used until 1986, so there are hydraulic bells for it, but they are the same bell that the T18 and T19 used anyway. The tranny doesn't care what kind of clutch you use.

 

Another vote for the 4spd. Less likely to leave you stranded if something goes wrong. Real men dont complain about shifting. If traffic gets slow I just drop the t-case into 4-low, shift into first and let the idle speed crawl the truck along. It's usually just slow enough I dont have to touch the brakes until the stop sign. I had a C6 once, and I swapped it for a 5spd, one less temp guage to watch.

 

Yall are biased

LoL. . .

I need to run some $$$ numbers. . .I forgot that I have an internal balance 460 in there now so that should make fun trying to find the right flywheel. . .and no well stocked junk yards. . .

Leaning towards the C6. . .I will report back

Until then, there is a rebuilt NP435 in Virginia Beach for sale

 

little food for thought. The 4 spd will get better milage than the C6

 

Mileage is no concern here

Bought the truck with 55,5xx on the odometer. . .2 years later it has 56,7xx on the odometer

This is more or less a full size erector set for me to mess with. I have more fun building and tinkering with it than actually driving it, though it is fun to drive to work on nice Fridays and weekends