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1961 - 1966 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Slick Sixties Ford Truck

Manual Transmission - what are my options

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Old Dec 28, 2010 | 10:50 AM
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Manual Transmission - what are my options

If I keep a manual tranny, I'd like to install a normal (useful) 4 speed that is geared higher than the 4 speed granny gear tranny I have now.

Thoughts?
 
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Old Dec 28, 2010 | 11:24 AM
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You will have to go to overdrive. All non OD trannys have a 1 to 1 high gear output ratio whether it's a 3 spd or 9 spd. You can get different 1st gear ratios.

Some folk refer to what you have as a 3 spd with granny, granny only used in extreme cases. I have seen it used in the hay field. The truck is put in gear and pointed driver less. One person walks on the drivers side pitching hay and guiding the truck along the field.




John
 
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Old Dec 28, 2010 | 11:45 AM
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What engine are you running, gearing? There are options as jowilker posted, but say with a six cyl the OD may be useless for you due to where your power band is. Also intended use, plain street driving, towing or actually using as a truck to haul.
 
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Old Dec 28, 2010 | 06:18 PM
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352 and D44 w/4.10
 
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Old Dec 28, 2010 | 06:34 PM
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Been there DONE this!!! First in a 56 Chevy, and then in MY first truck, a 66 F100, 352/NP435,,, had the idle adjusted perfectly,,, throw (buck) throw, throw, throw,,, turn a tad and repeat till the end of the field, git in, turn around and do it again till full,, go to barn unload,, repeat! Thanks for that reminder! Walkin down memory lane now!

Originally Posted by jowilker
You will have to go to overdrive. All non OD trannys have a 1 to 1 high gear output ratio whether it's a 3 spd or 9 spd. You can get different 1st gear ratios.

Some folk refer to what you have as a 3 spd with granny, granny only used in extreme cases. I have seen it used in the hay field. The truck is put in gear and pointed driver less. One person walks on the drivers side pitching hay and guiding the truck along the field.

John
 
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Old Dec 28, 2010 | 08:09 PM
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If you do not plan to beat on the truck you could do the world class T5 swap.

Get an 86 and later preferabley 92 and later V8 T5. Also get any T5 from from an S10. I don't know if a Ranger T5 would work, but I do know a S10 box works.

Swap the shifter parts of the S-10 to the Mustang T5 there plenty of write up from people who have done this.

Yeah Yeah its not a truck tranny, but the cheap 3 speeds were bullet proof themselves. So a WC T5 should last if you don't do 1-2 powershifts. Also if you tow do so in 4th since it is the strongest gear even if it tows fine in 5th.
 
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Old Dec 28, 2010 | 08:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Ziegelsteinfaust
If you do not plan to beat on the truck you could do the world class T5 swap.

Get an 86 and later preferabley 92 and later V8 T5. Also get any T5 from from an S10. I don't know if a Ranger T5 would work, but I do know a S10 box works.

Swap the shifter parts of the S-10 to the Mustang T5 there plenty of write up from people who have done this.

Yeah Yeah its not a truck tranny, but the cheap 3 speeds were bullet proof themselves. So a WC T5 should last if you don't do 1-2 powershifts. Also if you tow do so in 4th since it is the strongest gear even if it tows fine in 5th.
Will it fit the bellhousing and/or mate up to the FE?
 
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Old Dec 29, 2010 | 01:42 AM
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If you have a top-loader varient it will from what I have been told, and the sideloader which is what I have is supposed to be a varient.

4 speed with granny I do not know, but if the front of your tranny looks like a T5 you'll be ok.

Most likely if your 65 and later your ok.
64 and earlier is pretty bad for you.

I am debating on this swap since my wife will probily want to drive the truck once in a while, and she don't drive stick. So I am probily looking at a C6 with 2.73's in the rear to get my mpgs up.
 
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Old Dec 29, 2010 | 05:10 PM
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Bell housing diameters changed in 72. Modifications will be required.

Speedway makes a new bell housing for T5 and Tremec TKO 500/600.
Ford FE 352-390-427-428 Steel Bellhousing - T5 & TKO

Garbz
 
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Old Dec 29, 2010 | 05:45 PM
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With the options and prices for another manual, I'll probably go with a C6. I have one in the basement and I'll just get that rebuilt. The steering column that I have for the power steering swap already has an automatic shifter on it.
 
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