What transmissions are out there for a FE block that offer an overdrive. Right now i get about 1500rpm @30, 2000rpm @40, 2500 @55, and 3000@ 60, and my tired old engine can't take those rpms for any sustained time. I'm looking for a manual but I will go with an AOD C6 if that's the only option in my price range. I know the toploaders are great transmissions and plentiful but they don't offer overdrive. There's also the TR3550/TKO but they seem to be WAY out of my price range. what other transmission/ adapters are out there? AM i overlooking any of my options ie; 2 speed rear end, seperate overdrive units?

Thanks
Nate

 

there was a toploader that was a OD. it came behind 300-6 in the late 70's and early 80's. it looks just like a regular 4 speed ford toploader. and it has a 0.69 overdrive and can be used behind a FE clutch housing.

 

To mate to an FE. you really have few automatic options. There adapters for the A0D transmission, but you'll pay for it. You'll need the adapter and an A0D tranny, about $2500.

There are aftermarket- after tranny OD units, that mate to the tail shaft of the C6. Gear Vendors is one one brand. Again, about $2500. These actually give you 6 gears.

There may be some manual options, but I think mos of these 4/5 speeds still had 1:1 final ratios. At least the transmission that had an FE bellhousing.

You are much better off rebuilding your FE if you are just cncerned about the higher RPM ranges. It should be very happy running all day at 3500 RPM. Remember , these engines came in 3/4 and 1 Tons that had 4.10 and higher gears. they were designed to run at these RPMs.

A rear gear change is also an option, but you will give up some low end oomph. What gears are you running now? How about some taller tires :-)

Seriously. if your FE is struggling at 3000 RPM, it needs some TLC.

 

I think it is pretty rare but my first 70 truck was a three in the tree with factory overdrive, with 4.10 gears I was running about 2000-2100 on the highway.
Steve

 

Nate,
Using one of the OD Toploaders (sometimes called 3+1 or Mexican Toploaders. They're a 4 speed with 1:1 third and .7 or .8:1 fourth gear) is a possibility. I have heard that they do not handle the torque of the FE well, but if you drive gently it might be an option. Check out the two following pages which describe these trannys and give tips for spotting them. (you will have to add the "http:" stuff to these links).
//mercurycapri.com/technical/trans/manual/toploader/toplinfo.html
//www.motivegear.com/tech_info/tranny_guide/tranny_guide.html

You might consider lowering your rearend gears or getting larger (diameter) rear tires, as GTex suggests. My 68 F100 had 2.73 rear gears. It ran 60 mph at 2,000 rpms, and 75 mph at 2,500. I really like it (until I had to pull a trailer). A rear gear swap might be the easiest and best solution to your problem.
Ohio Bill
1972 F100 360 4v 4 speed
1968 Torino GT 429 4v 5 speed

 

I'm running with 3.5 rear gears, and won't be getting any new tires soon. I just bought some new 275/60R15 Bridgestone Dueler H/P's. they're great tires and hoop up really well. I looked for a 275/70R15 but there didn't seem to be any. As far as my engine turning more RPM's it's wuite old and probably tired. It hasn't been rebuild in at least 6 or 7 years, or since we got the truck. We don't have documentation of it ever having been rebuilt. It might have been rebuilt but maybe not. I've added pertronix and edel. performer intake and 600cfm 4bbl, and it runs better now. So since i'm not sure on it's condition i never ,for anything, take it over 3000RPM. 3000RPM is roaring loud and scary but fun. I'm trying to suck the most out of it, but it will eventually get rebuilt. (390 or 428) It was originally a three on the tree overdrive but that transmission is long since gone.

Nate

 

I personally like the O.D. that was a factory option for your FE equipped truck; the Borg-Warner T-85/R11 electric unit. It is tuff, dependable and a loads of fun to drive. Brian G. NY

 

is this an overdrive unit that mates to the C6 tranny? Was it only available on the FE C6 or also the 385 series C6? tia

 

No, This is the "old fashioned" 3 speed tranny with the planetary O.D. affixed to the back of it. It was an option in FE (and maybe others) powered trucks up thru the '72 model year. Brian G. NY

 

This is good topic for a tech article or something. Or maybe a webpage of different options for adding overdrive to the FE engine. The gear spliter behind the trans I've heard of, I've heard there is a termac (sp) that works for overdrive and I just recently got info from CACWBY about a Lentech model AOD for the FE engine. Here's the link if anyone wants to check that out, looks good.

http://www.lentechautomatics.com/home.htm

Now what's this about the 3 on the tree having OD? Is that so? That seems like a viable option is so. What other options are there? I'm seeing people all over the place on this one.

I have an FE that I'm going to rebuild to a 410 possibly, or as big as I can with the 360 block I have now. And I'd like to have an Automatic Overdrive trans to go behind that. Is there one that will work with an adaptor or a bellhousing change or something? Or someone else that builds AOD trans to suit the FE?

-j.banks-

 

So......is it a 3 speed manual, with an overdrive giving it four gears, or is it a three speed manual with the third gear being the overdrive. Sorry I'm just not getting it.

 

the T85 was a 3 speed tranny. and the OD unit that is put on them gives them a "4TH" gear by means of a planetary gear and electric solenoid to engage and disengage it.

so its just like having a 3 speed with a spliter behind it, but I think it only will go into OD if you have it in 3rd (hi) gear.

Correction: The word is Solenoid

 

Ok, so on what trucks did this "factory gear splitter/overdrive unit" come on? Is it easily recongizable? And what transmissions does it work with? Just the t85?

-j.banks-

 

that's awesome

where can you find these units?

 

they were on old 60's cars and trucks they are getting harder to find because of their age.

they might have come in pickups up to about 69 or 70? maybe

mostly found in older ones like the 60 to 66 bodystyle trucks.

the old ford cars and mercuries had it also as a option.