Alright ive got a 1960 f100 with a slipping clutch and a 223 six thats dieing a horrible death. ive been wanting to swap sixes 223 to 300 and i was wondering what bell housing i need to use for the four speed in it. any help would be great.

 

Andy, welcome to FTE.

I do not believe you'll easily be able to use the stock T-98 4-speed tranny with a 300 c.i. inline 6.You'd likely need an expensive adapter, but there are others who know far more than me about various swaps.Someone will be along soon.

Member Col. Flashman has the nicest 300 I've ever seen:

1965 Mercury M100 4x2 - My Built 300 I-6

Though he has an automatic in his truck, he might be able to give you advice on which combinations will work.Hopefully he'll see this.There are others, as well, who'll have good input.

 

Your 4 speed probably has the old square bell to trans pattern.

Later Fords switched to a more trapazoidal looking "butterfly" pattern.

Serving suggestion: Get a 300 with a trans attached, maybe even a 5 speed.

Depending on your use and axle, the Mazda box would work for light duty, road-oriented, or the ZF for heavier hauling. Both require a juice clutch--does your truck have that already?

 

I think the input is also longer on your tranny than the 300. Good thing is there are millions of those old 300s with all sorts of trannys.
I have the ZF 5 speed on a 300 I build in a 92 F-250, love that tranny. The Mazda 5 speed is ok but the reverse gear is ridiculous high and almost impossible to back a trailer up a slight incline without smoking the clutch. I don't think you will find a 300 with the ZF already in it, most common place to find one is behind a 351. The 460 and diesel ones won't work for you.
I also have one of the aluminum BW top shift 3+OD 4 speeds and just hauled in an 80 F-150 with a 300 and the cast iron toploader with 4th overdrive. The aluminum ones are pretty rare, the cast iron toploaders aren't. The gear spread is a little funky and not the best for towing but for just driving they are a pretty nice tranny.
BTW, lots of 300s did have their own version of the T98. My 72 came from the factory with one. In the early 80s they had synchronized first gear and if you can find one from a diesel, it will have 4.00:1 first gear instead of the insanely unusable 6.something to one.

 

thanks for the replies ill just have to scroung junkyards looking for 5 speeds. i would go automatic but i know if i get one from a junk yard its most likely toast and im not willing to buy a new one.

 

My vote: 300 six with a ZF. Love that HD 5 spd.

 

Me too. Remember that Ford 5 speeds have the bellhousing cast right into the tranny so you will be looking for a small block ZF. You will need to look in the F-250 and F-350, no F-150 had a ZF AFAIK
Mazda trannys have the intergrated bell housing too.
You could also look to the Mustangs with the 5.0 for a stickshift, might find a T5 set up.

 

ill look into it more thanks for the replies now i have an idea of what to look for

 

You need a bellhousing from a F series larger truck with a 300 six . I found one in a 67 F600 , it was a 300/ 4spd. This bell has the older trans pattern and has the side motor mounts on it. The Hollander interchange # is 577 --casting# C5TZ-7505-E.

I hope this helps ----- Hotwrench

 

thanks hotwrench ill have to keep my eyes peeled

 

Do you already have an engine? If not, I'd look for a complete engine/trans from one of the vehicles suggested. NO clutch issues then.

Serving suggestion, ymmv

 

i know someone with three, one that is basically new just on an engine stand. i might be able to pick it up cheap. but if i can't ill have to look into buying a whole truck just for the running gear. but im still trying to look for an easier alternative that won't require to much fabrication/modification to the frame so i can put the original 223 back in way down the road.by the time the 300 im going to be putting in is almost used up the original 223 should be all rebuilt and fresh.

 

The 300 is installed in Flashy's 1958 Mercury M100, not a 1965. AFAIK, Flashy doesn't own a 1965 anything.

I've seen this truck in person, since it was parked in my garage while Flashy and I were rubbing out the paint.

 

Andy, I hope you're pretty young if you plan on 'using up' a fresh 300 six. They run a long time .

 

lol that's right, well i am young and im still going to rebuild the 223. i should say when i do a full resto on it down the road ill put the 223 back in