3 to 4 speed conversion
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2007
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What Im wondering is if the 4 speed will fit under my current floor without cutting a giant hole.
Can I just cut a hole for the shifter, then bolt the raised cover over my floor with sheet metal screws so the shifter has something to bolt onto?
The auto tranny trucks had the raised floor, but the auto will fit under the low floor.
Can I just cut a hole for the shifter, then bolt the raised cover over my floor with sheet metal screws so the shifter has something to bolt onto?
The auto tranny trucks had the raised floor, but the auto will fit under the low floor.
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my garage
Jo: Good to see a post from you again. Go to j66b garage: I posted before and after pictures. It drives beautifully as well, although the kid at the tire shop informed the manger that the power steering was not working! j66b
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John
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Jon
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T18, T19 & NP435 are top loaded and top shifted, and thus have a fairly tall profile compared to the three speeds. That's why you need the different trans tunnel cover for those.
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3 M/T and 3 M/T O/D are three speed manual transmissions, with the OD having an electrically shifted overdrive on the tail These are Borg Warner transmissions, T85, T86, T87 would/might be the model numbers depending on application. Side loaded three and performance four speeds are Borg Warner boxes. Ford three speeds are top loaded, but side shifted.
T18, T19 & NP435 are top loaded and top shifted, and thus have a fairly tall profile compared to the three speeds. That's why you need the different trans tunnel cover for those.
Thanks for the information. I guess I will continue my search for a replacement transmission for my NP 435.
Is there an easy way to get a non granny 4 or 5 speed into my 65 f100 with the 352?
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Easy but not cheap.
T19 is the closest, easiest.
Ford Toploader performance trans will bolt up also, but you will have to figure out linkage, and you will have a 2.78 first gear and pretty high reverse. And 4th is 1:1.
Ford 4 speed OD from the late '70s-'80s will work, not quite as tall in first at about 3.27 or 3.29, reverse is pretty tall, big gap 2nd to 3rd and 4th is .78 or so. The iron cased, side shifted units will hold up to a gently driven FE. Shifters are again an issue.
5 speed? An expensive adapter will fit a truck model NV4500, or an expensive bell will fit a T56 performance trans. IIRC you may be able to fit a ZF with, again, an expensive adapter. ($800-850)
T19 is the closest, easiest.
Ford Toploader performance trans will bolt up also, but you will have to figure out linkage, and you will have a 2.78 first gear and pretty high reverse. And 4th is 1:1.
Ford 4 speed OD from the late '70s-'80s will work, not quite as tall in first at about 3.27 or 3.29, reverse is pretty tall, big gap 2nd to 3rd and 4th is .78 or so. The iron cased, side shifted units will hold up to a gently driven FE. Shifters are again an issue.
5 speed? An expensive adapter will fit a truck model NV4500, or an expensive bell will fit a T56 performance trans. IIRC you may be able to fit a ZF with, again, an expensive adapter. ($800-850)
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Junior User
Joined: May 2013
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What Im wondering is if the 4 speed will fit under my current floor without cutting a giant hole.
Can I just cut a hole for the shifter, then bolt the raised cover over my floor with sheet metal screws so the shifter has something to bolt onto?
The auto tranny trucks had the raised floor, but the auto will fit under the low floor.
Can I just cut a hole for the shifter, then bolt the raised cover over my floor with sheet metal screws so the shifter has something to bolt onto?
The auto tranny trucks had the raised floor, but the auto will fit under the low floor.
Remove the floor mat from your truck, and, if it's like mine, there will be a groove stamped in it to accept the flange of the cover. Most of the covers have a hole in them. The one I found had a round hole, exactly in the right place. The shifter does not need to bolt on to anything: consider it part of the transmission. Remove the shifter before trying to install it. Whatever you do, DON'T DROP THE LITTLE PAWL AT THE BASE OF THE SHIFTER CANE INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND LEAVE IT THERE. If it gets meshed in the gears you'll likely split the case. j66b
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transmission
Yes, there is. Go to tremec.com and look at the TKO series. I don't know how much they cost. 5sp .68 overdrive, synchro in all gears. j66b
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Swap update
I finally got the drive train operational. I bit the bullet and bought a professionally rebuilt t-19 with 5.11 first gear from Novak Adapters. It is wonderful. They do great work.
I carefully tuned and timed with a vacuum gauge (sounds crazy at first, but it works. With a pertronix distributor, 30deg before top dead works the best.
So: with a 352, t-19, 2.73 rear, new autolite single platinum 45 plugs, 265/75 R15 radials inflated to 40 psi, dual turbo muffler exhaust, and a diamondback bed cover, on last weekend's trip I got 20.4 mpg.
It's so nice not searching for a gas station every 200 miles. I would recommend this set up to anyone who does not tow or carry heavy loads.
j66b
I carefully tuned and timed with a vacuum gauge (sounds crazy at first, but it works. With a pertronix distributor, 30deg before top dead works the best.
So: with a 352, t-19, 2.73 rear, new autolite single platinum 45 plugs, 265/75 R15 radials inflated to 40 psi, dual turbo muffler exhaust, and a diamondback bed cover, on last weekend's trip I got 20.4 mpg.
It's so nice not searching for a gas station every 200 miles. I would recommend this set up to anyone who does not tow or carry heavy loads.
j66b
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