Strong Ford 4 speeds
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 57
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From: Spanaway,WA
Strong Ford 4 speeds
Im building a pretty stout 390 for my 69 F100 and want a manual trans for sure. I just cant justify spending 2500 plus on a TKO. Any suggestions on factory ford 4 speeds that are pretty burly?
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,491
Likes: 2,806
You want a "performance" trans I take it, not a truck trans.
There is but one choice: Ford toploader.
Remanufactured Toploaders
Almost as much as that TKO...
Toploader 4 Speed Transmissions
There is, as you can see on both those links, an OD version used from the late '70s to mid '80s. Forget it for a warmed up 390.
If you get the iron cased job and drive very gently, it will work if you like a big gap between 2nd and 3rd.
Note the 2.78 or 2.32 first gear. Depends on your axle ratio and what you want.
I looked for one of these in the early '80s in San Diego. I did find a good one for $500 then, but I think them days is over.
You gonna drive this thing any distance? Short gears and no OD makes for a miserable experience after a while. Spend the money on the OD. jmo.
Or go with an OD automatic. You'll probably have to use a GM trans, as the E4OD is too big and AOD too weak.
There is but one choice: Ford toploader.
Remanufactured Toploaders
Almost as much as that TKO...
Toploader 4 Speed Transmissions
There is, as you can see on both those links, an OD version used from the late '70s to mid '80s. Forget it for a warmed up 390.
If you get the iron cased job and drive very gently, it will work if you like a big gap between 2nd and 3rd.
Note the 2.78 or 2.32 first gear. Depends on your axle ratio and what you want.
I looked for one of these in the early '80s in San Diego. I did find a good one for $500 then, but I think them days is over.
You gonna drive this thing any distance? Short gears and no OD makes for a miserable experience after a while. Spend the money on the OD. jmo.
Or go with an OD automatic. You'll probably have to use a GM trans, as the E4OD is too big and AOD too weak.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Spanaway,WA
Thanks for the info! The more I look into it I might as well spring for a 5 speed. Get to blast through the gears and have OD would be worth it. I would be close to spending the same for a decent top loader it looks like.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
One thing to keep in mind with David Kee's Toploaders is they're all new parts and you're not going to break it in your lifetime. A small block Toploader will hold up fine behind a 390. I used to run em behind a 427.
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