Hey guys, I'm rebuilding a 429 out of a 68 Thunderbird for my friend who is going to put it into his 77 Ford 2wd 1/2 ton truck. He would like to get a top-loader 5 speed with overdrive. My question to you guys is if there is a way to do this? I know Ford put 460's into those trucks and some I would guess had 4 speeds with 1st gear as a granny gear. Are there any affordable overdrive manual trannies available? It's going to be a mild rebuild and it won't see off-road duty. Just some mild towing every now and then. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

Matt

 

No answers in 73-9 so moved to TDAT.

 

I think your only option is the ZF S5-42. Read up here.

 

Thanks for your input...can one of those get put into an older, non-computerized truck? Also, is 5th gear overdrive and 1st a granny gear? I'm not super familiar with this truck yet, but was there a decent 4 speed manual offered from the factory behind the 460? I think if the truck has highway gears and decent tires, maybe a 4 speed would be acceptable to him (the owner). Thanks again!

 

The ZF isn't computerized. All you have to do is bolt it in (and hook up the hydraulic clutch). 1st is a granny, and 5th is overdrive.

Before the ZF, Ford used a BorgWarner T19 4-spd on the 460's. The donor truck would be an 83 to 86 and maybe a bit newer.

 

The ZF would have to come off a pre-92 since the newer trannies don't have anywhere for you to hook up the speedo.

Another, but probably more expensive option, is the NV 4500 out of a late model Dodge HD. Granny first and OD 5th, nearly unbreakable, it lives behind the Cummins Diesel. Advance Adaptors sells a kit to fit it to Fords. It would allow you to use the original Ford clutch and bellhousing if you have them.

 

Thank-you for all the info...you've been very helpful. If I went with the T-19, would that be a direct swap? I assume I'd have to get a bellhousing, etc. If that the same tranny that this truck would have if it were ordered originally with a 460 and a manual tranny? It's a 77 2wd with a 351M. Is 4th gear on the T-19 1:1 or is it overdrive? Would this be a tranny that you would recommend? How about price and availability? Is one or the other very expensive or hard to locate? Thanks again!

 

In the 1970's, you couldn't get a truck with both a 460 and a manual transmission.

Rebuilt or good used ZFs are in demand to replace broken ZFs, thus expect to pay a lot for a ZF. The Borg Warner T19 should be quite a bit cheaper - nobody wants a 4-spd anymore!

 

But you could use a np435 which was available in 73-79 trucks and was put behind the 400 which uses the same bellhousing as the 460. That's pretty much a bulletproof trannie with a granny 1st and 1:1 4th. Just find a 400 bellhousing and you're set.

I've not seen the swap done with a 2wd but I know on the 4wd you need to find a 460 oil pan also. The front sump pan on the 429 won't work because of the front axle. I don't know if the 2wd's use a monobeam or not so I have to claim ignorance here.

 

Matt,
Have you considered the Tremec TKO 5 speed? Your original post said "affordable" and it's unlikely you'll find a used TKO and new TKOs run around $1500. Briefly, the TKO is an aluminum cased overdrive 5 speed (1st gear is not a granny gear, 4th is 1:1, 5th is .68:1 although a .8:1 5th can be ordered). It's been used in some of the Cobra R's and some other project cars (e.g., Summit Racing's "Quikstang"). It shares many of the dimensions w/ the Toploader (speedo gear, trans mount holes). I've run one behind the 429 in my 68 Torino for a couple of years now and it's been quite nice. I'm not sure how it would handle towing, but it seems to handle high horsepower applications well.
Just a thought, drop a line if you would like to know more.
Ohio Bill
1972 F100 360 4v 4 speed
1968 Torino GT 429 4v 5 speed

 

That's been a matter of some debate, The TKO/3550 gear ratios are actually a bit too close for a truck, 1st is only 3.35 and the tranny probably isn't up to the inertial loads involved in towing.

The T-18 and NP435 are good strong 4 speed boxes with a granny 1st but 1st isn't synchronised. The T-19 adds the synchro but doesn't usually have as deep a 1st gear. Any one of them would be stronger than the Tremec but lacks the OD.

There's another way to get to an OD tranny. Advance Adaptors makes a 2 speed box called the Ranger that goes in front of the tranny. IIRC it's a 27% OD. Combined with a HD truck tranny like an NP435 or a T-19, you'd have a lot of flexibility, with 4 speeds in either of 2 ranges. It's not cheap though.