hello all,




In a junk yard around where i live (nebraska ) looking for a transmission
( was a np435 in mine , now a bwt18 ,long story )


found a borg warner or tremec (?) t170 or 170 series transmission


in a 1989/90 ford f150 4x2 4.9l i6


can any one tell me more about the transmission


was looking to get it for a spare

is it good ?

to me it looks like an aluminum borg warner t18/19

is it OD in fourth gear ?

it looks like a 4 speed

is it strong

ect.

 

Your description is of the top shifted unit, aluminum case. These were Ford or Tremec, not sure of the history.

There were three designs, used in cars and trucks. First was the "SROD", the "Single Rail Over Drive". It shifted via a turret mounted on the trans, with a single rail up into the main case. A tube connected the main case to the turret. Then there is your top shifted unit. An iron model with a side shifter was also produced. I had one in my '85 E150.

These transmissions were based on the performance "Top Loader" 4 speed from the 1960s. They fiddled with a shift fork, and changed 3rd gear to an OD, so it is geared like a 3 speed, with 4th being OD. Big gap 2nd to 3rd.

Strong? No. The aluminum cased units will grenade fairly easily if abused. The iron unit is stronger, but not to be abused. Someone here is running one behind a 390 with some success, so they are not like eggshells, but they are not for drag racing.

First and reverse will be pretty tall compared to your current box.

IMO for your truck, I would not go through the work and expense to convert to one of these. If I wanted a 5er, I would go T5 for light duty, the Mazda M5OD for regular use or the ZF 5er if a lot of heavy work.

 

i was looking more for a lighter or Od unit for mpgs


but I like a little towing/hauling capacity


I don't think the Mazda unit is strong enough (bad reviews )


but I can't find a zf5 in the smaller (Windsor bell housing )
( I also found in a dent side f150 a 4 speed top loader / the real one ! )/ it might be t85 ?


any clue if that's a good tranny?


I couldn't find a np435 (my favorite smooth shifting tranny) so I got a bwt18 (kinda dislike it )

 

The Mazda is at least as strong or stronger than the aluminum cased 4 speed ODs. The bad reviews for the Mazda box are due to the large numbers of these out there that have reached the end of their service lives. The shift forks do wear, and it is possible to run the Mazda box out of oil. It is also possible to find parts for the Mazda box fairly easily.

Have you found ONE review of a Mazda trans where the trans actually broke? Busted case or gears?

The ratios of the 4 speed OD SUCK. First in the Mazda box is a little lower, and there is no grand canyon between gears.

Like I said, I would not install one of these, I would simply move to a 5 speed.

For your SB ZF, look at 300 and 351W F250s.

A "real toploader" is a Ford trans, with a 1:1 4th, and either a 2.78 or 2.32 first gear. They are great transmissions in cars. A T85 is an older Borg Warner 3 speed, a side-loading, side-shifted non-synchro first gear box found in the mid '50s to mid '60s, and some could be had with an OD unit bolted to the tail.

 

the real top loader was behind a big v8( 351 w,c,m or 400) dent side (1973-79)ford f150 4 speed side mounted shift links and no OD bulge (case iron ) sort of strange


mazda 5speed od ok but better than the srod how durable is it in a f150 3.08 rear 4.9l regular cab long box 4x2 truck
and rough mpg % increase vs the bw t18


( I like the 3 on the tree in my 67 f100 240 better , but my original np435 was awesome )




no zf5 here only a 460 and a idi diesel 88/89 f250's


wish they made a cheap od/ splitter bolt on unit with 0.70-60 od

 

The Mazda would be plenty durable in the truck described. The MPG difference could be 10%, +/-, hard to tell as there are many other factors involved.

Not sure this site will come over with the comparison, but they list the '90 F150 4x2 with the creeper 4 speed and the 5 speed OD. 15/18 with the 5 speed, 15/18 with the creeper 4 speed.

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