Need another gear.....
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Joined: Sep 2003
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Need another gear.....
Have a 72 Camper Special in real good shape. Upgraded electroninc ignition, hardened valve seats, original 390, Auto trans, headers....runs sweet. Problem I have is, I need to drive 200 miles, sometimes twice a week and I want an overdrive.......
Question: Anyone know if there is a way to add a gear, or Replace tranny with a 4 or 5 speed.....{this is my first older ford and I don't know what trannsmission/rear end it has} Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Question: Anyone know if there is a way to add a gear, or Replace tranny with a 4 or 5 speed.....{this is my first older ford and I don't know what trannsmission/rear end it has} Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 426
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From: Knoxville, TN
Need another gear.....
The trans is almost surely a C-6. Post the door tag info and we can decode the axel.
Really, something like a gear vendors over drive is about the only option for keeping an automatic and getting the overdrive.
(I'm thinking I vagely remember someone posting that someone made an AOD>FE adapter?)
Either option is going to cost quite a bit. It may have a really low rear gear, which could be changed. (I'm thinking a CS is likely to have 3.90-4.11s)
Really, something like a gear vendors over drive is about the only option for keeping an automatic and getting the overdrive.
(I'm thinking I vagely remember someone posting that someone made an AOD>FE adapter?)
Either option is going to cost quite a bit. It may have a really low rear gear, which could be changed. (I'm thinking a CS is likely to have 3.90-4.11s)
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 426
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From: Knoxville, TN
Need another gear.....
http://www.medicine.wisc.edu/~mrm/bronco/ftvin.cgi
gives a 24 axel code as: Rear Axle: 4.10 5200lb Dana 60
G is an auto
We can do the rest of it if you like.
gives a 24 axel code as: Rear Axle: 4.10 5200lb Dana 60
G is an auto
We can do the rest of it if you like.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: at my house
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 497
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From: Houston TX
Need another gear.....
I think changing the 4:10 to something higher would be easier and cheaper than adding an OD. If I did add an OD, probably an older AOD would be the easiest being it needs no puter, and only a carb hookup connection. "I assume it can be mated with your big block bellhousing some way." A good 5 speed manual? Nice, but not at all cheap.
Gearvendors? Again, nice, but way too rich for my iron poor blood.
Changing the gear to a 3.55 or so would probably be a fairly cheap and painless fix, and you still have a little torque. I would actually recomend even higher for the highway, like a 3.08, 3.33 "dana 60" or whatever, but being thats a camper special and you might want to haul some weight some day, probably best not to get carried away. I have the same dilemma with mine. I also have a 4:10 and am considering changing to maybe a 3.55. Sure hate to loose my in town torque though...
A 4:10 is nice in town at slower speeds. Not so great on the road though.. I turn about 2700 or so at 55 mph. Assuming my speedo is correct that is..Actually sometimes it seems I'm going a little faster than it says. One of these days, I'm going to test my speedo with a GPS. MK
Gearvendors? Again, nice, but way too rich for my iron poor blood.
Changing the gear to a 3.55 or so would probably be a fairly cheap and painless fix, and you still have a little torque. I would actually recomend even higher for the highway, like a 3.08, 3.33 "dana 60" or whatever, but being thats a camper special and you might want to haul some weight some day, probably best not to get carried away. I have the same dilemma with mine. I also have a 4:10 and am considering changing to maybe a 3.55. Sure hate to loose my in town torque though...
A 4:10 is nice in town at slower speeds. Not so great on the road though.. I turn about 2700 or so at 55 mph. Assuming my speedo is correct that is..Actually sometimes it seems I'm going a little faster than it says. One of these days, I'm going to test my speedo with a GPS. MK
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,209
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From: Black Hills of SD
Need another gear.....
A 3:55 is the tallest gear offered in a dana60. They did make a model 61 that would accomodate taller gears I understand. A place called Bendtsen's Transmission Adapters makes on to hook a 700R-4 to just about anything including an FE. Their number is 763-767-4480. Also website is tranmissionadapters.com . I have only seen their ad in a magazine and have never contacted them but it may be worth a try.
I have 2 F-250s. One with 3:73s and one with 4:10s. I really like the 3:73 for an all around gear. It pulls good and yet still cruises decent too. The 4:10s are just a little low for these old trucks to comfortably cruise at freeway speeds.
I have 2 F-250s. One with 3:73s and one with 4:10s. I really like the 3:73 for an all around gear. It pulls good and yet still cruises decent too. The 4:10s are just a little low for these old trucks to comfortably cruise at freeway speeds.
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Senior User
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From: Wesley Chapel, FLA
Need another gear.....
I think lines on the speedometers are because around that time is when 70 mph interstates were becoming normal and a lot of cars had some kind of mark at 70. Seems to me later on after the gas crunch there were similar marks at 55.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 497
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From: Houston TX
Need another gear.....
>A 3:55 is the tallest gear offered in a dana60
Dunno, I've seen some places that sell a 3.33 for them. Not all companies do though. It's sort of an oddball gear it seems. Or as far as ford trucks anyway. MK
Dunno, I've seen some places that sell a 3.33 for them. Not all companies do though. It's sort of an oddball gear it seems. Or as far as ford trucks anyway. MK
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 230
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Need another gear.....
Why did you want an overdrive? Mileage? If so, how much do you think it might improve your mileage? I mean I have a 390-auto now and get 8 or 9 mpg. With my old 240-manual based truck I got 12 or 13. That's significant, but 13 mpg still sucks.
Or is that you're trying to save your engine from revving at high RPMs all day?
May I ask what it is that you have to haul 200 miles twice a week that requires using your truck?
Or is that you're trying to save your engine from revving at high RPMs all day?
May I ask what it is that you have to haul 200 miles twice a week that requires using your truck?
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,175
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From: Texas
Need another gear.....
An A0D will need an adapter and need to be beefed up to handle the power of an FE. This setup or a Gear Vendors unit will cost you around $2500+.
You can get as low as 3.33 gears in a Dana 60, and that would make quite a difference in your crusiing RPM, but I fear not as much difference in your mileage. Possibly, 1 or 2 MPG improvement. I think with these old trucks, it's really a matter of aerodynamics (lack of) and weight.
You can get as low as 3.33 gears in a Dana 60, and that would make quite a difference in your crusiing RPM, but I fear not as much difference in your mileage. Possibly, 1 or 2 MPG improvement. I think with these old trucks, it's really a matter of aerodynamics (lack of) and weight.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 525
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From: Mansfield, Texas
Need another gear.....
If by chance you know a trans guy; ask around anyway; you might be able to find someone to rebuild one , upgraded of course, for around $800 - $1700. If I ever go that route my trans guy, who does maintanience on my work vans, has made me this deal. Plus the adapter plate from a vendor will run about $400-$600.
It may cost you up to $2500 as GTEX stated, but it's all about YOU'RE preference. Myself, $2500 is worth knowing my motor will work less at highway speeds.
http://www.lentechautomatics.com/price.htm
Robert P.
It may cost you up to $2500 as GTEX stated, but it's all about YOU'RE preference. Myself, $2500 is worth knowing my motor will work less at highway speeds.
http://www.lentechautomatics.com/price.htm
Robert P.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,209
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From: Black Hills of SD
Need another gear.....
You may be able to get a 3:33 aftermarket but 3:55 was the tallest ones Ford ever put in a Dana 60. I read an article in an offroad magazine that said the Dana 61 gears may fit the 60 but they couldn't verify it.
There is a back issue of Car Craft that covered all the o/d trannys and their weaknesses. Also had a list of people specializing in selling beefed up parts/units. Nothing in there on adaptors though.
I have been toying with the idea of adding a manual overdrive tranny as an auxillery behind my C4. You can find the tranny for under $100 if you shop around. A couple hundred bucks at a driveline shop, a marine push/pull cable to operate it and you would have a dual range with o/d. I know a guy that has been running a set up like that for several years in an old crew cab 4x4 with a 460. He used a car three speed o/d from a 59 ford car. I think I might lean toward one of those toploader o/d trannys from the early 80s pickup to avoid the freewheeling affect of the old car overdrive. If you forgot to lock it out when you parked it could roll away.
There is a back issue of Car Craft that covered all the o/d trannys and their weaknesses. Also had a list of people specializing in selling beefed up parts/units. Nothing in there on adaptors though.
I have been toying with the idea of adding a manual overdrive tranny as an auxillery behind my C4. You can find the tranny for under $100 if you shop around. A couple hundred bucks at a driveline shop, a marine push/pull cable to operate it and you would have a dual range with o/d. I know a guy that has been running a set up like that for several years in an old crew cab 4x4 with a 460. He used a car three speed o/d from a 59 ford car. I think I might lean toward one of those toploader o/d trannys from the early 80s pickup to avoid the freewheeling affect of the old car overdrive. If you forgot to lock it out when you parked it could roll away.
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