I have an 1986 E150, straight 6 with 4spd on the floor, manual shift. If cash isn't an issue, are there any transmission upgrades out there....? Something with more gears, or an aftermarket build, or something like that?

I don't want a Gears Vendors extra box, or anything like that, but since this is a ride I take on the highway A LOT and will have the vehicle a really long time, if there were any kind of awesome upgrade to the transmission where I'd have more gears and a bigger range and all of that, it would be very interesting to explore the options. My main interest is smooth driving, best mileage, and I don't mind the extra shifting. I never really pull anything.

I assume if anyone would know, it would be the folks in here.

 

Mazda M5OD was a factory offering in Van's in '87 or '88. A T5 can be made to work with an adaptor and the proper shifter location. The T5 would use the existing clutch and bell. There are other options. What axle ratio and tire size are you running?

 

I don't know the axle ratio, but it was ordered by the original owner for highway use. It actually works just fine, but sometimes I do feel like it would be cool for a few gears in between the ones that exist. I realize anything will probably cost the price of the van, but this is more about my use of it, since it's one of those things I really enjoy. Not so much about how much I have into it.

 

1986 E150: Rear axle is either a Ford 9" or a Ford 8.8" integral. Trans is likely the RUG SR-OD Single Rail 4 speed Overdrive.

TRANS & AXLE codes printed on the Certification Label, glued to the left door face below the latch, post what they are.

 

Another candidate would be a NV3550. It would work on your bell via an adapter. Driveshaft work is guaranteed with this swap anyway.

A T5 might have an OD and R gear too tall to work with your axle. That said, you need to find out what your axle is and what is your tire size? No sense in putting in a trans that ends up useless in first or OD or R.

 

Try a ZF 5 speed from an F250 pickup with 351. If you're going to modify anything to fit, this is the one to try.

 

Were there any/many 2WD versions of the NV3550? I was thinking those were mostly from Jeeps. I suppose there were a few 2WD Cherokees and some of those might have had NV3550s, but I'm thinking it wouldn't be an easy trans to find. (Too bad because I like the NV3550 in my '71 Bronco).

The AX15 might be another option, but again mostly found in 4WD Jeeps.

Or you can regear your axle if you don't like what you end up with. It'll add $500 - $1000 to the total cost, but it's an option.

The ZF5 is a stronger trans than any others listed here, and it shifts like it too (from what I've heard). I've never driven one, but the general consensus seems to be that it shifts OK if you are expecting a heavy-duty truck trans, but not as light or smooth as what you currently have or any of the lighter-duty 5 speeds that are being suggested. It also has a big spread in gears which can be nice if you want it, but wouldn't meet your goal of having tighter gear spacing. It's also pretty big (not saying it won't fit, but it might not fit as easily).

For what you are talking about I'd probably go with the Mazda M5OD.

 

To me it sounds like you'd probably be happiest with a car type of transmission over a truck style. The Mazda 5spd & ZF 5spd are bigger( size wise ) truck transmissions.

What kind of budget are you working with on this? If cash really isn't a issue I would look into either a Tremec 5spd or a T56 6spd. Either would be a great transmission but would be pretty expensive. They would be the best options if you don't plan to do much heavy towing and manly use the van as a driver. They will have good gearing and pretty much bullet proof behind a 300. But you'd probably also want much steeper gears in the rear axle to take advantage of the OD gear/s.

A much cheaper option would a T5 out of a V6 SN95 Mustang. It's not the strongest transmission but stronger then what you have now. It should do fine as long as you don't plan on many high rpm clutch dumps or power shifting. I believe it would place the shifter close to your stock one just a little more towards the center of the van. Pretty nice shifting and would give you 4 gears + a OD gear. I've seen these go for as little as $50 at some u-pull it yards when they have specials. But otherwise I've seen them sell for $200-$400. You would need a taller shifter handle then what they come with.




Are you sure the T5 is the same bolt pattern? I thought it was different. But I'm probably wrong.

 

T5 has a different bell bolt pattern

 

Ok That's what I thought but it's been almost 20 years since I owned any of my Fox chassis Stangs. So I couldn't remember for sure.

But I do believe the SN95 V6 T5's had a 164T bellhousing. Which should work out for the 300. Just make sure to get the bell housing, block plate clutch fork, etc.with the T5 The down side is it should be a cable set up. So a bracket will need to be fabbed up to mount a slave cylinder on the transmission side of the fork instead of the engine side ( like the stock van should be ) . And a slight modification will need to be made on the end of the fork for the slave push rod.

That would be the cheaper way to do things. The easier would be to buy or have an adapter plate made to mount the T5 to the stock van bell housing. But I have no clue what those would cost.

 

Only of it's from some non Ford vehicle, any 5.0 Mustang T5 will bolt right up.

 

Are you talking engine side of the bell housing or transmission side? I was talking about the transmission side of the bell housing.

 

oh ok I missed that.

 

I was thinking of a T5 conversion when I found FTE in 2004. It never happened, but I did contact these folks and the answer is an adaptor plate. It takes care of the pattern and depth issues. I mentioned the adaptor in post 2.

Adapter plate, T-5, Wide pattern Ford, 289/302/351 & 1967+ 200ci, 1983-93 Ford T-5

 

But is the 300's bell depth like the old Toploaders or deeper like the SROD's were ? There's an inch difference between em.