I have a 1976 F100 with 300-6 and a 3 on the tree. I am looking at putting a T-10 4 speed toploader transmission onto it that came from a 1965 Galaxie. I have the SBF bell housing for it. My question is this; have any of you done this swap? If so, what were some issues that you ran into and were you able to use the same clutch/flex plate set up as what was with the 3 speed transmission? Thank you for any insight.

 

You probably have a Ford Toploader. The T-10 was a Borg Warner and was side loaded and you don't want one.

I swapped both a T10 and later a Toploader into a Mustang with the 3 speed. Simple bolt in.

Once you pull the 3 speed, check the spline count, input length and pilot size. If it's all a match, away you go.

You may have some shifter location issues, and may have to fiddle with the mount.

Overall length? Output spline? You will have to check.

I know you are looking for answers, but you have the truck, the trans and a tape measure right there.

 

Thank you for the insight. Unfortunately I am deployed overseas for the next few months, so I am unable to measure or count anything. After looking up some pictures online, and running the numbers, it is in fact a T-10 and not a top loader 4 speed. I am planning to have to make modifications to the floor pan for the shifter location and also having to modify the cross member for the install. I am just hoping that the actual install to the engine and the clutch mechanism is not going to be an issue. Guess that I will just have to wait and see in a few months when I get home to see just how well the install is going to go. Fortunately, I will be doing the install on another 300 that I have and not the one that's in the truck. This way I can ensure that everything goes together and moves freely before attempting to put it all in the truck.

 

Out of all the transmissions mentioned and known to fit our 4.9 engines (without a ton of modifications) which one is the quickest to shift?

I have a SROD 3 speed with overdrive that does fine but by no means is it a quick shifting hot rod transmission.

 

I would say either the T10 or top loader being from a car would shift quick, none of the truck transmissions will shift quick.

Now if you want over drive you may want to look into a Mustang world class T5 (WCT5) transmission.
The early ones have the shifter built into the transmission, the later ones the shifter I hear was mounted to the body and the rod went into the trans.
If you plan on the WCT5 and start pounding gears make sure you get a positive stop shifter. The stock no stop shifter when you start pounding gears starts to bend the shift forks.
When this happens it will not go into gear all the way and the teeth are just barely engauged and the gears break.

There are also some hop up parts you can throw into the trans like 5th gear shaft / bearing support.
Stock is a sheet metal part and with high TQ motor it bends and the gears don't engauge and the gears break.

This is my rebuilt, with hop up parts, WCT5 I installed in my 70 AMC Javelin.

Posi stop shifter. You can get different sticks to work in trucks.


Also the 90's trucks came with a 5sp over drive, M5OD2 or something like that.
Guys that run them in the 80's truck like how they shift, don't think as quick as a WCT5 would, but we are talking trucks here not race cars!
It is not a ZF5 with a lower first gear I hear its more like car ratios with OD.
Dave ----

btw I have a truck trans, NP435, in my 81 F100 flare side that has a 300. I wanted the granny first gear for when I have to pull my car trailer.
I also have an Advance Adaptor range splitter overdrive turning my 4sp in to a 8sp if I want, I mostly split 3rd & 4th gear.

 

Is there a particular reason why I do not want a T-10? I have read nothing really bad about them.

 

The Ford Toploader performance transmission is stronger.

A Ford spec T10 was hard to get parts for when I had one. Admittedly, mine was rebuilt by some scrap yard rat. It popped out of 2nd even after he fiddled with it the second time. Anyway, I couldn't find anyone who wanted to have anything to do with a Ford spec T10 at the time.

I see T10 rebuild kits are now available, and they all say "Ford" as well as GM and AMC. But the T10 was always produced in massive numbers, and reintroduced later, for GM use. Currently, it is reproduced in the GM spec only by Richmond Gear.

If you have a good T10 and it's Ford spec, fine, use it. If you have troubles and can't get it fixed, you will probably be able to find a Ford Toploader that bolts in exactly as the T10 does.

 

I like the toploaders. They are rugged with good gearing. While the side shifting arms are archaic the ability to shift quickly is largely a function of the quality of the shifter. I have used a Mr. Gasket vertical gate shifter - both using a clutch and clutchless (slick shifted) with good results. I also like them on the street.

 

Standard transmissions don't shift fast or slow, drivers do. As far as fitting, I think it's gonna be measure and install. Ford has always been pretty good about keeping things universal, so there probably wont be an issue, except maybe the spline count, and that's just a different disc.

Eric

 

Thanks for the reply Eric. I am hoping that it is just a simple clutch swap and some mods to the trans cross member and of course having to cut the hole in the floor too.

 

The FMX/AOD/AODE family of transmissions.

A rebuilt C6/E4OD that is properly optioned out will beat those though.

Since I know you're asking about manuals I will echo the T5 WC advice. They shift much nicer than the M5OD. I have no idea how the SROD shifts but my inclination says it's probably somewhere between the two just because there's less spinning mass than the M5OD.

But if you really want to shift fast get an auto with a proper valve body for the job (may only cost you $0.16).

 

I was toying with using the column shifter on a side loader once, not sure why I didn't do it. I'll have to think about it. You'd have a second shifter for reverse, and you'd need to design a lockout so you couldn't shift it into a forward gear if it was in reverse. But I thought it would be a cool truck with a 4 on the tree.

 

Have you tried to shift a T18 / T19 or NP435 fast?
They are truck transmissions with the granny first, driven as a 3sp starting in 2nd gear most of the time, you can not shift them fast.
If you have a heavy load to get moving they are the transmissions you want in a truck.
Dave ----

 

Hmmmm...paddle shifted Formula 1s come to mind

 

Ya, I've driven everything up to a 20 speed quad box, never found a tranny that was any harder to shift than any other . I've never driven anything with a paddle shifter, not sure what that's all about, I assumed they were automatics, but I have no clue.
Eric