Toughest Tranny
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,297
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From: S/W Virginia
Toughest Tranny
im thinking about putting a later model ford tranny in my 1970 240. which one would be the tougher and better transmission. one of the 5 speed OD or one of the 3speed OD?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,209
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From: Black Hills of SD
Unless your 240 has a blower and nitrous, I don't think either would be a problem. The 5 speed would most likely require a juice clutch. I like old stuff so I would go with a T-85 from a 72 and earlier Ford pickup. If you wire it right you can make a 6 speed.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,209
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From: Black Hills of SD
Yeah for some reason Ford decided to gear those pickups way too tall. I testdrove a new 80 or 81 F-100 with the 255 V8 and overdrive. I got it up to 60 and shifted into O/D. On perfectly flat ground with no wind and the pedal to the floor it was still doing 60 after a mile and a half. I can't see how they thought that gearing would be of any value. It must have had a 3.08 or 2.73 rear end. A friend of mine loaded up and left Minnesota to move to Alaska with the 300 and O/D. It wouldn't go up the hill leaving his place and he had to yard out the 2.73 axle and put in a 3.50 before he could get out of the yard with a load.
Ironically enough the overdrive really doesn't seem to do that much for the fuel mileage in some rigs. My 96 F-150 with 5.0 and aod averages about 15-16 which is only a couple miles per gallon better that some of the 3/4 ton 4x4s with V8s and 4.10 gears.
Ironically enough the overdrive really doesn't seem to do that much for the fuel mileage in some rigs. My 96 F-150 with 5.0 and aod averages about 15-16 which is only a couple miles per gallon better that some of the 3/4 ton 4x4s with V8s and 4.10 gears.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,297
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From: S/W Virginia
well i was lookin at one of these cause mines got 4:11's right now and i would just like to have the overdrive gear for the mileage. it turns some RPMs out on the highway. theres a 3speed OD in the junkyard here in about a early 80s truck. i think i can get it for about 75 dollars
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,209
Likes: 12
From: Black Hills of SD
They made 3 different versions of the 3 speed overdrive in the early 80s. One is basically the old toploader 4 speed with a shifter on the side and rods running from the shifter to the arms, much like a 60s muscle car would have hade. Another version had the shifter going in the top like a granny gear trany would have. These are less common. Then there was what was basically the SROD(single rod over drive). These aren't real common either. Of the three the best one is the most common, the old toploader style. They basically just rearranged the gear ratios in a 4 speed and flipped one lever upside down so what used to be third is now overdrive. The spread on the gears is less than perfect on these with a pretty big gap from 2nd to 3rd. Most people don't have a very high opinion of them but they hold up good behind smaller engines, which is where you will find them. I have heard of a couple 351W engines with the O/D but most were behind 300-6s and 302s. I can't remember that exact overdrive ratio but it should give you about a 3.30 final ratio with the 4.11s you now have.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,175
Likes: 21
From: Texas
I know this will get some funny looks. But, I liked the Mazda 5spd that was in my 95 F150 with the EFI 300 I6. Never had any problems. It ran pretty good with 3.55 gears. I think it would work well with a 240 and 4.10 gears. It's light and should not rob too much power. I don't see where you need a tough tranny for a 240 setup.
I'm not sure, but I think if you get an early enough version of this, it should bolt up to the 240. I'm sure somebody here will correct me if I'm mistaken....again :-)
I'm not sure, but I think if you get an early enough version of this, it should bolt up to the 240. I'm sure somebody here will correct me if I'm mistaken....again :-)
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 779
Likes: 9
From: Tumwater, Wa
Yep the M5ODR2 out of a 300 or small block truck had the same bellhousing pattern. it'll bolt up.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,209
Likes: 12
From: Black Hills of SD
But you will have to deal with the hydralic clutch issue. Also you can get the better German made 5 speed with a small block bell housing if you can find one from an F-350 with a small block, or so I was told by a Ford partsman anyway.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,297
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From: S/W Virginia
the one in the junkyard here is the old toploader style tranny. i think ill stay away from the new 5 speed becaue i like the feel of the old manual clutches. i dont much like the feel of the hydraulic ones.
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