I've got an "80 F150 with a 302 and a 3spd w/OD. For abot a week now the trans has been making ALOT of noise. I think the main shaft bearing is wanting out. I'm going to go and get and esimate on a rebuild but I would like to up grade to a 5spd. Will the T-5's hold up in a half ton? If the cost is too high I will be up grading but if they tell me $700 or less I'll be sticking with my current trans. I need to crawl under the truck and try to ID the trans to find out if it's a ZF or a Mazda. Does anyone have any experance with a 3 spd w/OD in a half ton 2 wheel drive 302 (or any other combo in a fullsize that used that same trans)?

Thanks.

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 27-Jun-01 AT 08:00 AM (EST)[/font][p]I had one of those 3 speed/od trannys in my truck, it was missing 3rd gear, and I got rid of it. Since your truck doesn't have a hydraulic clutch, one of the later integral bellhousing 5 speeds is almost more trouble than it's worth. Any truck 4 speed will bolt in in place of it, no changes except for the speedometer gear(My SROD had a reverse cut gear.) A T-5 is in no way strong enough for truck use(if you actually use it as a truck that is,) and you'd need to fangle a bellhousing for it. A Tremec will bolt right in, and, it is a good tranny to boot.... Is first gear really high in your truck? Mine had 2.75's in the rear end with the O/D, 50 was possible in low and it'd cruise at 60 at 1550 rpm.....
Evan MacDonald
82 F100 FlareSide 2wd
HD 300-6 9.5:1 CR
Clifford 270H cam
Hedman Hedder
SBC valved 66 240 head
Headlight Relays - Delanty Style
NP435(6.69 low)
3.55 Geared ARB'd 9"
31x10.50/15 Cooper Discoverer LT's

 

Well,,, I had the exact same deal with my 1980 F100. The 3sp was probably the worst tranny I have ever had to deal with. I found a 1989 Mustang GT and transferred the running gear to my 1980. Right now it has a Borg Warner T-5 World class tranny with a roller engine and probably has around 350 HP. I've had that tranny in my truck for over 4 years and have had NO problems with it being weak. I have even dragged the truck on several occaisions. All I ever towed with the rig was a small house trailer so I have not used it as a TRUCK.

As for the Hydraulic clutch that is the easy part. 1. You can get the cable set up off of a mustang and switch it. Or 2. the easiest was is to just put a fulcrim on the bellhousing so it will pivot. I did the fulcrim thing to begin with and then transferred the cable setup. I't Was a VERY EASY swap. The only other problem was that the T-5 was longer and a new hole had to me cut in the floorboards for the shifter and the crossmember just needed to be turned backwards to fit the T-5. The shifter is pretty close to the bench seat that I had and the seat needed to be pushed back all the way to accomodate the shifter. Or you can go with buckets.. Good Luck.......

1988 Ford F250 4x4, 5.0 liter (soon to be Roller 5.0), AOD tranny, 2.5 Dual exhaust, Headman Shortyheaders, 33" BFG's Mud Terrain

1980 Ford F100, with 1988 5.0L Roller (carburated), T-5 five speed Borg Warner World Class Transmission, 31 spline 9" 3.73 posi , and a bunch more!! 13.78 quarter mile.

 

OK... I found out the trans in my 81 F150 is a RUG. It's got a cast iron case. anyone know about these tranies? Are they strong, any known problems? My cousin hauled alot in this truck with no real problems until the bearing started making noise. I'm putting it in the shop next week and Told the guy to go ahead and crack it open and check everything inside. Anything I should get done while it's out and open?