Transmission swap
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Joined: Dec 2004
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Transmission swap
I have an 1980 F-100 4.9L with a 3 speed manual. The gear ratios are terrible. 1st is too high and takes for ever to take off. 2nd is almost decent to cruise in town although it sounds like it is taching out at 35mph. I can run it up to 45mph to grab 3rd gear. 3rd gear shakes real bad under 40mph. I'm not even sure if it's the original tranny. When I changed the clutch after I bought it last year I cleaned the engine and tranny and discovered the engine is blue and the tranny is orange.
To solve my problem fast and cheap I thought about just changing the rear end from the economy gears to something lower but then I probably couldn't drive highway speeds anymore.
So my real question is:
I have a ford 3.03 3-speed (I think?) I would like to change to a 4-speed. Will any other trannys bolt to my current bellhousing?
I have heard that I would need to change the bellhousing and clutch to install a 4-speed. This is a $400 truck that I might drive to the dump twice a month with a motor with 200,000 miles on it. (but still runs and sounds fine.)
Is there a cheap fix or should I drive it as is till it dies?(many years from now)
To solve my problem fast and cheap I thought about just changing the rear end from the economy gears to something lower but then I probably couldn't drive highway speeds anymore.
So my real question is:
I have a ford 3.03 3-speed (I think?) I would like to change to a 4-speed. Will any other trannys bolt to my current bellhousing?
I have heard that I would need to change the bellhousing and clutch to install a 4-speed. This is a $400 truck that I might drive to the dump twice a month with a motor with 200,000 miles on it. (but still runs and sounds fine.)
Is there a cheap fix or should I drive it as is till it dies?(many years from now)
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 123
Likes: 2
From: Maryland
nope, any of the 4-speeds will fit with no modification. you can check my posts, i talk about them all the time. the only problem is, you're still going to have similar ratios when you're driving. the T-18/19 and NP435 have 1:1 4th gears, same as your 3.03's 3rd gear. you'd be starting those in 2nd gear most of the time, since first is a granny gear...so the gears are the same, you just get a granny. there is the SROD, which has ratios like your 3.03, but also has overdrive...so again, same ratios, you just get overdrive too. TOD is similar, but its ratios are spread better. how well they work is going to depend on how much power you make. a weak engine is going to bog in 1:1 gearing at low speed, no matter what. what it sounds like you're looking for is a 4-speed with a 1:1 4th, a normal 1st, and 2nd and 3rd in between. doesn't exist, as far as i know. somebody correct me if i'm wrong...
Last edited by savage066; May 11, 2005 at 03:37 PM.
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