5 speed or 6 speed
More Turbo
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 513
Likes: 0
From: Alberta
The popular choice is the NV 4500 5spd used in dodge pickups. You have to get the adapter from advance adapters to mate it to a ford bellhousing. I havent done this yet but if you do a search in the tranny forum there's more info there.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 12
From: SW Michigan
five speeds
Nik, have you considered the Clark tranny ? I purchased a Clark 285V with clutch, press plate and flywheel and starter and shifter,...well everything, for 250 $ It came from an F6 or700. How about one of those ? DF, @ his Dad's house
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 12
From: SW Michigan
5 speeds
Nik & Fomo, what engine are we talking about here ? I'm assuming that Nik's 67-72 F250 4x4 has an FE in it. The Clark 285V has the following gears, 6.99 1st, 4.09 2nd, 2.24 3rd 1.47 4th and 1 to 1 fifth. If you have a T18 or a Np 435, you have something like 6.69/3.5/1.67/1.00. The problem with the 4 speed truck boxes is not lack of overdrive, but the huge rpm drop betwwen gears. The Clark lessens this a bunch. There is supposed to be an overdrive Clark, but I have looked for years and not found one at a reasonable price. The way to go, I think, is to install the Clark and then use taller tires or regear the axles if you are looking to get less rpm on the freeway. If you switched from 33 to 35 or 37 inch tires, the 6.99 first gear in the clark will still give you plenty of pull off the line. And how many of us really used 1st gear in our four speed trucks anyway ? DF, @ his Dad's house
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 610
Likes: 0
From: socal
The overdrive clark is the 280vo very hard to locate but they are out there,mostly in the F series buses www.performancegearandaxle.com has alot of knowledge on the Clarks. I know of two guys who did the conversion 1 clark (280vo) and one NV4500 the NV shifts alot nicer and seems to be more pleasurable to drive but I think the Clark retaines the "truck" like features that I like about my 250 clunky and hard to shift. I thought long and hard about it and instead of swapping trannys I bought an F-350 with an E4OD and left my highboy just the way it is. Good luck.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
From: Puyallup WA.
There is one other option, install an atlas overdrive. You should be able to install it between the tranny and the t-case to get overdrive in all gear ranges. It will give you four more gears to use because you can overdrive each gear of your tranny.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,328
Likes: 14
From: Colorado
I did the NV4500 install. It's costly, around $2,000. Depending on how much you get the trans for.
Just like 7DF250 said, the NV shifts super nice, has 27% OD, and still has a low first gear. Here's my article on it: https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...nsmission.html
Just like 7DF250 said, the NV shifts super nice, has 27% OD, and still has a low first gear. Here's my article on it: https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...nsmission.html
