Anyone have this combo ??

As I stated in another thread here. I'm pondering picking up a 90 F150 4x4 w/302 and a bad M50D. I'm research some options.

Will a NP435 interchange with a M5OD ??

How well does it work ??

 

Not sure whether the M5OD bellhousing fits the 435, but you can certainly find the correct (small block-435) bell housing around. It seems like the T-18 BH will work too, but I haven't tried. I have a 435 that I've considered sticking in my 89, but I don't have a good reason to pull the T-18 out. Besides, my 435 is a 2 wheel drive version, and I haven't looked around for a 4x4 tailhousing yet.


Paul

89 F-150 SC 4x4, 300, T-18
KANSAS Chapter

 

The bellhousing on a M5OD does not come off. The bellhousing and M5OD transmission are one big chunk of Aluminum.

 

Guess that answer is handled. You just need to track down the bellhousing from a 300, 302 or 351 for one of the iron trannies then.

Paul

89 F-150 SC 4x4, 300, T-18
KANSAS Chapter

 

How well do T18/NP435 gear ratios work with a 302s power range ??

 

The Ford T18 tranny was a factory option for 4.9 sixes and 5.0 V-8s in F150s until the 1993 model year. The ratios of the T18 and NP435 are very close.

Ford wouldnt go lower than 3.55 final gear ratios when a truck was ordered with the T18--if the truck was a F150. Probably because the T18 didnt have overdrive like the Mazda tranny does.

I would think that the NP435's ratiios would work with the 5.0.

The torque peak of the 5.0 is 275 ftlbs @ 2400RPM and the 4.9 peak is 265 @ 1600 RPM--if I remember correctly. Not that much difference.

The lower ratios of the NP435 --compared to the higher ratios of the M5OD Mazda--would be better for the 5.0--that makes it's torque at a slightly higher RPM.

I have driven F100s with the T18 and 4.10 gears in the rear--very neat package.

My 92 5.0 F150 with the Mazda tranny has 4.10 gears and these gears really wakes up the 5.0--compared to the more common 3.55 or 3.08 gears. The 5.0 really likes gearing. And because of this--the lower gearing of the T18 or NP465 would really be to the likening of the 5.0.

Why not find a factory T18 F150 in the bone yard and install it in your F150--should be a bolt in installation.

 

You can look in other trucks for the T-18 as well. It was used by Chevy & Jeep for sure, not positive about Dodge.

Like Phoneman said, the T-18 and NP435 trannies are 4 spd boxes, with no OD, so you'll be turning higher rpm for sure on the highway. I run close to 3000 rpm at 65-70 in my 89, with 3.55 gears and 31 inch tires.

How well the tranny will work in the 302's power range depends entirely on your ring gear and tire combination.

I saw your tranny question applied to the ZF tranny on another thread. What you really need to do is decide what you want out of the truck performance-wise. What will be your percentage of highway vs off highway miles? What percentage of the time will you be towing? (Load is insignifigant here, as the tranies you've mentioned will all handle more than your truck's GVWR anyway.)

If you keep your eyes open, you can run across some gems. My 435 was given to me. This weekend, there was an ad in our Wichita paper for a Ford 4 spd for $75. I spoke with that guy, but he didn't know if he had the T-18 or the NP. Watch ebay too, but those are heavy boxes, and shipping would be large. In Ohio, you're close enough to farm country, that you should be able to fins one of those 4 spds easily.

Paul

89 F-150 SC 4x4, 300, T-18
KANSAS Chapter

 

FYI,

5.0 = 270 @ 3000 RPM.
4.9 = 260 @ 2000 RPM.

The best way to analyse the actual difference between the M5 and another tranny - is to match up the gear ratio's to see what the actual differences are. You can find the gear ratios in a google or FTE search, and then calculate the engine RPM in respect to MPH in that respective gear, to see what the engine's RPM would be at...and you can analyse exactly what the RPM differences are going to be and then determine if it's acceptable.

 

The 302 is an RPM engine, not a torque engine, so seeing how a manual can be driven in the rpm range you choose, you can take advantage of keeping it where it wants to be power band wise.