In rebuilding my '67 F-100 shorty 2wd, I have decided to keep with a manual transmission. Right now I have a stock 3 speed hooked to a 302. The B-W t-18 4 speeds seem plentiful. What others can I look at? A modern 5 speed out of a Mustang, a 4-speed O.D. from a newer F-150? And how about linkage. I plan on tweaking the 302 as I rebuild it and the truck will be driven more as a car than a truck. I would like to have the smooth gear progression of a car tranny as opposed to the lugging of a truck tranny. I know... an automatic would solve all of this but my preference is a gear jammer.

Appreciate the help
Tony

 

why not try to buy a wrecked modern mustang after say 1990 and just bolt in anything connected to the engine? you will need the computer and all of that, but a 5 speed mustang would give you what you want most likely.

 

I have a car ( 67 Mustang )4 speed toploader in my 69 F100. Its behind a 428, would work just as well with a SB.

 

I have a 4sp Od behind my 302 in my 79 F150. Its not very car like. It's like your 3sp w/ an overdrive. The shift from 2nd to 3rd has a large gap. I think it's also noisier and the external shift linkages are sloppier than my other trucks T18. Theres a Mustang Outfit in SanDiego featured in Dec 2000 edition of Mustang Illustrated that has made a nice retrofit hydraulic clutch setup for the Mustang T5 tranny to go into 60s era mustangs that have a similar clutch arrangement to our trucks. I E-mailed John DaLuz at purplestang(No Email Addresses In Posts!) about adapting his piece for the truck. He E-mailed me back w/ a price and what changes I'd need to make and a local contact to help me. Beware that a T5 out of a mustang needs to be of the V8 persuation. And some T5's aren't that tough. I've heard one story of using an alternate pilot bushing to make V6 or 4 T5 mustang tranny work, but I don't know... There is a tougher version called a World Class T5. Tremec also makes some beefier 5sps like 3550 and TKO. I do know that I have a WC T5 in an 89 Camaro w/ 305 and I love shifting it... I'd really like that in my truck as well. Know also that the Chev T5's aren't compatible w/ Ford Bellhousings, the Chevy version is twisted compared to Ford. Another issue I've been made aware of is that the Mustang T5 uses a smaller diameter Flywheel than commonly used in pickup, so I believe you lose some torque advantage. Your truck is certainly heavier than a Mustang. Perhaps the most economic solution for you is a 4sp toploader from a car (although I really don't know how cheap they are). I'd be interested myself in a 4sp toploader. I've asked around the Seattle area for a used V8 Ford T5 and they aren't something I've found in the wrecking yards I've asked at. And the Mustang Mags make them out to be cheaper than the prices I'm hearing around here. The only one I've even seen so far is a HD built T5 for close to 2K.

BBT