Hi All! I'm attempting to do my first total body off restro on a 1960 Ford F100 Stepside. At some point in it's life a 1977 351M with an automatic tranny was put into it. While dismattling the interior I found that the original clutch pedal and most of it's linkage was tied back out of sight and covered over with carpeting. I was planning on pulling out the automatic (EUGG) and converting it back to a manual transmission , so to me this was a God sent!

My question to some of the 351M experts is! Which is the better manual transmission to put behind the 351M. I just purchased a complete 1977 351M bellhousing, clutch and all the linkage on eBay - didn't want this to get by me in the event I couldn't find another set up locally.

Thanks in advance for everyones help - Because this is my first attempt at anything like this - I'll be looking for all the assistance I can get from those of you who know this stuff far better then me.

At some point I'll need some suggestions on lowering her down abit and chopping her top. It'll end up being a Ford Truck Entusiasts's Community Forum group rebuild. THANKS AGAIN TO ALL THE EXPERTS ! I'd be more then happy to email out any pictures on her progress if interested. She's well worth the rebuild - only rot on her is the right side floor board.

Regards
Kramrg

 

I have an NP435 behind my 400(same block, different stroke) and I like it. Only downfall is for highway driving my RPM's are higher at 65 (4.10 rear gears too). If your gonna use it for offroad, I would go with it or a T-18. If you want overdrive, I am not sure what one to use for that one.

 

Thanks - I'm building her for Street / Strip . Although she'll rarely see the strip. Hoping to build a nice clean cruising street machine. As I mentioned, this is my first go around at this - so your suggestion is helpful!

 

I've been looking into the same thing for my 400 build up (plan on putting it into an early 30's Ford P/U street rod) and I've found a couple of options.

For 4-speeds the Toploader, T-18 and NP435 seem to be the ones to look at. I don't know for sure if they were all made for the right size of bellhousing but I know that there are aftermarket bellhousings that will fit the Toploader to the 351M/400 so I assume there must be ones for the others.

For 5-speeds the ZF S542 and ZF S547 which have been used on the big-block (I mean the 385 series engine by this) Ford trucks since '87. They should have the same bellhousing but I don't know what else you would need to do to fit them in. The only problem I saw with them is a very low 1st gear (5.72) which may not be much use on the street. I also found some info that seems to indicate that you can mount a T5 to the big-blocks but haven't been able to confirm this.

If you want alot of overdrive I did find that you can mount a T56 (6-speed with 2 overdrive gears) to a big-block but I don't know how much work was involved beyond an aftermarket bellhousing.

Personnally I'm thinking of the Toploader but mainly because I think I know where I can get one free, but if I had the money I'd go with the T56 since I have a friend who runs a 6-speed in his Chevelle (yuck) and loves it.

 

Thanks for your input. Do you know if a T98 (which was the predecessor to the T-18) would be a good option. I happen to have one that came out of a 64 F-100 it was behind a 300 inline 6 - your suggestion regarding the T-18 turn a light on regarding the T-98. Like I've been saying not much experance in swap out and changes.

Thanks Again and best of luck with your 30 Ford!

Kramrg

 

For street / strip I like the top loader. Plenty strong and not as clumsy shifting as the others.

 

The T98, T18 or T19 would be ok if:

--you have tall gears out back

--you never want to shift fast.

The top loader will be good if:

--you have fairly tall gears out back, but remember your 1st gear is pretty tall. You DO NOT want a close ratio box, as 1st is something like 2.20.

--you want to shift fast

--make it excellent with the $2500 addition of a Gear Vendors OD unit.

The ZF's will be good, but not fast shifting.

T5s are too weak for your combo, but TKO's and others will do.

Here are some links. Some will answer email with questions if need be.

http://www.4speedtoploaders.com/

http://www.motivegear.com/tech_info/...nny_guide.html

http://www.moderndriveline.com/

http://www.ttcautomotive.com/English/products/T-56.asp

 

id have to disagree with the t5 to weak statement a little....Depending, stock 351m made less torque than the mustang alot of t5s came in. There are awsome gear kits for the T5 that beef it up, pick up any mustang magazine and flip through it.
Id use the zf out of a late model truck, personally. 5th gear is nice to have, the trannys are good and strong, plus for the strip a low 1st gear will be nice to have...although the T56 6 speed would be ultra slick.

 

I was thinking overall torque of the motor and weight of the vehicle. You think those kits (I've seen them, the steel supports and better bearings etc) allow a higher GVW as well as torque?

So many transmissions, so few vehicles to put them in....

 

if its a 2wd truck, the T5 with an uprgrade gear kit should fair quite well..IIRC the world class T5 used in 5.0L stangs can handle around 450 ft.lbs under medium driving conditions (no hard launches from a stop, but not granny shifting either) before breaking. IIRC again you can put one of those gear kits in the 4cylinder version of the T5 for the same outcome, just less initial cost of the tranny.

 

I have been thinking of the ZF 5 speed swap myself... actually pretty serious about it but it requires some custom fab work since it seems the clutch sits in a different position on the m-blocks as on the 460 to which it was originally mated too. Havent found any shop or anyone local that would be willing to attempt this, and I have relatively no tranny experience myself.