I've noticed 4 speed toploaders on E-Bay that are listed as being overdrive units. Every 4 speed manual trans I've ever been in is a direct 1 to 1 connection in the top gear so I don't see how this is possible, but what do I know?

I also saw references to big input and output shafts, 2 types of gear ratios, close and wide ratio, different tail shaft lengths etc. Other than they all start with RUG I can't tell 'em apart.

Can anybody fill me in on what might be useful in a 65 F250? I was mainly interested in the overdrive for better freeway use.

Bill

 

Bill,

I found that on my 66 it was easier to put in a set of 3:00 gears in the rear end for highway use. I'm running about 2200 RPM at 65 MPH. So far so good!

Jerry D.
Slick 60's Member
Midwest Chapter

 

I did some further internet digging and found out there were toploaders with an OD set up. What they do is reverse the 3rd and 4th shift fork and make 3rd the 1 to 1 direct. 4th gear is .84.

With the 3.54's in my Dana 60 times .84, I get 2.97 and I'll still have the 1 to 1 I like around town. All I'll lose is the granny low. Who cares?

So has anyone put a toploader in a 65 F250? What about the shifter for instance?

 

I built a special 4-speed top loader for a 65-66 from an old article in Classic Trucks magazine. It required removing the shift forks and rails and using a Jeep T-176 transmission shift plate that bolts to the Ford inspection plate area. Michael Danapas bought it for his '65. If you want to know how it works drop him a line at mike-karin@worldnet.alt.net and ask him. If you need any more information, my e-mail is skip4274@flash.net

Sorry guys, it doesn't work on the 61-64 trucks. Thats why I sold the transmission. I have a '63 and could never get the clutch hookup to work correctly.
Skip4274
4everFord

 

Skip, that's why I like the C6, it will do it's own clutching. :-)

John
jowilker
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker|Club FTE since 01 01] My FTE Page

[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NC Truck Owners] NC Ford Truck owners group

66F100s Rule
In the cool still quite of night you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 31-May-01 AT 08:39 PM (EST)[/font][p]Thanks for the info Skip. At this point in time I still haven't got all my stuff together to finish the front discs conversion, but I will be wanting to put an overdrive toploader in that 65 F250 someday.

Just knowing it can be done is a good thing.

Bill