I have talked to a couple of people local to me about the following and have gotten VERY different answers, maybe ya'll can help.
I want to build a racing motor (street/daily driver also) and put a tremec 5-speed or the tranny that is in the cobra-r mustang behind it. The problem is that I have mechanical linkage on my Borg-warner 4-speed that is in it now. What/why will I have to do to accomplish this feat?

D. Brooks
kameleon25(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
1980 F-150 "Flare side" Custom
4.9L I6
Offenhauser DP 4bbl intake
Edelbrock 600cfm Elec choke carb
Dynomax standard series headers
Crane Cams PerformerMax 270H cam
Borg Warner T-18 (that will pull the titanic)
9" rearend (not sure of ratio)
I Love My Truck!

 

I need to look at a Motorsport catalog--it seems to me that I've read that the Tremec uses a special, though separate, bellhousing; if so, and that bellhousing bolts up to a 302/351W, then I'll bolt up to a 300;you'd need that B/H as well as the tranny.

A guess: I betcha the '90's Cobra R had a hydraulic clutch, using a lovely device from the factory called a "concentric hydraulic throwout bearing", which means you'd need that bundle of joy as well. If that concentric hydraulic throughout bearing is anything like the '91 F-150 version, the hydraulic T/O has a quick-disconnect to the hydraulic line coming down from the clutch master cylinder.

A '91-level F-150 clutch master cylinder should be a fairly-easy installation on an older truck, and hopefully the F-150 hydraulic line disconnect will mate up with the Cobra R quick disconnect.

I'd want to look carefully at the 300 flywheel and ring gear/Tremec bellhousing starter gear relationship closely, as well as the Tremec input shaft length, diameter, and spline count. (Ford light trucks have traditionally been 6-1/2" long, 1-1/16" dia., and 10-spline.)

This has been kinda general; sound like a neat idea, tho!

Eddie

 

Kam, the tremac uses the same 8 1/2 by 6 1/4 pattern as you have now. You might have to shorten the tip of the tremacs input shaft and get a new clutch disk, but you can keep the cluth linkage and bell you have. You will probably also need to move the tranny X member for the rear mount. DF

 

Thanks guys, that info is much helpful. I think I will try setting my old tranny and the new one side-by-side (when I get $1500 for the new one ) and compare them. But now the question is... DO I want to keep the linkage clutch. What are the benefits ot a hydraulic clutch? And with a performance engine will I need it?

D. Brooks
kameleon25(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
1980 F-150 "Flare side" Custom
4.9L I6
Offenhauser DP 4bbl intake
Edelbrock 600cfm Elec choke carb
Dynomax standard series headers
Crane Cams PerformerMax 270H cam
Borg Warner T-18 (that will pull the titanic)
9" rearend (not sure of ratio)
I Love My Truck!

 

Hmm, hyd. clutch benifits? Hmm... In a street truck, the only one I can think of is that it doesn't take up much space. IMHO, the linkage setup gives better clutch "feel," as do manual brakes(I have both.)
Ed, the "special" Tremec bellhousing is a Mustang bellhousing for a SROD, and any truck 4 speed will bolt up in place of that thing..... So, the Tremec should bolt up to a truck 4 speed bellhousing without any problems(A T-5 has no hope in hell of that happening.)
Evan MacDonald
82 F100 FlareSide 4wd
HD 300-6 9.5:1 CR
Clifford 270H cam
Hedman Hedder
SBC valved 66 240 head
Headlight Relays - Delanty Style
NP435(6.69 low)
NP 205
3.55 Geared ARB'd 9" & Trac-Locked TTB
31x10.50/15 Cooper Discoverer LT's

 

Yeah, I got boned when I was looking around for the "special" external hydraulic clutch bellhousing I had to have to substitute the NP435 for the M5OD. I then was under the impression that the E4TZ-7505-B (or -C) B/H was a scarce unit only used on granny-low 4-spds. on special order pickups.

What all else was that B/H used for? SROD, T-18,... How about Ranger pickups? Does the 2.3L use a small-block bolt pattern?

BTW, that 8-1/2" x 6-1/4" bolt pattern is the pattern used on this B/H, as is the smallblock bolt pattern. If the index is 4.848", then this B/H sounds like a cheap alternative to the (no doubt expensive) Motorsports "special" B/H, if he decides to go hydraulic.

Hydraulic benefit: immense clutch pressure plate holding PSI, low pedal pressure; losing all those mechanical parts that take up room, add weight, and have to be adjusted.

Eddie

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 16-Oct-01 AT 12:24 PM (EST)[/font][p]

 

Fox Mustangs use a cable operated clutch. But if you can reuse your existing bell housing, it's very likely that you can use/adapt your existing clutch linkage.

 

So I can or cannot mount that Tremec 5-speed to my bellhousing? And can/should I continue to use the diaphram style pressure plate?

D. Brooks
kameleon25(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
1980 F-150 "Flare side" Custom
4.9L I6
Offenhauser DP 4bbl intake
Edelbrock 600cfm Elec choke carb
Dynomax standard series headers
Crane Cams PerformerMax 270H cam
Borg Warner T-18 (that will pull the titanic)
9" rearend (not sure of ratio)
I Love My Truck!

 

It shoudl bolt up in place of you 4 speed, no modifications should be needed.
Evan MacDonald
82 F100 FlareSide 4wd
HD 300-6 9.5:1 CR
Clifford 270H cam
Hedman Hedder
SBC valved 66 240 head
Headlight Relays - Delanty Style
NP435(6.69 low)
NP 205
3.55 Geared ARB'd 9" & Trac-Locked TTB
31x10.50/15 Cooper Discoverer LT's

 

You may need some crossmember surgery and your driveshaft will probably need to be shortened. Everything else should fit or can be made to fit.

 

Hrm, I guess I ahould have been a bit more specific. No modifications should be need on the bellhousing end. I think the Tremec shifter can be installed in 3 positions, so, there shoudln't be any problem with positioning it, you will probably have to fab up a stick tho.
Evan MacDonald
82 F100 FlareSide 4wd
HD 300-6 9.5:1 CR
Clifford 270H cam
Hedman Hedder
SBC valved 66 240 head
Headlight Relays - Delanty Style
NP435(6.69 low)
NP 205
3.55 Geared ARB'd 9" & Trac-Locked TTB
31x10.50/15 Cooper Discoverer LT's

 

Back to the original question, "Can I use my existing clutch linkage...", and the original conclusion, "...side by side comparison...".

It sounds like you have a really good chance of bolting that Tremec up where the original tranny lived...but the only way to know for sure is DO it!

Eddie

 

I shall try as soon as I get the engine done..... may be a while.

D. Brooks
kameleon25(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
1980 F-150 "Flare side" Custom
4.9L I6
Offenhauser DP 4bbl intake
Edelbrock 600cfm Elec choke carb
Dynomax standard series headers
Crane Cams PerformerMax 270H cam
Borg Warner T-18 (that will pull the titanic)
9" rearend (not sure of ratio)
I Love My Truck!