Hello, all - new owner/member here...

Just bought a 79 F150 - the previous owner put a rebuilt 302 and 4spd in it. Spoke with him today and he told me it was a Borg-Warner Toploader, so it has the 4spd w/ Overdrive. I'm curious to learn the following:

What numbers on my VIN and on the tranny can I check to verify it is an original Tranny? How do I tell which model tranny is installed?

What am I looking at $$ if I want to yank the tranny and go with an AT (the truck will be used for trailering) - planning on finding a C-4 or FMX.

To replace the coverplate from manual on the floor to AT - is there a plate I can buy to close the hole in the floor?

Thanks all in advance for any help & guidance.

Rob

 

if going to an automatic, don't put anything but a c6. it is the toughest ford automatic. you can probably find one in the classified section of this site. you wil also need to get shifter, driveshaft , transmission mount and possibly transmission crossmember. don't forget neutral start switch and transmission cooler.

 

Rob,
Does this tranny have the granny 1st gear? If it has the granny 1st gear and is equiped with a center, floor-mounted gear shift lever, it is probably the Warner T-18. (We are talking 1979 two-wheel drive arn't we?)

If the first gear is a normal first gear, with reverse to the left and up, and you have the "bent" shift lever attached to the side of the transmission, you have the Four-Speed Overdrive Transmission. This is often referred to as a "RUG", a "SROD",a "Clark", or a "Top-Loader". I don't know if these are correct refferals.

> What numbers on my VIN and on the tranny can
> I check to verify it is an original Tranny?

Look at the Truck Rating Plate located on the rear face of the left front door. Under the word "TRANS", a code of "C" is a manual 3-speed, an "F" is a Warner 4-speed, and a "B" is a manual 4-Speed Overdrive.

> How do I tell which model tranny is installed?

If you have the 4-Speed Overdrive tranny, a service ID tag is located on the right side of the tranny case toward the front.
It will start with the model number.

What are your axle codes on the rating plate?

 

I have the Rug overdrive in my 79 w/ 302... I like the economy and reduced noise on the freeway afforded by OD. I had another truck, a 76 that I removed the 300/6 and 3sp from and put in a 302 w/ C6. My reaction to that is, the C6 needed a custom driveline made for it, and may have been heavy (bigger,heavier torque converter) than the C4 would have been. C4's were the factory rig for 70's era p/u's w/ a 302. As far as the floor panel goes, I got a blank panel w/ no shifter hole out of a 73 F 150 that had an automatic in it. I've seen the no shifthole cover on other 67-79 type trucks as well. My 76 had no panel just embossed floor panel that matches the covers profile. I'm going to put a floor shifted Manual in the 76 and I cut that floor and put the panel I found from the 73 right on there like factory. So look around the wrecking yards for the blank panel, they exist. I also have fitted my 79's panel in the 76 and it fit's the same way as the automatic panel I found. One other reason I like the Rug Manual tranny, I can let the Rpm's of the 302 get higher before shifting than the automatic. 302's don't have so much low end torque as other Ford truck motors, and develope their torque at higher Rpms.

BBT