It all depends...how far do you want to go into that trans? It could be linkage, but if it is internal, do you want to start investing into it, or look into another unit? Another unit might be cheaper...initially, but you might need to look into driveshaft mods. One option, if you can go without the OD, is to put in a T18/T19/NP435. Cheaper initially, rarely need to be gone through, there is a lot of support for them, BUT you lose the option of the overdrive. Depending on how motivated you are, Pick Your Part is having a half off sale this weekend. If you found a donor truck, you could get the trans like yours for about $75. Or you could get the other 4 speed, driveshaft, and trans hump/tunnel for about $150 to $200. The truck 4 speeds offer peace of mind, BUT again, you lose the OD. It depends on what you are willing to do.

 

I doubt it's a linkage problem because there isn't any. The shift lever goes directly into the transmission.

IMO, the two 1st/2nd brass syncronizer blocker rings have had it. Any mechanic that has a modicum of experience should know this.

When these blocker rings wear down, the trans pops out of gear.

If you replace these two blocker rings, you should replace all the bearings, seals, gaskets and the two brass syncronizer blocker rings used on the 3rd/4th syncronizer.

Figure around $150-$200 for the parts. Less, if they're still available from Ford.

If you do decide to swap transmissions, go with the Warner T-18. It's a better trans than the New Process 435.

However, the price to swap transmissions, modify the driveshaft won't be cheap. Then there's this to consider: What kind of shape will a junkyard transmission be in?

You may find yourself not any better off than before. And parts for the Warner and NP435 are not cheap, and much more is involved.

 

I was kinda afraid of this Em.

Like I said in post number 12 of this thread:

"... from your description of the symptoms, Em ... "popping out of 1st gear ... hard shifting or NO shifting into second ... I have to tell you you MIGHT be having a problem deep in the trans ... maybe the syncronizers AT LEAST."

BTW .... Numberdummy is right ... a halfway decent mechanic would have known this.


What to do now?

1) Get quotes on rebuilding your trans. Get at least 3 or 4 from different shops. This is a straight up manual transmission ... nothing fancy ... no frills.

2) Check Craigs list ... and call around a couple of Junk yards ... I'm not familiar with Ford parts swaps ... keep asking folks what trans and driveshaft would be a "bolt in" with no trouble and no modifications.

I would thik, if you got the transmission AND the drive shaft from the same "donor vehicle" it should be a simple bolt in ... but I'm not 100% on that.


Numberdummy is right on the bone yard trans ... even if you take the covers off ... there is only a barest minimum that you can see inside ... so so putting in a jy trans does have an element of risk.


Its a tough call Em. Because I'm a mechanic and can do the work myself ... I probably would probably take the risk ... and upgrade to a better trans. If I found a problem after I got it in ... pulling it back out and rebuilding it is no problem for me ... but you are paying for the work.


anyoldways...

Whatever you decide ... when you have trans out ... I would recommend having the shop (or you) install a new clutch, pressure plate and throw out bearing. If they charge you ANYTHING for the clutch installation ... it shouldn't amount to more than 1/2 hour additional. When I had my shops ... since the trans is already out ... I wouldn't charge labor on the clutch replacement.


Sorry for the bad news.

 

IF, and it is a BIG if you decide on a junkyard trans, I would go for an NP435. Absolute worst case scenario is it needs a rebuild. It sounds big, but it is not. It is probably the simplest truck trans to rebuild out of all of them. Parts are readily available, and actually pretty cheap. They actually hold up really well.

There are different trainsof thought in looking for one. On one hand, a trans out of a half ton truck (which most of these are offered in) probably saw the least load, therefore theoretically could be in better condition. On the other hand, a larger truck (which these were offered in up to the two ton or so) would have had more than likely an experienced driver who was gentle in shifting and not hot rodding the trans, therefore some people think that might be a better choice.

If it were me, I would look for the truck which appeared to be in the best shape as a starting point, and go from there.

Of course, I am jumping pretty far ahead, and you should be the one deciding if you are going to rebuild what you have or go a different route.

 

The Warner T-18 was introduced in F100/250's in 1965. 1967 was the first year for F350's.

1965 was also the first year that the New Process 435 was introduced in F100/350's.

Thru 1979, the NP435 was far more common.

IMO, after selling parts for these two transmissions for 35 yrs, the Warner is...by far, the better trans.

For one thing, dang near every week, there's a thread posted by someone looking for that fracatta shift lever retainer cap (B8T7220D) for the NP435.

I prolly sold 500 of those caps in 35 years, might have sold one or two of the Warner caps (8MTH7220) during the same time.

 

I used to build both. I saw more NP 435s than I did the BW's, BUT they were used in a lot more applications. UPS was one of the local accts. I recommended the 435 because IF it needed a rebuild, it was a heck of a lot easier for a novice. The T-18 would probably be better to just put in and go and hope for the best. It was also factory issue and more common in our trucks(especially considering the unique stick contour needed for our trucks). I think either would be a good bet, BUT I still think we are thinking too far ahead as of yet.

 

<b>oddshot, numberDummy, and bghnkinf250</b> thank you guys SO much for talking this stuff through for me...i dont know what i'm gonna do yet short of NOT letting my baby end up in a JY and y'all have given me good places to start...it's rough time to be thinking about spending too much money but since i'm not a mech. i'll definitely have to pay someone to do the work for me (someday i hope to know a little more so that that's not always the case)...

i was trying to be so optomistic that this would be an easy fix...dammit that it just wanst to be.

 

Can you limp it along for now?

 

yep i can limp it along as you say if i'm careful and dont get stuck in too much stop and go traffic...i admit i rolled through way too many stop signs today trying to stay in 2nd for as long as possible...

 

How many? I will send your cites in the mail! With how many clutch issues I have had over the years, I can not tell you how many I have had to forego!

 

Apart from the retainer, is there anything else inferior on the NP435? I'd only heard good things about them except for the big jumps between gears.

I'm putting one (a 435) in my truck until I can get a close-ratio T19.

Em, do you have someone who could help you out & back in with a trans, free of charge? An hour or so each way would see it done - only basic tools, but a bit physical

 

The aluminum shift cover concerned me asthey could wear quicker than an Iron one, but realistically, they rarely, if ever went bad in the area of the rails. The biggest concern is the shift towers.