Don't know if you're interested, but the NP435 used in all the pickups in the 70's and 80's
makes a really good tranny for an EB, especially if you want to keep the higher gears in your axles. The "granny" 1st gear is great off-road. I can point you twoards some good info if your interested, it's a bullet proof tranny thats fairly cheap to swap in. I have one in my 69, this will be the first thing I will modify on any other EB I ever build!

 

yeah man, let me know what it takes! Ill weigh everything and see whats the best for what I want to do.

 

If I was going to the trouble of changing the tranny I'd go auto. Wait, I already did that. I swapped c4 into my 66. I have a np435 sitting beside the garage under a wash tub but I just prefer autos but to each his own. I will say that in the group that I wheel with, 15-20, there is only 2 people that wheel standards. They both use np435s and one is a gal who can outdrive most of us men.

 

I love the column shift. I drove a '71 Econoline service van for years, and maybe the 3 on the tree just grows(no pun intended) on you after awhile, but I prefer it over the floor shifter. When the bushings get loose, though, it can be a bear to make it work.

 

Sorry, man. Been awhile since I followed this thread. To put an NP 435 in an early Bronco, look for a tranny out of a 70's to early 80's Ford 2wd. The Tranny you want has an aluminum top, cast iron case. You want the 2wd version with the 28 spline output shaft. This tranny can usaully be found for around $100 in a junkyard, and a rebuild kit is pretty cheap and fairly easy to install. You have to buy an adaptor (I got mine from Tom's Bronco Parts), which is the most spendy part. I think I paid about $300 for mine. If you're going from an auto it gets a little more involved, but if you've already got the 3 speed the rest is a bolt in. A Body lift helps it fit, but without one you just have to cut a little bigger hole in the floorpan. I bought a universal shift boot at the parts house (I have a 2 in BL), and it covered it just fine. The only other thing is bending the shifter to work, because it comes out up under the dash. Not a big deal, but you've gotta have access to a torch to bend a 90 in it down low.

Got to classicbroncos.com and do a search, there's a really good writeup on it, very simple if you've done any type of swap before. It's basically a bolt in swap. When you're done, you still have a 3 speed for highway driving. You only use 2nd 3rd and 4th for normal driving. The gear ratios are about the same as a c4 auto or the stock 3 on the tree. But when you go off road, you have a super low 1st gear for wheeling, and it only gets better in 4 lo. I do a lot of wheeling in mine, and don't hardly ever use low range unless I'm rock crawling. I do have 4.10 gears, which really helps, but I'm also running 35'' tires.

Follow this link, do some reading, very good info and plenty of it:

NP435 4 speed manual – Transmission Guide | ClassicBroncos.com Tech Articles

 

One other place to look: the "hi-boy" trucks from the 70's with the divorced transfer cases have the correct tranny. I got mine out of a 71 F 250 I had junked out a couple of years before.

 

If your looking for an NP435 for your Bronco... my buddy has EVERYTHING you need already stored. He decided to go another route and ended up going with a C4 instead. I know he's looking to sell.

 

That sounds like a good deal, everything you need in one stop shopping. Bullet proof tranny and all the goodies to install it.

 

I personally like the 3 on the tree. My 68 is uncut with the small 170. I'm in the process of doing much the same as what you are talking about. I've installed the front disc brake conversion (bought it on ebay and it is a great product). I have the D20 torn down and as soon as it's done I'll be rebuilding the transmission. After that, it's power steering. With my 68, I find myself torn between keeping it original or modifying it slight to make it a more comfortable daily driver.

 

After that, it's power steering
this '70 170 has it. had ta coble together the V8 bracket n some flat stock. Shoulda used BCBronk's. Woulda been cheeper n easier. Chuck's the only 1 w/an I6 bracket I think.