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I’m trying to figure out what transmission I have so I can find an owner’s manual
Hello all,
I recently bought a 1981 F150 custom with a 300 in-line 6 and a 3-speed with OD manual transmission (shifter on the floor). I’m trying to find a manual to help me learn more about it so I can work on it because it’s leaking, but I can’t even find consistent information on what transmission it is. Can someone please help me?
There are three different numbers stamped into the casing on the driver’s side and 2 on the metal tag attached to the passenger side.
On the driver side the forward/front most number is 12B 15 80 then to the rear of that under what I assume is the transmission drain plug are the following numbers one on top of the other RF-D9BR-7006-AB (top) then C-2604194 (bottom). Above the plug is the ford logo and between the two number are stamped ACE CO 9
On the passenger side on the metal tag attached to the transmission are two numbers one on top of the other. RUG DN AB12 (top) EITR DA0974.
I’m going to attach pictures with descriptions and questions below. Passenger side metal ID tag. Is this the transmission fill plug? If so, what tool do I need to get it off and how do I go about filling it because that’s a tight space to try to put a bottle of fluid up into? Driver’s side forward most/ front most numbers (also what is that bolt for and what’s the thing that looks like a plug or broken off bolt?) Driver side rear most numbers (is this the transmission drain plug?) This is the large bolt from the picture with the numbers from the rear of the transmission. Is it supposed to have a gasket and/or an O-ring? Also, if this is the drain plug nothing came out when I pulled it out and it smelled like it was burnt, but oddly there was still fluid leaking from the transmission. The fluid is a sort of greenish/gold color and smells burnt. It’s leaking from somewhere close to that flat circle, possibly the seam closest to it. Close up of that flat spot and the seam. This is on the driver’s side facing the front of the truck on the back side of that seam to the right of and below the bolt is this hole that is either also leaking that fluid, is the source of the leak, or is just collecting fluid as the wind pushes it back along the transmission while driving. ID tag under the hood against the fire wall. All the vehicle ID.
This bolt is not the drain or fill plug, this bolt holds the reverse shift fork inside the transmission. A metal clip that holds the fork on the bolt is also missing, the clip fits onto that groove.
There is a good chance that you won't have reverse now.
You will have to remove the transmission and remove the top cover to realign the fork back onto the bolt and fish out the clip that is most likely stuck to the magnet in the bottom of the case.
Good time to do a reseal on the whole transmission to stop the leaks while it's out.
This bolt is not the drain or fill plug, this bolt holds the reverse shift fork inside the transmission. A metal clip that holds the fork on the bolt is also missing, the clip fits onto that groove.
There is a good chance that you won't have reverse now.
You will have to remove the transmission and remove the top cover to realign the fork back onto the bolt and fish out the clip that is most likely stuck to the magnet in the bottom of the case.
Good time to do a reseal on the whole transmission to stop the leaks while it's out.
Thank you for the response.
That’s problematic. That bolt was super loose, when I took it out. I was able to pull it out with just my finger tips with no effort or resistance at all and the reverse worked fine at the time. I have since put it back, but I haven’t moved the truck since then. I’ll have to see if I have reverse later today.
i tested it and I no longer have reverse. Do you think it’s OK to drive it to the shop where I can work on it which is about 15 miles away or should I have it towed? This looks like the transmission you sent the diagram of, but mine has a different shifter and it doesn’t have that fork on the outside. This one looks closer to my transmission, but mine has a bolt and isn’t stamped with DO NOT REMOVE under where the screw is here/where the bolt is on mine. This one looks the most similar to mine. However, I still don’t know what specific model of transmission I have because the VIN decoder says that the number in the 9th position is an error, and my RUG code doesn’t show up anywhere. Regardless of which one I have you were correct and I no longer have reverse.
Last edited by Gary366; Apr 28, 2024 at 05:22 PM.
Reason: I tried to find more information on my transmission and came across three different examples of the same type of transmission and am seeking clarity.
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