Ford Transmissions
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Ford Transmissions
Hi,
I am new to the this list and I have a question. I am looking at putting a "real" 4 speed tranny in my '79 F150 4X4. It has the "granny low" New Process 435 in it now but I want to lower the RPMs at highway speeds. I know that in the late 70's Ford put in a light duty 4 speed without the low first gear but I don't know who made those trannies or how reliable they are. Does anyone have any suggestions? I am running a 300 I6 and I plan to warm it up a little bit with a cam, headers and intake.
Thanks for any help.
Jeremy
I am new to the this list and I have a question. I am looking at putting a "real" 4 speed tranny in my '79 F150 4X4. It has the "granny low" New Process 435 in it now but I want to lower the RPMs at highway speeds. I know that in the late 70's Ford put in a light duty 4 speed without the low first gear but I don't know who made those trannies or how reliable they are. Does anyone have any suggestions? I am running a 300 I6 and I plan to warm it up a little bit with a cam, headers and intake.
Thanks for any help.
Jeremy
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Ford Transmissions
Jeremy unless you are planning to go to a OD tranny, you wont change much. All non over drive/under drive trannys turn 1 to 1 on the out put shaft. The OD is turning slower than the engine. You listed a 150 so you should have a 9" in the rear. You can change to a lower number and slown the engine down at hiway speeds, without much cost. 
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Ford Transmissions
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 12-Jan-02 AT 00:04 AM (EST)]AK - I have a 78 f-100 with a 302 and low rear gears and was looking for an OD transmission that I remember seeing in the early 80s. I discovered that ford used a three speed with an OD (four speed) starting in 78, the SMOD, and another version later, the SROD. Also, every Ford manual I've come across is a 10 spline 1 1/16 shaft. I have not tried it yet, but I'm thinking it's an easy swap. Is this what you are talking about? I found some good info in the tech section of motivegear.com . 
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Ford Transmissions
Yeah I remember reading some about that, it sounds like it's a weaker version of the toploader as in dont powershift it or abuse it and you'll be fine. It seems like they swapped the 3rd and 4th gear clusters around some and made it overdrive
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Ford Transmissions
A buddy of mine had a 91 150 300 six with a 5-speed manual. Perhaps that wood work.
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Posting Guru
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Ford Transmissions
You would really come out better by changing your gears in the rear end. That granny gear can really come in handy in the rough stuff.
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Ford Transmissions
Everyone,
Thanks for the advice, I might try looking at one of those overdrive units if I can find some more info about them, or maybe that 5 speed. I like the strength of the 435's but I sure would like to get some lower cruising RPM's without scacrificing my rear end gears.
Jeremy
Thanks for the advice, I might try looking at one of those overdrive units if I can find some more info about them, or maybe that 5 speed. I like the strength of the 435's but I sure would like to get some lower cruising RPM's without scacrificing my rear end gears.
Jeremy
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Ford Transmissions
I just put a t-5 from a 5.0 mutang in a 1977 F-150 which had a 300 6 and a three speed in it. I ordered an adapter plate from CR Mustang for $133.00. This was the only thing I had to get. The adapter plate bolts to the bellhousing and is 11/16 of an inch thick. The truck had two sets of holes in the frame for the crossmember. With the t-5, I had to use the second set of holes, but was able to use the original trans mount. The drive shaft legnth remained unchanged. Everyone has commented that the T-5 is to weak, but we have had no problems. The only thing is we had to do was modify the shifter. We used the original Mustang shifter. We just flipped it around and bent it a little. Haven't decided on how to extend it yet. But it is definetly nice crusing down the interstate now
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Ford Transmissions
ROB79,
What year was that T-5 from and did you have to use any different (longer) bolts or a different starter with that adaptor plate? What about the clutch and its linkage, did they all hook up the same? How long have you had that tranny in? Thanks for the help!
What year was that T-5 from and did you have to use any different (longer) bolts or a different starter with that adaptor plate? What about the clutch and its linkage, did they all hook up the same? How long have you had that tranny in? Thanks for the help!
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Ford Transmissions
The adapter plate bolts to the back of the bellhousing, which lets you keep everything else the same. The adapter plate comes with all the new bolts you need, the only thing you have to do is drill two new holes in the back of the bellhousing. One has to be tapped and the other does not. My dad drill the holes and tapped the one for me (It's his truck). We turned the flywheel-put a new ring on it-replaced the nylon bushings in the clutch equilizer bar and put in a new ram clutch kit while we were at it. I figure we would have to fabricate a new crossmember and or mount, but everything from the old three speed fit. We got lucky on the T-5. It was from a 1987 5.0 Mustang. I figured it would need rebuilt, but it's great. It is a true joy to drive this truck now. The speedo cable even bolted right into the T-5. The speedo isn't right, we put in the right gear, but need to change tire sizes--planning on new wheels and 225-60R15's. If you have any questions email me at RSimon(No Email Addresses In Posts!). I'll help anyway I can