Technical 4sp drivability question?

I was planning using a T-5 for my Pontiac powered 34 ford. Hell, I even bought 3 spare transmissions "just in case"...
Then, I remembered how I drive a hotrod. Swap meeted all but one T-5 and used the money to buy a Muncie M-21 and a competition-plus shifter with all new arms, levers etc etc.
I REALLY don't want to swap transmissions regularly in my hot rod.
The quick change rear axle will make the close ratio trans easier to live with on the street but I'd recommend a M-20 wide ratio if you're not willing to swap rear end gears to take the car on a road trip.

 

If you decide to go with a four speed, contact Ed Hartnett's Four Speeds in Landsdowne, Pa. 610-623-9381.
He's a great guy, good prices on parts, rebuild kits and complete trannies, he's very knowledgeable and shares his knowledge willingly.

 

I know you plan on using 4.11's, so getting the car rolling won't be an issue, but Rocky's point about the M-20 is correct especially when using high rear gear ratios(numerically).
the close ratio Muncies(M21) have a 2.20 first gear where the M-20's(wide ratio) have a 2.52(early) and 2.56 first gear in the later gearsets. Your choice will have a big effect on around town driving with any of the 3-3.55 rear gears, wont matter much on the open road as both trans. are 1-1 in 4th gear. Just throwing out numbers for those who don't know.
Doug

 

The biggest problem I see is the combination of the 4:11 rear with an S10 T5. The first gear ratios in the S10 box are just too low to use in combo with that rear. The low gears also reduce the torque capability of the transmission because the low ratios cause a lot of torque multiplication which will stress out the whole box under heavy torque.

If you have an S10 with 4.03:1 first gear (most are), when it's combined with the 4:11 rear, your combined first ratio is 16.56:1 which is granny-gear or stump-pulling territory. You really want to be in the 12:1 range in first.

Solution? Swap a 2.95:1 first gear set (all the gears) into the S10 box or hybrid the S10 tail with a Camaro T5. Beware that Camaros also came with different ratios, too, but I think 3.35 and 2.95 are among them.

Just another note: I don't think there's any way the 5th gear OD (in any trans) would be the source of strength problems. There's just not enough torque delivered at interstate highway speeds to break anything.

 

I recently bought a '40 Ford coupe equipped with a warmed over Mustang 5.0 engine and T5. The shifter is a Hurst and clears the stock '40 bench seat by a wide margin. Has a 3.73- 8.8 rear gear and cruises @ 2000 at 70 mph. I like it, but I don't beat on it either. It's my cruiser, not a hot dog to beat on!
When I feel crazy, out comes BGII, my '31 "A" roadster on '32 frame, 400 hp SBC, and a Ford Toploader 4 speed, with a conversion to a Jeep t-176 center top shifter. After it comes thru the floor boot it has an old Ford shifter handle welded on it and you really gotta look real close to tell it ain't a 39 Ford 3 speed toploader. Not as fast to shift as a good Hurst, but it looks good and after you get accustomed to it, you can shift it pretty fast and it's damn near bulletproof! I had considered adding a Gear Vendors overdrive behind it instead of the stock rear extension housing, cause it turns 3K @ 70 mph with the 3.70 gear, but now that I have the '40 to cruise long distances, which are sorta rough on an old man of 77 yrs. in an open roadster, I'm just gonna leave it as is and enjoy it that way.
So IMO, how you plan to use it has a big bearing on how you build it.

 

I think I'm going to stick with the t5 because I have the s10 nwc trans already sitting on the garage floor, and the frame was built for this trans. I think I will continue to search for a Camaro wc box, or at least swap gears for a set that has a better 1st gear for the sbc.
While I like the idea of thrashing on a speed, it's gonna cost to much, and this build has eating up family funds for 3years now. It's time to wrap it up before the wife files!

 

I'm running a top loader 3 speed out of a 68 Galaxy in my 27 and it has held up under a lot of abuse over 25 years or more. I had to shorten the whole Hurst shifter setup to move it forward to clear my bench seat, but that was no problem.

Don

 

Well, I scored a wc camaro box for $175 today, so I'm going to buy a set of v8 gears and use my s10 tailshaft to make, what should be the ideal trans for the roadster. Thanks to all that replied.

 

Those are near-bulletproof boxes in the big-block size. I installed one in a '58 Ford wagon back in the day, and the guy at the wrecking yard said 'Kid, you'll never break this unless you run it with no gear oil'. He was right, I broke every other driveline part multiple times (axles, third members, u-joints, even a yoke once) but that tranny never showed a single sign of even any wear... I was told they were even stronger than the Ford 4-speed, I'd believe that. Even GM liked 'em; they were the 'base' transmission (with a GM pattern case/input) in the GTO/442 for a few years if you didn't opt for a four-speed.

 

I have a roadster with a healthy 327, muncie m21, 4.11 posi and bias plies that are 29" in diameter out back. It's a lot if fun. I don't really side step the clutch and I'm not too worried about breaking shit because the tires will break loose first. The only downside is the engine revs a little high on the highway, but I'm happy.

 

Yeah, I think there was a fire at the GM transmission factory, or something like that, and they bought these top loader 3 speeds for the GTO's and others. I know I have not taken it easy on mine for 25 years or so, and I have never done anything to it except change the gear lube occasionally.

Don

 

Steve--Friend of mine had a 67 Malibu w/bench seat and factory 3 spd. on the floor.