Based on my previous posts I have a flathead going into a ‘29 coupe. I’ve found a top loader trans and it appears it come from a ‘60’s mustang. Any snags with this idea? Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I haven't read any of your previous posts so no idea what your mounting in front of the Trans shown. That said the only snag that I'd be worried about is where the shifter comes up in relation to your seat. Time to get out a tape measure and do some checking.
That shifter WILL be in the middle of the seat. There also does not appear to be any mount holes on the tail housing closer but a bracket could be made to bolt where your shifter mount is now and have holes drilled in it to mount the shift mechanism up near the main case and very short rods made. Good luck.
Get an adapter from Model Engineering to bolt the toploader to the 1/2 bell on your 8ba. As far as the shifter goes I believe a shift tower from a 3 speed Jeep can be made to work on your Mustang trans. This will place the shifter in almost the stock position in your Model A. I did the same thing using on a four speed Mustang toploader using a Jeep shift tower from a T-176 trans. Almost a direct bolt in, just have to grind the case a bit to allow the reverse fork to clear, IIRC. At one time I had the complete set up, MEC adapter and 4 speed Mustang toploader trans with a Jeep shift tower. FYI: the Model Engineering web site sucks. Best to call Gene directly but it may take a while for him to get back to you. Last number I had was 330-644-3450 but I just tried it and its out of service. So MEC maybe out of business. If it is its a shame because their stuff was first rate, IMO.
There are several links on the HAMB about adapting the Jeep T150 top shifter to the Ford top loader and it puts the shifter in the top cover eliminating the seat clearance problem.
I've been reading today the older posts on transmissions and it seems like everyone is liking the matchup of the S10's BW T-5. Im open to what is good and going to work. Again. I'm new to this and want to make good decisions on what will work and what won't keep this build from stalling.
What little first hand experience I've had with T-5 behind a Flathead is that first gear is useless, maybe I should say only good for about 10 feet. It's the current thing kind of like the M-2 fits everything of the 80's. My advice is find someone with one behind a Flathead and have them take you for a ride, then decide. Yes Overdrive is nice but there are better ways for that.
The 3.03 will work ok with a Jeep shifter conversion, one from a FE car would be stronger. If you want o/d you can find a T-170 RTS (look it up here) or an S10 T5 mechanical speedo. Depending what Flathead you have you can run a '51 Merc bellhousing to the 3.03 and it has the clutch shaft, you can run a 49-51 Ford car to the 3.03 and it has a clutch arm. http://www.wilcap.com/flathead.html#FHID
Personally I like the GM version A-883 Truck trans. Looks like any GM 4 speed and uses the Old School Hurst shifter. Good gear ratio 1 - 2 - 3, 3rd being One to One or direct drive and the 4th shift position is overdrive. Anyone's Flathead adapter to GM manual trans with bearing fork works. They are tough as hell and quite short overall length. Another plus is when the Flathead lays down you can bolt just about any other V-8 you want to that Trans. Now, the guys here can correct me if I'm wrong but if your using a 49-53 Motor doesn't the dual bolt pattern Ford gear box bolt right up to that Bellhousing?
Put a 66 Mustang top loader 4 speed into my 31 Ford Roadster behind a 1950 flathead. I also did the conversion to a Jeep T176 top loader 4 speed tower. Puts the shifter in the correct position and works well.
I have a mercury ,8cm,49 53 eng. This is in a 28 roadster. What bell housing are you using? This set up looks like what I want.
If you want a clutch arm then the 52-53 Merc or 49-53 Ford bellhousing, if you want the clutch shaft 51 Merc only. This is all with the later Ford trans bolt pattern (3.03, RTS, Toploader....)
Best I can recall it is a stamped steel bell housing from around 1950. Used the matched set of bell housing and starter plate. A sharp eyed HAMBER pointed out I had the wrong starter plate for the bell housing I was using! You can either open up the register hole for the transmission in the bell housing to match the outside diameter of the input shaft housing on the top loader or turn down the input shaft housing. There is an 1/8" difference between the two. The bell housing bolt holes match the inner ford bolt pattern on the toploader. Here are a couple better pics of the bell housing before I did the conversion on the transmission.
I am doing the same swap on a 8ba With the stamped steel bell Using a 11 inch clutch but there seems to be a bit of confusion about the throw out Can you supply me wit a thousand out number or pic ? Thanks for your time
Its been a while since I had my big truck with an 8ba using a half bell but IIRC an 11 inch clutch won't fit in the stamped steel 1/2 bell housing. Need the cast iron one. Don't know it this applies to the full bell housing you are planning on using. You might want to verify that that an 11 inch clutch will fit before you get too far into the swap. JMO
Watch what year the transmission is some of the early 60s mustang and falcon use a 25 spline out put shaft . The yoke is a bear to find !!!
Had a T-150 3 speed conversion in my 40. Upgraded to the T-176 4 speed conversion an couldn't be happier. Still have the converted 3 speed and it is up for sale locally.
First gear in the S10 T5 isn't bad with a tall rear gear (I'm using a 3.00). Plus the high gearing will let you cruise at 70 mph at 2,200 RPM with NO problems. I will reiterate what someone said earlier, if you switch to the S10 T5 make sure it has the mechanical speedometer gear. The PO of my truck didn't and tried to keep the original gauge cluster. It didn't work out so good.
i have a 39 3 speed zepher gears trany behind my 52 flatty i want to put a 65 top loader 4 speed in it and retain my closed drive shaft can this be done
i have a 39 3 speed zepher gears trany behind my 52 flatty i want to put a 65 top loader 4 speed in it and retain my closed drive shaft can this be done
I have not seen the top loader 4 speed done with a closed drive shaft. Don't know if it is possible or not? I believe I have seen a Jeep(?) t5 conversion done in such a way as to use the closed drive shaft. Seems it was done for a Model A. Don't recall where I saw it? Maybe Fordbarn.
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