I've been looking for a transmission to put behind my 58 Pontiac 370 and since it's already setup with an adapter plate to run a Ford manual transmission, that's what I was planning to do. I've had leads on F1's and one out of a 49-50 Mercury, but they're too far away for me to get. I found one today locally that was in a 1949 Ford F6, it's a 4 speed top loader, no pto or anything, just a hand brake which I could take off... my question is, is this going to be geared way too low to put behind the Pontiac 370? Anyone know what the transmission ratio would be? He had another in a 50/51 Ford 3/4 ton truck, 4 speed, top loader, same hand brake, transmissions looked identical. I can get either one fairly cheap Just looking for info on these transmissions as I know nothing about them. What I need to know, should know, etc... I did find a 3 speed column shift transmission as well, but I'd have to travel 2 hours to get it which I could if I need to, but the closer the better. Should I pass and just look for a 49-51 F1 trans or the 49-50 Merc trans... or just get the one I found and use it? Thanks Dave
If you go through the hassle of installing the F-6 transmission you might be the only person with a '58 Pontiac you have to double clutch. Up to late '50, maybe '51 Ford truck four speeds were non-syncro trannies and you have to double clutch them between gears, which takes a little learning to do and are a bear to down shift if you don't know how to do it properly. Ford did offer a synchronized transmission in their larger trucks but they were an option in '51 and standard in '52. FWIW, you can tell which tranny you have by the shift pattern. The non-synchro tranny has reverse to the right and down, the synchronized has reverse to the right and up. That all being said, the truck transmissions are a very poor choice. It's going to take some work to make it fit, they have low gearing and they're heavy as hell. Blow the $50 in gas and get the proper transmission, not a truck transmission, at least not one out of old truck, F-1 or any other size of that vintage. Look at a T-5, they used them in many '80s cars and light trucks like Thunderbirds, Cameros and S-10s. Do a search of the HAMB to find out more information about T-5s. I don't know much about T-5s, I'm not a transmission expert but I do know old Ford trucks.
The only reason I was planning to go with this transmission is my engine is already setup for it... I could go with a Hydramatic, but that'd be boring and too easy If I could find everything I need to run a different transmission, maybe a 60's 4 speed, I'd go that route and just sell what I have already. Here's what I'm working with... And I figured the 4 speed was a non-synchronized transmission and would have to be double clutched.
I don't see how an old Ford truck transmission would work for you. Most times the Ford truck guys are swapping a T-5 to replace their stock 3 speed or 4 speed. Do the T-5 into the old truck isn't all that hard, I haven't done it but know a couple of people who have. I have the 4 speed in my '49 F-2 3/4 ton pickup, I enjoy driving it because I get the feel of a heavy truck and the double clutching isn't too bad except when you get into heavy traffic,all that pumping can wear your knee out. Also, I don't use my truck as a speed wagon, it's sloooow! But it's an old truck.
I guess I'll see if I can find a T5 transmission. I don't want to do all this work then have to redo it again because it didn't work the first time. I did some searching and found there's an adapter to adapt the T5 to a ford Flathead, and since I already have the ford adapter, I should be able to just bolt it there and go with the T5 without a lot of work as long as the input shaft is long enough to go through the 2 adapters and the hydramatic bell housing Thanks for that suggestion Dave
Dave, The adapter set up you're talking about won't work. The T-5 to flattie adapter is basically the same piece you have, or I should say it takes the same space your present adapter is taking. The T-5 to flattie adapter is the clutch bellhousing. You can buy the T-5 to flattie adapter or many people make their own using the "Hogshead" off of the old Ford truck four speed like the one you were looking to use. It the part that bolts to the front of the Ford transmission. If you use the Hogshead you have to make a 1" adapter plate. Do a search for T-5 on the HAMB, I'm sure you'd find a few posts that will help you with what you want to do.
F6's with the big 6 flathead came with a T98. It says that right on the side of the case. They are synchro. Otherwise, as Bob said, you'll be double clutching anything else from a Ford truck. 59T would be on the case for non-synchro.
The t5 adapter will work as the bell that is on the engine is like the adapter ring on the front half of an 8BA bell
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