Intro and Ford Transmission Question

Hey H.A.M.B,

I've posted a few but have not done a proper intro. So I'll do so, that way you kids can have your fun with me before answering any serious questions I have.

I'm not new to working on autos. Been a hobbyist for 20 years, working on cars and old italian scooters. Ran a 51 Shoebox for years which I've recently sold for a 41 Ford Pickup. Pick of the truck is attached.

Live in the San Francisco East Bay and am buddies with a few old hands on this board.

OK, so thats it with the formalities.

I've picked up a built 50 Flattie for my 41, Edelbrock heads, 3 Deuces, modern oil filtration, and 12v. I'd like to run a more modern******* in this and am thinking about a 60's Ford top loader.

Any thoughts from those who've run the non stock transmission? I'm not going to use the stock 3 speed, and I've had many headaches with the 49-51 overdrives that came stock with the 50 engine.

Thanks for any feedback, be it ribbing or actual answers to my question.

Mike

 

Welcome! Cool truck...I really dig FORD POWERED 40-41 peekups!

60s/70s Top-Loaders are gettin' expensive...you may wanna consider a T-5 swap...lotsa folks here have done it, and it doesn't seem too complicated. Rocky ran one in his old truck behind a flattie...cheaper and easier to locate than a Top-Loader...

(Just a thought!)

 

Thanks Fat Hack,

I'm trying to keep to Ford parts in a Ford. We'll see how long I can live by that.

Anyway, as far as T5's are concerned, I see another thread here about T5's and flatties. As far as I know there are two basic positions for the shifter on T5's depending on the year of******* production.

For those who have used T5*******s, which shifter position did you use? The T5 with the shifter at the rear or the front? I'd****ume the front else the shifter might possibly end up under your seat. A mod I'm not willing to try.

Mike

 

If I recall correctly, Rocky used a T-5 from an S10...but that was in a 32-34 truck...don't know if the shifter position would be right for your cab, though.

Maybe a 5-speed from a later (87-93) F150 2wd with a 4.9 (300 six) or 5.0 (302 V8) would work?

 

Mike, there is another way. The Ford SROD 3speed + overdrive trans from a 1977-81 Ford truck is a great choice for the 8BA flattie with its removeable bell housing. The truck SROD comes with internal linkage and is drilled for the early narrow bolt pattern on your bell housing. You keep your pressure plate and flywheel, all you change are the throwout bearing and the clutch disc. With this trans you have a 3.07 low gear and a 20% overdrive. The shifter comes out right behind the main case so it will clear your seat and you must use the stock SROD shifter. The shifter handle can be heated and bent and it is 24" long. It can handle any torque the flattie will put out but can be weak behind a 400 HP engine. Hope this helps you.

 

If you do go with a toploader 4-spd (or even the 3spd w/OD out of the later Ford truck), you can use the*****er tower (top) out of a Jeep CJ-7 that runs the T-176******* with very little work. Now you have a topshift 4spd (or 3spd w/OD).

 

Mike, I have sent you two messages. Click on the flashing flag next to the main index to read them. Mike

 

If you go with the Ford PU 3 spd w/ OD you get that shifter tower. Stick to '85 and earlier shifters as they are a uniform 5/8" or so metal while later ones are funky shaped plastic wrapped contraptions. Check rebuilders like Jasper. I got a non OD version there as they did not know what it was, and only paid about $500. I loved the 3.89 1st.