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Hot Rods Manual Trans Ideas For an 8BA?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by DirtySanchez, Sep 25, 2008.

  1. DirtySanchez
    Joined: Aug 31, 2006
    Posts: 408

    DirtySanchez
    Member
    from So Cal

    I've got an 8BA and was wondering what manual trans would go well behind it and ahead of a 40 rear? Something fairly easy to come by in the local wrecking yards and not exotic enough to need a high dollar adapter either. Would a 5 speed be useless or would it be recommended for a driver? I plan on using it on a near daily basis. Thanks for any input and suggestions.
     
  2. Retrorod
    Joined: Jan 25, 2006
    Posts: 2,034

    Retrorod
    Member

    Our 8BA is really a happy camper with the T-5 behind it. At 65 mph on the freeway in 5th gear that litlle flatty will run all day long without protest. Flower says it made the car ALOT more fun to drive. I vote for a T-5 Warner. The Offy adapter is cheap.
     
  3. DirtySanchez
    Joined: Aug 31, 2006
    Posts: 408

    DirtySanchez
    Member
    from So Cal

    Sorry for the ignorance, but what yr/make does a T5 usually come from?
     
  4. 50shoe
    Joined: Sep 14, 2005
    Posts: 640

    50shoe
    Member

    90s era S-10, need an open drive rear too.
     
  5. Little Wing
    Joined: Nov 25, 2005
    Posts: 7,565

    Little Wing
    Member
    from Northeast

  6. Rocky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 17,623

    Rocky
    Classified Editor

    my vote is also for the T-5....requires you to convert the old ford banjo rear to an open drive or change rearends to something more modern. The 40 wishbone won't handle the engines torque [now that the old torquetube is gone] so you'll need to either reinforce the bones or make up a separate torque arm to control rear axle twist.
     
  7. Crazydaddyo
    Joined: Apr 6, 2008
    Posts: 3,370

    Crazydaddyo
    Member

  8. Flat Ernie
    Joined: Jun 5, 2002
    Posts: 8,406

    Flat Ernie
    Tech Editor

    Read the tech link in my sig line - should answer most questions.

    There's also another thread in the tech archives somewhere - I think started by kilroy - the be all end all flathead transmission article (or something like that) - gotta run or I'd find the link for ya.
     
  9. DirtySanchez
    Joined: Aug 31, 2006
    Posts: 408

    DirtySanchez
    Member
    from So Cal

    Thanks a million Ernie and everyone else. Looks as if the T-5 is indeed the way to go. Off to the wrecking yard I go!
     
  10. j ripper
    Joined: Aug 2, 2006
    Posts: 864

    j ripper
    Member
    from napa ca.

    or you could simply use the correct 3 speed.. heck of alot easier and a heck of alot cooler..
     
  11. Cooler until you try to keep up with freeway traffic, that is. One other thing on the T5 is it's something you can actually find in a wrecking yard, that hasn't been buried in the dirt for 40 years either.
     
  12. DirtySanchez
    Joined: Aug 31, 2006
    Posts: 408

    DirtySanchez
    Member
    from So Cal

    What is the correct 3 speed? Year and make please??
     
  13. Larsdk
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 414

    Larsdk
    Member

    37-39 if you want the shifter on the floor.
    Lars
     
  14. thunderbirdesq
    Joined: Feb 15, 2006
    Posts: 7,091

    thunderbirdesq
    Member

    A little more exotic but by no means impossible to find: I'm gonna run a shoebox 3spd overdrive behind my 8ba. They can be had in useable shape for around the $200 mark. And you can still say your car has no modern concessions! (if that type of thing is a big deal to you):D
     
  15. Shaggy
    Joined: Mar 6, 2003
    Posts: 5,207

    Shaggy
    Member
    from Sultan, WA

    60's ford toploaders are good there should be some articals on here. my dad did it on his you get the FACTORY stamped bell and it bolts right up NO ADAPTER

    And the cool thing is, grind a notch in the case for a shift arm clearance and a Jeep topshift cover BOLTS on

    Really a slick easy setup
     
  16. DirtySanchez
    Joined: Aug 31, 2006
    Posts: 408

    DirtySanchez
    Member
    from So Cal

    I'd like the idea of keeping it as cl***ic as possible but not gonna paint myself into a corner for the sake of. The truck I'm building is sort of along your avatar pic but is being built as an extra cab using a cut down Murray sedan body as the cab and throwing in a dirt track flavor. Cowl steering, quarter elipticals, dirt track rears and ribbed fronts, hoping to convert the rearend to a quick change/open drive.

    Thanks for the input as to something that will help keep it more along the originally intended lines.
     
  17. SpDDmN
    Joined: Jun 25, 2008
    Posts: 304

    SpDDmN
    Member

    I've got a 318 Mopar mill in my '34 backed with a 5-speed Toyota trans(very little fab work needed) & also running a '47 Ford pick-up rear-end(go check out my album on it)
    Further more,I've got a '65 Dodge pick-up(slant 6) with the same trans,using it as a daily & a work truck,fuel consump. is fairly good on it.
    Thinking of running a 5-speed Toyota trans on my '39 ford pick-up aswell(flathead)
     
  18. Flat Ernie
    Joined: Jun 5, 2002
    Posts: 8,406

    Flat Ernie
    Tech Editor

  19. DirtySanchez
    Joined: Aug 31, 2006
    Posts: 408

    DirtySanchez
    Member
    from So Cal

    Thanks another million, Ernie! Really appreciate you remembering my query and addressing it further.
     
  20. zibo
    Joined: Mar 17, 2002
    Posts: 2,361

    zibo
    Member
    from dago ca

    I like the early ford/mercury 3 spd overdrives, I think 49-53 ish.
    Some need the half-bellhousing and others need the large stamped steel bellhousing.
    Both are sideshifters though, good or bad depending on your shifter choice.
    Some are found in Y-block cars but they seem alot longer and don't know if the bolt-pattern is the same.

    TP
     
  21. Flat Ernie
    Joined: Jun 5, 2002
    Posts: 8,406

    Flat Ernie
    Tech Editor

    Challenges with the early OD are primarily solenoid placement - this varied by year & model. But they're decent ******s.

    Ford transmission bolt pattern remained largely unchanged from '49-64, so they all bolt up. (I think some small cars like very early Falcons might be different)
     
  22. Abomination
    Joined: Oct 5, 2006
    Posts: 6,772

    Abomination
    Member

    Hey - somebody post a pic of one... I think I may have one in the ba*****t!

    ~Jason

     
  23. Southfork
    Joined: Dec 15, 2001
    Posts: 1,465

    Southfork
    Member

    I probably have two or three Ford/Lincoln/Mercury 6-volt overdrive trannies too. I wish that more info would become available to HAMBers on hooking them up so the overdrive works, and how to get them into and out of overdrive, while driving.

    I understand that some guys use a toggle switch on the dash byp***ing the governor or some such but am not sure why this is done or how to do it. I also understand that some rodders put manual levers on the overdrive ****** to go into and out of overdrive. These old-school tricks would make a great Tech topic for somebody.
     
  24. I have one of those things, too. Got it cheap at an auction, then saw them going on the bay for $300 a pop - and mine came with the bell, clutch and flywheel too.
     
  25. Flat Ernie
    Joined: Jun 5, 2002
    Posts: 8,406

    Flat Ernie
    Tech Editor

    This has been discussed here a couple of times - a search may turn it up.
     
  26. zibo
    Joined: Mar 17, 2002
    Posts: 2,361

    zibo
    Member
    from dago ca

    Yeah that overdrive switch has pages of threads.

    Anyway a friend has a t-5/flathead and it really wakes up the engine with the tight ratio's.
    The flathead is torky enough to skip shifts if you wind it out a little too,
    but downshifting on turns etc. with the new synchro technology makes it a fun car.

    Also since it is a natural top-loader the shifter is direct, not sloppy like a hurst/sideshifter conversion CAN be.

    My RPU has the early OD ****** with a homemade double shifter.
    I love it cause the shifts are crisp, and the ****** is made for the engine,
    maybe not the weight of the car but its a fun car to drive,
    especially with a 75% od it can keep up with the faster cars on the freeway.

    Well maybe the engine not the suspension all the time!

    tp
     
  27. DirtySanchez
    Joined: Aug 31, 2006
    Posts: 408

    DirtySanchez
    Member
    from So Cal

    This is exactly what type of input I was hoping for! Can't say thanks enough.
    Feel free to add anything else to the list. The T-5 is certainly looking to be the one though.

    http://moderndriveline.com/Technical_Bits/t5_history.htm

    Another tid-bit I wanted to p*** along to anyone else considering this transmission, that I'd been turned on to regarding this question. I hope someone else can find it helpful as well.
     
  28. I just put a T-5 up against an 8ba with a 40 rear. Owner wanted to lay wheels, it does... great choice if your not concerned with tradition. Easy installation...
     
  29. Shifty Shifterton
    Joined: Oct 1, 2006
    Posts: 4,964

    Shifty Shifterton
    Member

    Since you're not really building a purebred traditional truck, but a modern intrepretation of one...... definitely do not build it around an antique, weak, & hard to find locally transmission. Nobody sees the transmission from outside the car, only the shifter. Run the T5 and drive it like a HOT ROD instead of driving like it's got a gl*** transmission.
     
  30. DirtySanchez
    Joined: Aug 31, 2006
    Posts: 408

    DirtySanchez
    Member
    from So Cal

    Thanks DD and SS. I think I am going to go with the T5 and even hoping to score the T5-Z as I've learned about from the above mentioned thread I'd found. I think the ratios would be a good link to be stout without worry and as mentioned not be hard on the motor. I think it'll even make up for it's lacking in performance parts too.

    What are the opinions of a Muncie? I've got one at our shop that a customer is probably just let it go for nothing as he's having us install another trans into his jeep. I know I obviously have to change the tail shaft/housing because of the transfer case. Would these be recommended? With the cost of the ****** being free and only the expense of the changing to two wheel drive, it sounds appealing and have heard it as pretty popular with the muscle car crowd. I'm not willing to put a turd into my project, though, for the sake of saving a few bucks. Inputs??
     

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