Technical What transmission can be used with a 351W to retain the 3 on the tree?

I think I want to go with a 351W in my 56 F100, but am not sure what transmission will do what I want though. Is there a 3 speed transmission that will bolt up to a 351W and let me retain a functional 3 on the tree? Also, if I do a 351W it won't be anything crazy, just a stock or mild build.

I'm just kicking around ideas right now on what direction to go and I appreciate any help.


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Ford spec Borg Warner T-85........used in many heavy duty Ford/Merc/Lincoln applications from the '50s thru the mid '60s. It's the 'father' of the BW T-10 4 speed. Look for the side cover with a downward curved bottom shape.

Also used in some other applications such as Pontiac in early '60s and Studebaker Golden Hawks, for example, but most common in FoMoCo
products.

Ray

 

Perfect, that's exactly what I wanted to know. Thank you!


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could a 303 toploader be used
they showed up in 63 and would have been used behind sb and bb fords
I have found some input shaft length issues with some of the older trans.

 

Any '65 and up small block toploader 3 speed will fit. They have a small tag riveted on. The three types I know of will have RAN, HEF, and RAT stamped on the tag, the RAT is the heavier duty unit, with a longer case. They were used in Ford pickups, and vans up into the 70's. Some pickup and van units have a fixed u-joint flange on the rear, and are used in a 2 piece drive line application, with a slip joint at the carrier bearing in the middle. As Hnstray noted the T-85 was a strong gear box, but are very hard to find, and are not synchro in first gear.

 

The impression I had kind of gotten from trying to research this was it had to have the linkage on the side for the three on the tree. If that's not true, how much more difficult is it to adapt the stock shifter to work with a toploader?


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The late Ford toploader three speed is side-shift; the 'toploader' refers to how the gears go in when it's assembled.

The T85 won't work, as that's the 'early' ('49-64) trans bolt pattern. While the bolt pattern presents some issues, the big one is the front bearing cover is smaller and will be a sloppy fit in the late 6-bolt bell. The trans may or may not be located precisely enough because of this, and if it isn't, clutch issues and front trans bearing failures will result.

 

Ford pickup trucks were available with column shift 3 speeds into the 1970s. Newest column shift 3 speed I have seen was in an 85 Chev pickup, can't say exactly how long Ford had them. But if I was looking for a column shift 3 speed to fit a 351 that is where I would look.

 

I agree with Marty Strode's recommendation of a 'top loader' 3 speed as being a more commonly available transmission than the T-85.

However the later post by Crazy Steve regarding the diameter of the front bearing retainer being a deal breaker is overstatement in my opinion. There may be other good reasons to look elsewhere, but that is not one of them. It is common practice in that circumstance to machine a spacer ring to 'resize' the retainer. Chevy cars and trucks have the same issue and spacers are readily available. Making one for a Ford application is no big deal.

Nonetheless, I think Marty's suggestion of trans choice is the better alternative.

Ray

 

Add me to the Ford toploader 3sp crowd. A T85 overdrive would be nice but I'd rather have a synchronized 1st gear than an overdrive. Plus getting all the other things needed for the overdrive, wiring, relay, pull cable will be a lot more work than fixing the bearing retainer issue.

 

I wasn't saying it's a deal-breaker, but it's definitely an issue you ignore at your own peril. A T85 isn't a bolt-in unless you can find a very rare '65-69 Ford version.

And the Ford toploader is all-but-bulletproof if you can find the 'big' version. GM thought enough of them to buy them from Ford as the 'base' trans in late '60s GTOs and 442s....

 

Would it be better to just go with a floor shifter?


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You would certainly have more options and probably easier parts hunting.

 

That's kinda what I'm thinking. It would be cool to keep the 3 on the tree, but with the engine swap and all it probably would be better on the floor.


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If you go with any 3 speed, it would simpler to just hook it up to the column, providing you still have the column shift linkage. I am building a '40 PU, using column shift 3 speed, it makes more room in the cab.

 

Column shift is easily doable.
Go to this forum for additional info.

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