Another Auto to Manual swap

[AK F100]

Just gathering info at this point.

I have a thread going in the engine section in regard to some engine questions I had in doing the swap and it started turning into a transmission thread, so here I am...
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... =3&t=46707

A little about the truck:

1968 F100 2wd Shorty, It will be lowered a bit and will be running around a 30.5" tire on the rear and If memory serves me correctly it has 4.10 - 4.11 gears in the rear-end. It will be a bit of a theme truck (I have been gathering parts over the last few years and am going to build my version of a 1968 F100 Harley Davidson Edition) and will not see any heavy hauling service.

A few years ago, when I had my 302 assembled, I had it blueprinted & balanced and at the time, I was going to install a C4 Auto. Years later, still...... working on the "project", I have changed my mind (hard to believe I know) and now would like a manual transmission. Due to lack of $$$$$, I am trying to find a suitable T18, T19 or NP435. My truck will never be hauling or towing anything real heavy, it will just be a pavement pounder, so I know the low first gear will be kinda a waste.

That being said, the machine shop used my flexplate in the balancing process and will swapping over to a manual transmission change anything, or is there anything special I need to be watching out for. If it makes a difference, the engine originally came out of a 80-82 Mercury Capri and was I believe a H.O. engine. The Flexplate / Flywheel question has been answered.

70_F100 gave the idea of using a close ratio T-19 and knightfire83 & badboyzkustumz both had the idea of using a 5-Speed. It was also mentioned to use one out of a car.

I seem to hear a lot about car transmissions not holding up to use in a truck.

I guess that raises a different question as t if a car transmission would hold up to a truck running a 30.5" rear tire. If it will, than that would be a good option. I know on the Mercury Capri I use to own, it had an S-ROD Manual and it did not seem very strong. Our choices of wercking yards up here is not the best and they are fairly expensive.

Sorry for the long post, but now everyone should be up to speed.... no pun intended.

[Caseys71]

I checked out your thread in the engine section, and agree with just about everything that was stated the only thing I wasn't sure about was the car transmission idea, because I'm not sure if it would hold up either but I'm no expert. As far as trannys go and the fact that you aren't going to be doing any hauling a T19 is much more streetable than a T18, although I have a T18 and I do feel that it has came in handy if you do need a low gear for whatever it may be. As far as a 5 speed to be safe you could get a 5 speed out of an 80's F-series pickup I remember the last one my dad had was about a '90 '91 maybe but it had a 5 speed backed 302 and it was really nice to have OD. I do believe that I've seen a T5 out of a Mustang being used in a truck before maybe even on here so It may be possible, hopefully someone else will chime in and good luck with choosing your tranny , I'm sure you'll be pleased with that 302 as well.

[AK F100]

Yeah, It's kinda funny because I thought it was a slam dunk, T-18 or NP435. Either transmission choice would work great. Now I have about 6 or so choices.
A finding a close ratio T-19 up here is like finding hens teeth..... but I'll keep looking. If I run across the right deal on a 5-Speed, then I will probably go that route.

[Fordnatic]

I put 150,000 miles on a close ratio toploader which already had over 100,000 on it in my 70 F100 with a 390 & 410. It came from a 65 Galaxie 500. Toploaders are pretty much bullet proof, though. I loved the close ratios and quick shifts of the "car" transmission. I used it for towing, racing etc. The close ratio toploader has a quite high first gear, but running a big block FE I never missed granny, always had enough torque to get moving-actually helped out on off the line traction. I ran it with 3.50 gears most of the time and then 4.56's when I was planning on an overdrive. It would be a perfect trans with overdrive. I'd go for the 5 speed if I were you, the right ones hold up to some incredible small block Stangs.

[AK F100]

Thanks for the info. I think with the gear ratio & tire size I plan to run, the 5 speed would be better. The OD ratio would give me about a 2300 RPM cruising at 65 and the 4 speed would put me at just a hair over 2900 RPM at the same speed.

[mrtleavitt]

I have a '69 F100 2wd and I was in you shoes about a year ago. I have a pretty hot 428 and never ever tow. It's a street cruizer that is ocasionally on the freeway. Here is what I did:

I got a T19 transmission with the 4:1 first gear ratio and changed the rear end gears from 3.50 to 3.00. This way I use first gear all the time (got rid of the granny gear) and 4th gear on the freeway at 75 mph I'm at 2500 rpm! That's about the same increse you'll get on the freeway with an OD tranny. I run 31 inch tires which also gears everything up a bit as well. Now my first gear is just about what my old 2nd gear was (the 2nd gear with the NP435 and 3.50 ring and pinion gears).The transmission is a straight swap, no changes necessary, a new one will cost you about $1,000. If you're lucky enough to find one in a junk yard you could probably get it for $50 but all I found was the T19 with the 5:1 first gear ratio which is a bit too low to use on the street. This is a very effective alternative to installing an overdrive transmission but you do lose your granny gear. Any questions let me know!

[Skifu]

I just did a auto to manual swap 2-3 months ago, It is a T-18/3.55 rear,and Im very pleased with the results,The E40D is not a bad slush box,It just seemed like my truck was straining a little on hills,and it would bog way down before downshifting,Its a lot better now,a very usefull swap,Im getting better economy,and the ride just feels more snappy,I was fortunate in that I got an almost new T-18,it was only showing 11,000 miles on the donor F-150,I used all new clutch
parts,Hydraulics,P.Plate,bearings, 10 inch Clutch disc,(11 inch is still an option,)added 6 inches to my front drive shaft,2 new u-joints,(re-used 1,it was still in serviceable condition)red loc-tite on ARP.flywheel-P.plate bolts,I salvaged the clutch-brake pedals from another 96 std.shift truck,took them apart,and greased the shaft,and installed new nylon bushings,(kit form LMC),I got every corresponding part for the swap,inner-outer shifter boots,tunnel cover, 4 spd.shifter knob,ect,ect,and the install looks factory,I placed the auto trans. sensor in the neutral position,and zip tied it under the cab to the frame,enclosed in a heavy zip loc bag,just to keep the crud out,It was not that hard of a job,it went easier than I had anticipated.You should be satisfied with your "Granny" swap as well,unless your using a mazda 5,or zf-5 speeder.Have fun,Thats what its all about? right!

[AK F100]

Thanks for the replies guys. All very uesful information. It looks like a few more important things came up and this project will be put off for a while. I will most likely just install the C-4 that I already have and swap the tranny out at a later date. Thanks again for all the imput.

[Skifu]

Wait untill you are stopped by traffic on a big hill,like there is here,and that Granny gear is nice to have,it happens to me here a lot,if you live in a flatland,no worries.