4-Speed Swap?

[nitroracer]

I was just messing around on eBay and found an 89' F150 with a 302 and a four speed manual trans. Does anyone think the box might have more in common with a truck than a mustang in terms of swappage (pedals, linkage, clutch cylinder)? Its far fetched but seeing the truck got me thinking.

[Grand Marquis GT]

Should be interesting.. I got a set of 4 speed truck pedals...

[Blaze86Vic]

I don't think it's any closer because we don't have one period.

[mrltd]

It's all gonna be the same amount of PITA. I'd think the truck pedals would be a little too long though

[Southern_Pride]

Its a 4 speed you found tis probably a granny gear. Which means no overdrive but instead like a 6:1 first gear for easy burnouts.

[DuceAnAHalf]

Its a 4 speed you found tis probably a granny gear. Which means no overdrive but instead like a 6:1 first gear for easy burnouts.

My friend has one of those trannys behind his .060" over 300 I-6 with the Offenhauser intake and exhaust, and a 4bbl carb. with a 10.25 rear axle out of a newer super duty, sitting on 40" swampers, that truck is a torque monster. pulled a F-350 longbed 4 door diesel that was sitting on its frame rails in sand and didnt take to motor over 2000RPM from a dead pull, no snatch pull, had it out in about 20 seconds.



assuming a 3.08 RAR, 27" tires and a 6:1 first gear here is the MPH/RPM table

Engine Speed (RPM) Speed (MPH)
8000 RPM 34.77 MPH
7500 RPM 32.60 MPH
7000 RPM 30.43 MPH
6500 RPM 28.25 MPH
6000 RPM 26.08 MPH
5500 RPM 23.91 MPH
5000 RPM 21.73 MPH
4500 RPM 19.56 MPH
4000 RPM 17.39 MPH
3500 RPM 15.21 MPH
3000 RPM 13.04 MPH
2500 RPM 10.87 MPH
2000 RPM 8.69 MPH
1500 RPM 6.52 MPH
1000 RPM 4.35 MPH


notice that 5000RPM you are going less than 22MPH. with that kind of reduction you would run out of motor in about 2 seconds

[Mercmarquis]

I wonder how hard a top loader would be to install. You'd probably have to move the crossmember and cut the driveshaft. All on top of what it already takes to fab pedals, clutch capble + quadrant, wiring ect....ect...

But you'd have a near bulletproof trans that will mate to a Big Block!!!

[Southern_Pride]

Id rather have the granny gear. A 300 I is a bad ass motor. Im still sellin mine.

[p71towny]

a 300 I is a bad ass engine!! Of course most inline 6's were damn good engines.

[88MercWagon]

I wonder how hard a top loader would be to install. You'd probably have to move the crossmember and cut the driveshaft. All on top of what it already takes to fab pedals, clutch capble + quadrant, wiring ect....ect...

But you'd have a near bulletproof trans that will mate to a Big Block!!!

mild or moderately tuned 390+T-10+posi+box= :3gears: ....and it's a feasable idea.

[nitroracer]

A 300 six would be pretty neat to have in a box. I thought about finding an old F-Series truck with a 300 for beater use but the gas mileage is just too crappy. The design is pretty much indestructible though.

[Mercracer]

Not only would it be a PITA, it would be about useless once you bolted in an '89 truck 4-speed tranny.
A real toploader is not worth messing with. Most are worn out and they are expensive to replace parts in. An early T-10 is even worse and the small block versions were even more weak than the small toploaders. You are far better off with a good T-5 or Tremec. The big block and small block toploaders had different input shafts. CJ type big spline toploaders came with a 2.40 1st gear which absolutely sucks ass.

[phayzer5]

...a 2.40 1st gear which absolutely sucks ass.

That sounds familiar