F150 tranny with overdrive
 

Tell me more about the F150 tranny with overdrive. What year, how much is involved to install, what has to be done to it, who does the preperation, and whatever else one should know if they are interested in installing it. Thanks Ray

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

Your gonna have to make an adapter plate, cut part of the cross member, shorten the drive shaft, cut new hole in floorboard for shifter, and im sure im forgetting one or two other little things. But its well worth all the work. With a good engine there is no reason why you couldnt run at 60-65 mph.

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

And gary bernard from ft.worth makes an excelent conversion kit. There is atleast 50 of his transmitions running around Dallas & Ft. worth and havent heard a complaint yet

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

Dave Delmue makes a drop in kit. No cutting of crossmember,or cutting of brake cross shaft. He uses an AA bellhousing which is shorter. He supplies every part ready to bolt in. I have one and really like it. Available in several overdrive ratios. I have a 23%.

http://modelaonly.com/home

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

Here is a try at a photo


http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/i...8/P1010030.jpg

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

I installed one in my 30 Town Sedan and like it very much. In spite of what you hear, if a AA Bell Housing is used, no cuts are required on the crossmember. No modification of the brakes. The rear radius rods, drive shaft and torque tube must be shortened approximately 1 1/2 inches. considerable machine work and fabrication is required. If a kit with every thing requied is available it would make the job a lot easier.

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

To answer your question, the transmission you are looking for is out of an 84-87 Ford F150 2WD pickup with an inline 6 or small V8. It has a floor mounted shifter and the shift knob will have "OD" where the normal "4" would be in a normal "H" pattern 4 speed. Secondly, look at the left side of the transmission case. There should be a casting number "260XXXX". Third, on the right side of the transmission there should be a riveted metal tag with the first three letters "RTS" followed by two letters which will identify the OD ratio. See my chart below for the decoding.............Go to post #245 for missing photos

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...0asFound05.jpghttp://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...odingTable.jpghttp://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...0asFound04.jpg

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

after reading the info and looking at the F150 trans installed I don't know which way I want to go. T5 or the ford tranny. Has anyone driven both? I mean driven one with the T5 and then one with the Ford. It sounds like the same amount of money. I know the guys on the HAMB favor the T5 and several Model A Tourers (is that a word?) prefer the Ford. Does the T5 have more of a high performance car feel vs. the Ford?
Thanks,

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

Logan, do you have Gary Bernard's contact info?
Thanks
Aaron

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

Mag, What clutch/flywheel did you use?

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

If you email me at [email protected] i will give it to you

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

Kirby,
AA Bell housing, AA Throw-out Arm, AA Throw-out Collar, Model A Throw-out Bearing, Model A Flywheel, Model A Pilot Bearing, Model A Clutch Assembly, 49 Ford Clutch Plate, Model A U-joint,, Model A Gear Shift Lever.

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

Thanks!

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

I and several friends have the F150 and all love it. Another friend has the T5 and loves it. The major downside to the T5 I have heard is that it requires a brake modification; the brake mod that comes with the kit is reported to be woefully inadequate, such that you really must convert to hydraulics. If you haven't already done that and don't want to, my understanding is that the F150 is the way to go.

The other major T5 concern is the absence of the torque tube, which some feel plays a crucial structural role. On the other hand, T5'ers are happy.

My only regret about my F150 is that 1st and 2nd gear are the same as Model A stock; I wish they were higher. But, if I were seriously interested in optimizing gear ratios, I would have gotten a Mitchell gear splitter OD and had 6 gear ratios to play with--too many levers for my taste.

Steve

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

Thanks Steve. Sounds like then the T5 offers a little more as far as gear ratios are concerned.

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

there are two first gear ratios for F150's.One is higher than stock model A. I have heard that first gear in a T-5 is too low for normal use,but I haven't driven one.Lots of variables.

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

Thanks to all that took the time to answer my new thread on the F150 transmission. This Forum sure is full of QUALITY information for the asking. I have a lot of information to sift through before making a decision on which way to go. Thanks to all that gave me a piece of your thoughts.

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

AL's table was news to me. Great info, first time I've seen it in any of the many many F150 threads we've had over the years. However, it looks like the higher 1st/2nd ratios also give 38% OD--yikes! I've got a Brumfield head, but still, that seems pretty steep for a town sedan.

My recollection is that there are MANY gear sets available for the T5, but, then, consider the source. The low low would be dandy for parades, if that's your thing. Smart to keep researching.

Steve

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

modelaonly.com bolt in kit

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

When installing your kit, do you need to shorten the driveshaft, torque tube and radius rods?

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

From all I have read here, the Mitchell Overdrive sounds like an easer way to go.

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

I started gathering parts for the 150 transmission install a while back. I now have a couple of RTS boxs, had a friend with a good machine shop shorten the mainshaft. I shortened the drive shaft and torque tube, today ordered a pair of rear radius rods to get ready to shorten. I also have the rear adapter plate made and a AA bell housing mounted to the front of one of the boxes. Only thing I don't have done is to concoct a throw out bearing.
I'm using a lightened flywheel and a 86 t-bird clutch assy. Anyone know what to do for the T.O. bearing? I understand somehow you mate the rear part of a model A hub to the front of a t-bird T.O. brg. I'd love to see a pic or drawing of this mod.
Any help would be appreciated.
Mark

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

Get in touch with Jim Parker Toronto on here -- he has completed this exact install.

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

Just an FYI for you guys. Al is correct on the Ford F-150's, but Ford also installed a lot of them in the same year vans: E-150, I think is the corect term.
Jim

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

I have the Ford unit. It's great! I have also driven the S10 T5. I prefer the Ford as it does not require cutting of brake cross shaft & maintains the torque tube. Also the T5 has too low of a 1st gear and only provides over drive in the high teens vs. the Ford's 23 or 28 percnet.

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

I put the F150 in my new car, with lots of help here, especially Al in NY, and LOVE IT. speeds of 60-65 all day long at 2150 RPM. Gave me 27 Miles per Gallon, Canadian, on a recent 355 mile trip. Sinkromesh (sp) gears all around, and it shifts nice........

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

I'm sure Dave makes a good kit, I just wish he'd ship me the one I paid for 9 months ago. :(

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

[http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/hamb/s...n/post_old.gif 06-24-2010, 04:01 PM ] This is the date on ModelAOnly's last post. Did I not read somewhere that you got your money back CarlG???

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

No tranny, no money, and now his web site is down. It's not looking good! It's going to take me quite a while to recover (financially and emotionally) from this fiasco.

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

All i can say, is if i was given an option of having a model a with an overdrive, verses one without, I would hands down choose the one with the overdrive. They are so much nicer to drive at high speeds, and really just make a whole world of difference in an A. The 4 speed by gary Bernard is the best you can buy. I've never heard of anyone having a problem, and i know he's sold some to people before with the AA housings. You just have to ask if he has any. The 4 speeds are nice because now anyone can drive the car without grinding the gears.

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

Actually, he had 13 posts in March of 2011 -- right before he went missing.

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

This is the ONE mod I had decided I had to have -- way before I bought my truck. I will get there, I will just have to wait a while longer than I planned on.

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

So what is the diffrence between a standard A and the AA bellhousing? Could one be modified? Could you have one made? Anyone explored these options?

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

The AA B/H is shorter so the trans is further forward for better stick position ,but it has no pedal mount so this has to be fabricated ,is the clutch fork different to A type ?,i was thinking of doing a 3 speed mustang type trans ,no O/D ,either trans is hard to get in Australia ,Macs in New Zealand make the correct B/H for the conv.with pedal mount and you dont shorten the input shaft,,

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

OK how much shorter is the bell housing on the AA as compaired to the A? Useing the AA housing would move the trans forward by how much? What is the A bellhousing made from is it Cast iron? Could a new one be made from steel? I am asking because I dont know and am intrested in this conversion. If you have the AA bell housing do you have to shorten the input shaft on the transmission? If so how much do you have to respline the input and remachine the tip for the pilot bushing?

Re: F150 tranny with overdrive
 

I have the short AA bell housing, although it's not yet installed, it looks like it will only require the pilot be shortened about a half inch.. This transmission has about i 3/16 inch pilot past the spline so I don't think any re-spline is needed. May need to just shorten the spline a little. When I get to that point I'll mount the trans. behind the engine without the clutch assy. to check this.