"Overdrive" 4 Speed Toploader?
#1
Greetings fellow Mustang Fans. First time posting here, looking to pick your brains on a topic.
I am interested in making the 4th gear in my 4 speed Toploader into an "overdrive" gear. I have read on the net that one can take certain gears from a later model 4 speed toploader and install them into a conventional toploader, resulting in a 1 to 1 3d gear ratio and a .82 to 1 fourth gear ratio.
Has anyone out there tried this? Does it work? Or will the power of a 428 CJ motor snap the gears like twigs?
Any information or other ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
I am interested in making the 4th gear in my 4 speed Toploader into an "overdrive" gear. I have read on the net that one can take certain gears from a later model 4 speed toploader and install them into a conventional toploader, resulting in a 1 to 1 3d gear ratio and a .82 to 1 fourth gear ratio.
Has anyone out there tried this? Does it work? Or will the power of a 428 CJ motor snap the gears like twigs?
Any information or other ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
#2
Team Mustang Source
Join Date: June 9, 2004
Location: Leavenworth KS
Posts: 739
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The overdrive toploader from the late-70's used a thin overdrive gear where 3rd normally was - activated by reversing the 3/4 shift fork. By all accounts, it's extremely weak. Not good for performance use at all. Some info here.
If you're dead-set on a toploader, I'd recommend dropping an email or phone call to Mark at Toploader Heaven - good guy. If anyone knows how to do this, it'd be him.
Why not just use a TKO-500/600? Met a guy last year with one in his GT500 - worked out pretty slick...
If you're dead-set on a toploader, I'd recommend dropping an email or phone call to Mark at Toploader Heaven - good guy. If anyone knows how to do this, it'd be him.
Why not just use a TKO-500/600? Met a guy last year with one in his GT500 - worked out pretty slick...
#4
Weak gears, that's what I thought when I heard the gears had to come from a 70's vintage transmission. You confirmed my suspicions.
My delimma is this....I have a 1970 SCJ Mustang. A rare car no doubt (1 of 857). The car has 3:91 gears and I hit 4500 rpm at about 65 MPH. That means you are getting passed by VW's here in Southern California.
I don't want to do anything to the car that would require cutting up the floor pans. I was hoping that I could just switch gears but I also figured that if it was possible, someone would have thought of it already.
So I guess I will continue to research this project. And I thank you all for taking the time to give me your input. Every suggestion and opinion is appreciated.
Doug
My delimma is this....I have a 1970 SCJ Mustang. A rare car no doubt (1 of 857). The car has 3:91 gears and I hit 4500 rpm at about 65 MPH. That means you are getting passed by VW's here in Southern California.
I don't want to do anything to the car that would require cutting up the floor pans. I was hoping that I could just switch gears but I also figured that if it was possible, someone would have thought of it already.
So I guess I will continue to research this project. And I thank you all for taking the time to give me your input. Every suggestion and opinion is appreciated.
Doug
#6
Team Mustang Source
Join Date: September 3, 2004
Location: Beautiful New Hampshire!!!
Posts: 840
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The 5-speed's should work w/out a prob., but if you are dead-set on a top-loader, you should look into a Jerico. The NASCAR boys use'em all the time w/ od. on the Superspeedways!! Sorry, no link but I'm sure you can find out something, just Google it. John
#8
Originally posted by SuperCJ@February 13, 2005, 11:55 AM
Weak gears, that's what I thought when I heard the gears had to come from a 70's vintage transmission. You confirmed my suspicions.
My delimma is this....I have a 1970 SCJ Mustang. A rare car no doubt (1 of 857). The car has 3:91 gears and I hit 4500 rpm at about 65 MPH. That means you are getting passed by VW's here in Southern California.
I don't want to do anything to the car that would require cutting up the floor pans. I was hoping that I could just switch gears but I also figured that if it was possible, someone would have thought of it already.
So I guess I will continue to research this project. And I thank you all for taking the time to give me your input. Every suggestion and opinion is appreciated.
Doug
Weak gears, that's what I thought when I heard the gears had to come from a 70's vintage transmission. You confirmed my suspicions.
My delimma is this....I have a 1970 SCJ Mustang. A rare car no doubt (1 of 857). The car has 3:91 gears and I hit 4500 rpm at about 65 MPH. That means you are getting passed by VW's here in Southern California.
I don't want to do anything to the car that would require cutting up the floor pans. I was hoping that I could just switch gears but I also figured that if it was possible, someone would have thought of it already.
So I guess I will continue to research this project. And I thank you all for taking the time to give me your input. Every suggestion and opinion is appreciated.
Doug
#9
Team Mustang Source
Join Date: September 3, 2004
Location: Beautiful New Hampshire!!!
Posts: 840
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yea, I know, Jerico=$$$, but the guy said he was looking for ideas. Its a custom tranny based off the top-loader. Just putting my 2 cents in, I've heard of guys driving them on the street, just not often. And I agree, put some higher gears in it, 3.50's or even 3.27's should help a lot, especially w/ that stump puller of a motor.
#10
I plan on just driving this car around town, but an occasional road trip is also planned. I'd love to be able to drive the car on the freeway, but I am torn between keepiong the car looking original, and modifying the car so I can enjoy it.
I am not opposed to bolting on stuff that can easily be changed back to stock, but I will not start cutting and chopping on the sheet metal. The car is just too valuable for that.
I guess I have a problem that most classic car owners have, Keep it stock i.e. gas guzzling quarter mile bruiser, or upgrade to a more modern and more driveable car.
I'm not complaining either way, just looking at my options and all of your input is appreciated.
I am not opposed to bolting on stuff that can easily be changed back to stock, but I will not start cutting and chopping on the sheet metal. The car is just too valuable for that.
I guess I have a problem that most classic car owners have, Keep it stock i.e. gas guzzling quarter mile bruiser, or upgrade to a more modern and more driveable car.
I'm not complaining either way, just looking at my options and all of your input is appreciated.
#11
Team Mustang Source
Join Date: September 3, 2004
Location: Beautiful New Hampshire!!!
Posts: 840
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
With today's technology, putting a modern 5-speed in is not that bad, and can be returned to original also. Swapping rear gears is even easier, and has been done for years. With a 9-inch, you could just buy a complete center section(also called pumpkin, third member,etc.), pull the axles and just unbolt the driveshaft and center section, then install the new one. No cutting or messing up your classic!!
#12
If your looking at doing a 4 to 5 speed conversion check out Modern Driveline. Modern Driveline
They have all the parts you need to do the conversion. I would go with a G-Force T-5 if I were going to do the conversion. THe G-Force T-5 is good for 600ft/lbs of torque and it's lighter than a Tremec.
G-Force Transmissions
They have all the parts you need to do the conversion. I would go with a G-Force T-5 if I were going to do the conversion. THe G-Force T-5 is good for 600ft/lbs of torque and it's lighter than a Tremec.
G-Force Transmissions
#13
Bullitt Member
Join Date: January 30, 2004
Location: Muncy PA
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you want to do an easy bolt-on and keep it stock - go to 3.0 or 3.25 gears. Easy swap, no cutting, save the originals in a box, and that 428 will make burnouts no problem.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
CiniZter
General Vehicle Discussion/News
25
4/28/16 05:41 PM
tj@steeda
2015 - 2023 MUSTANG
0
9/8/15 10:45 AM