One of my friend's buddys just wrecked his 1980-1981 F100 with a 255 V8 and a 3 speed w/ od. Is this transmission the Toploader-style or the SROD? Also, are the gear ratios lower for this application vs. a car? Thanks, Ford Guy
Check out this sites: http://www.5speeds.com/toploader.html http://www.davidkeetoploaders.com/imposters.htm There's a comment in the first site about a "trick" overdrive toploader. I guess you have to use a 4 speed case, the 3 speed gears from a 3 speed toploader and the overdrive gear and linkage from the overdrive transmission.
I don't know about the pickup, but Granada/Monarchs came with a 3 speed OD in a toploader 4 speed style package. It'll bolt in just like any toploader 4, and it has the same first 3 gear ratios as a Maverick 3 speed... Then 4th is an OD. I like to think of it as an "ultra-wide" ratio toploader. The wide ratio is best for performance, but I think this one is just too wide for maximum effort. However it is awesome for street use. I don't think the whole "swap the OD gears into a toploader 4 case" idea will work. The toploader 3+ OD has a bulge in the case to clear the larger diameter OD gear. Toploader purists look down on the 3+ OD, but it is proven to be nearly as strong as a regular toploader 4, and just as strong with some mods. Anyway... I doubt I answered anything for you, but maybe gave you ideas.
I'm not too worried about strength, because I am only running a mild 302. I was interested in the OD, though, with the way fuel prices are nowadays. I can get the tranny for cheap, too, so I am just trying to figure out if it is the same as the ones used in cars, like the ones ratio411 is talking about.
I am not positive, but I think the Granada tranny was used in some trucks too... but don't quote me. They look exactly like a car toploader 4 speed. If the tail is extremely short, or the shifter sticks up through the top of the tranny or tail shaft housing, I would stay away from it. If the shifter bolts to the side of the tail housing, linkage is external, and the tranny is the same length overall as a C4, then you should be good to go. The small block toploader 3/4 speeds are meant to swap with a C4 when it comes to mounts and driveshaft. I am not sure, but IIRC, the trannys are 24" long.
They made both short and long tailhousing SRODS. You are correct about the input bearing being different size. http://www.drivetrain.com/transillsrod.html
Top one is the one you want. The blow up listed as "HEH". The others have the built in shifters. The second version looks as though it might fit.
I haven't heard good things about the SROD's, though. Everything I read says that they are too weak and won't last very long. Before too long, I am going to go take a look at it, and I won't even bother if it has an aluminum case.
The iron one is way strong for a small block. Like I said, it is maligned by purists like David Kee, but he looks at it like "He wouldn't put it in his Cobra." I don't think any of us is 'unlucky' enough to worry about what tranny we use in our Cobra. The iron tranny is only slightly weaker than a stock Toploader 4.
you're correct. i have one myself and plan to run behind a 351w w/o any worries. the only difference between the 4th gear in a normal 4sp and the OD version is .15 ratio. the 4sp trans has a 1.00 ratio 4th gear while the OD version carries a .85 4th gear which is hardly a difference but just enough to make a difference i guess. and like posted earlier, the cases won't interchange because of the OD cluster set in them. but IMO, if you can get it cheap then GET IT! they're well worth the money and have captured the eye of the market on eBay. the last one i seen for sale on there sold for over $500 with over a dozen bids... so with gas prices today and their strength, you cant go wrong IMO
The Granada trans was used in some trucks. The do have some slight differences though that help in Id'ing them, like the bulge in the main case for the OD cluster gear and the shifter bolt pattern. Not all Toploaders will swap with a C-4 though, the Galaxie and big block transmissions will not. The Galaxie transmissions are 3" longer. The Big block transmissions had a 31 spline output and a shorter input.
The cast iron 3 speed / OD transmission (RUG) uses the 3 speed toploader transmission gears. They are weaker than the 4 speed Toploader but they are strong enough for a mild 302. In answer to your question, Yes, the Rug is an OD transmission. The problem is that not all pickups used that transmission.
Ok, so I found out it is an aluminum SROD hooked to a 255 in V8. He'll take $100 for the whole setup; tranny, clutch, flywheel, and shifter. Would this hold up behind my mild 302, and is it even worth the $100? If anyone has any experience with these transmissions I would love to hear about it.
It probably won't hold together with the 302 unless it was flat stock and a little tired. It is worth $100 but not for your application. Just my opinion - others may vary.
