The bolt pattern to the bell housing is wider on the four speed than it is on the three speed . About 6.5 inches across verses obout 9 inches

I am using a toploader 4 speed behind my 312. It is a close ratio from a 390 big block 64 galaxy. Works OK with my 3:31 automatic rear gears. I am going to install a 9 inch rear with 3:55 gears. The early close ratio top loaders don't need modification of the input shaft, as the total length is 6 inches just as the 3 speeds in the Fairlanes of those years. If you can't get a wide ratio the close will work. As far as the shifter hitting the seat. I had to heat the shifter handle and bend it a little forward so it wouldn't hit the dash in second gear. Easy to do heat it at the very base, won't take much and it will bend very easy. Be careful not to over bend.



Jim

  Jim Rowe Elkhorn, NE

I've heard the trans you want is from a 66 or 67 Fairlane (at least for my 57 Ford). I guess the shifter mounts at the front part of the tailshaft housing so the shifter doesn't hit the seat. I'm looking for one of these trans' myself. My car has a T85 w/a synchrolock shifter that just clears the seat in 3rd. I guess if my legs weren't so short I could move the seat back farther.

Dan      Kingman Az.      86409

The tranny bolt patterns up through ’64 on the cars are the same.  After ’65 many of the trannys included the earlier bolt pattern along with the newer pattern but just make sure the earlier pattern is indeed there if using the 1965 and newer transmissions.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Thanks for the info. I never thought of looking in old shop manuals. I do have some old Motors manuals which would probably have gear ratios in there and whether or not 1st gear is syncro. Can I assume that the bolt patterns are the same and only have slight modifications like cutting off the input shaft and bearing retainer if needed.  Thanks again.  Dave

SE Wis

For the ’57 cars, the six cylinder 3 speed trans had a 2.84:1 low gear.  If going through shop manuals for the mid Sixties cars and pickups, some fully snychronized transmission options with as low or even lower low gears may be found.

 

As a general rule, the small block toploader four speeds were a 2.78:1 low gear while the big block four speeds were a 2.32:1 low gear.  The 2.78:1 low gear four speeds were more easily recognizable in that the pilot on the input shaft was longer and needed about 3/8” chopped off to make these trannies work behind a Y or big block application.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

for information on toploaders including identification information go to David Kee's wedsite on toploaders http://www.4speedtoploaders.com/  or see toploader heaven at

http://www.toploaderheaven.com/.  Lots of informatiion on these websites.  I bought the rebuilt kit from toploader heaven and rebuilt one without any problems.  These are very strong transmission and work well. 

I think T85 and T86 3 spds had a 1st gear around 2.78.


Lawrenceville, GA

I have a toploader 4spd in my 55 Bird and I think it came out of a 65 289 Mustang. It's the wide ratio 2.78 first gear and the stock Dana 44 rear with stock gears. Really happy with it.

Bud in Northern Arizona on route 66 in Winslow (standin' on the corner)

If you're American, buy American

631/2 Galaxie 500XL 406   55 T-Bird

Thanks for the info on the 4 speed toploader. Is there a way of knowing what vehicles used the wide ratio trans. Also is there a 3 speed trans available with a low 1st gear and syncro if I should decide to keep my column shift.

SE Wis