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By Daniel Jessup - 17 Years Ago
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Swap meet season is almost here, and I will be looking for a 4 speed for performance on my sleeper project (4 door 56, with a VS57 Supercharged 312). I want the car to run at the drag strip as well as take it to cruise in's (and travel on the highway). What are suggestions, if any, and what should I look for a the swap meets? So far, most of my experience has been with the stock 3 speed or stock Fordo in mid fifties cars and trucks. Never had stepped into this realm of making modifications like a different transmission and all. Comments appreciated. Dan
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By paul2748 - 17 Years Ago
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You could go with either a four speed or a five speed. If you do a lot of highway cruising, the five speed may be the answer. If you want to go with a four speed, the T & C (toploader) is probably your best bet. All of them should work with only some minor mods. They are two basic ones, the super duty and the rest. There are also ratio variations.The super duty ones came with the 427's and 428's and have the big input and output shafts. All the rest of the motors (from 289's to 390's have the "rest). Go back into the archives for the mods required and the different front bolt patterns. All can be used behind a Y. There are a number of rear housings, determined mainly by shifter location. See www.davidkeetoploaders.com
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By bird55 - 17 Years Ago
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modern day tremec 5 speed! ala Pat Fleischman.
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By pcmenten - 17 Years Ago
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Toploader. Watch out for the overdrive toploaders; they've got wide gear ratios and they're not as strong.
But a good toploader is going to be expensive. Expect to pay 600 or more.
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By Lunatic Ford - 14 Years Ago
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Cross your fingers for me, but I'm going to attempt a T-56. I got it for $200, and it wasn't one of those shady deals, either!
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By Oldmics - 14 Years Ago
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Probably should go with the 5 speed since your doing a sleeper. Its a better ratio of geardown availiable from the 5 speed I"m using a T 10 wide ratio 4 speed in my T Bird.I"m also using the original 3 speed Bird floorshift to control the 4 forward gears. Oldmics
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By Rono - 14 Years Ago
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I also like the T-5 five speed. I have a Mustang T-5 in my '56 Customline and John Mummert sells a nice adapter kit that makes it easy to install. Also, G-Force Transmissions can modify the T-5 to handle all the power you could ever possibly put out from a Y-Block.
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By lowrider - 14 Years Ago
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I'm just finishing up a T5 conversion on my 57 Custom 300. The reason I went with the T5 is for the 5th gear overdrive. I'm running a 4:11 and it would just scream running 70mph down the xway.
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By charliemccraney - 14 Years Ago
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Rono (1/22/2010)
I also like the T-5 five speed. I have a Mustang T-5 in my '56 Customline and John Mummert sells a nice adapter kit that makes it easy to install. Also, G-Force Transmissions can modify the T-5 to handle all the power you could ever possibly put out from a Y-Block.
Agreed.
If you're willing to go through the trouble of installing a 4 spd, why not do 5 and get overdrive. Not to mention that a new 5 spd can typically be purchased for less than a rebuilt top loader.
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By Daniel Jessup - 14 Years Ago
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Fellas, after 2 and a half years, I had forgotten about this post. Since then, I have decided to go with a T85 and R11 overdrive unit. Found one down in Florida, and the planetary gears are in VERY good shape. Have at it...the T5 is a great trans too.
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By Dave V - 14 Years Ago
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Is there a way of offsetting the shifter in the 56 Ford or is it going to be in the middle of the hump? Dave
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By Ted - 14 Years Ago
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With Toploader or BW 4 speed installations, the shifter usually locates to the left side of the hump with Hurst or other brands of aftermarket shifters. Factory ford shifters will lean the shifter hole closer to the center but some imagination applied to the shifter can relocate it as desired.
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By lowrider - 14 Years Ago
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It ended up in the middle of the hump in my 57 Ford but the shifters in a better place compared to the Synchroloc shifter I had in the car. The only problem I ran into was the trans mount I used pushed the trans up into the floorboard. I just cut & re-welded the mount so it didn't raise the trans so high.
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By Jerome - 14 Years Ago
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Daniel, Great choice. I've had mine over 20 years. As long as you shift rationally, only use OD drive in 3d gear and keep the T85 case and R-11 case full of oil, it's bullet proof. The R-11 planetary is the weakest link and parts are scarcer than hens teeth. Not built for hard 1st or 2nd gear acceleration. Next is 2nd gear synchro tooth loss from power shifting (my only spare gear) followed by first/reverse slider gear tooth carnage from attempting down shifts while rolling (can scrap the cluster as well). I plan on putting a 351C ahead of mine eventually. About 500 ft-lbs of torque at 5500 rpm. In that configuration, I plan on using a dash switch to control OD engagement, retire the accelerator kick down switch and relay function and only use OD cruising, not passing. Jerome
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 14 Years Ago
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Jerome: Take a look at your 1st/rev slider tooth damage. If the damage is on the low gear side, it is from downshifting or shifting into 1st at a stop with a clutch hanging up a little. If it is on the reverse side, it is probably due to sloppy linkage allowing the gear to override neutral and hit the reverse idler. Been a problem with T85s forever.
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By speedpro56 - 14 Years Ago
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At least with the T85 you don't have to cut a hole in the floor  and keep the original shifter location.
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By Carson - 14 Years Ago
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another option is to keep the three speed top loader and install a www.gearvendors.com this will split 2nd + 3rd gears therefore a "over/under drive " it has been on my '54 Ford Vic w/ a 292 Y for five consecitive 3000km rally's thru Mexico www.lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx without a single issue giddy up
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By charliemccraney - 14 Years Ago
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Wow, look at the price of the Gear Vendors I'd just stick a 6-speed in there for that price.
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By speedpro56 - 14 Years Ago
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That's what I did and it wasn't easybut I'm glad I did and now not only do I have a 2.95 1st I also have a 80 and 62% overdrives and I would do it again if I had to.
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By famdoc3 - 13 Years Ago
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I broke a T10 back in 1975. So I bought a brand new Borg Warner Super T 10 special wide with a 2.64 first gear and a long tail shaft. I remounted the shifter back 4 inches and over 1 inch. It comes perfectly through the the old shifter hole for the stock 3 spd shifter in my 57 'Bird. It has proven to be indistructable behind various heavily worked and abused Y blocks for all of the years since. Now that I'm an old man and have 2.73's in the rear the 2.64 first allows the launch. Fits like a charm. MIKE
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By DualQuad312 - 13 Years Ago
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Yes....I know exactly what your saying.....I stumbled across a T-89 overdrive unit.....Bought the first one on e-bay got the drive shaft too for a little extra.....Bought another, same model from a guy in North Jersey.... Money well spent......Just rebuilt a 312 .030 over with a higher lift cam and increased duration. Put factory dual quads with the package.....yes it is pretty cool....Gotta 57 Ranchero.....Strong transmission especially in second gear....Used to used T-86 top loaders....good transmisions.....Just not as strong...obviously....What car are you using the T-85 in? Jeff
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