Anybody know of a toggle switch that will mount on the shift lever of a stock column 3 speed?

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

no doubt that's what I've got, the "z-spec" reference was given to my by someone else, not the company I bought from. Thanks



mike


miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

If it's not a .63 5th, it's not a z spec. They're still available through Ford Racing. With mine, it provides about a 1100rpm drop at 70mph. There have been a few stronger aftermarket T5s throughout the years with 2.95 and .8 but they have less torque capacity than the z.


Lawrenceville, GA

Don't know what key I hit wrong, sorry.



Thant may be Charlie, it's been a long time since I bought that one, and when I tried to get one for my roadster 5 years ago, they told me they no longer made those ratios in the T5 series. I ended up with a TKO something, that was way a pain to have to fit in a channeled 32.



I'm pretty sure it not a .63 5th, I don't get that much drop on the 4/5 shift.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

that may be, Charlie. I'm pretty sure it's less than a .63 5th, and the 1 gear ra

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

The Z spec has a 2.95 1st and .63 5th. It allows for a short rear gear while still providing good cruising rpm.


Lawrenceville, GA

my bird has a 3.31 or 3.33 rear gear with a 27" tire. with 320cid and a 274 mummert cam, it's ok in first. the T-5 is what they used to call a z spec, with about a 2.8 first and a .8 5th. I think the standard ones are a 3.27 first and a .65 or so 5th. I put the t-5 in when I removed a top loader od 4 speed (I think they called them a T&C) with a 3.27 first. It was happier with the lower first gear, but it's ok, even on the hills in Seattle. I think you're going to use 3rd direct or 2nd over pretty frequently on the highway with 3.22's, unless you have some stump puller cam that likes life at 15-1800 rpm. I had a 'bird back in the 60's with the 6cyl 4.27 rear end and a t-85 od. That was really good around town and on the freeway in the 70mph everywhere days. That combo and a 312 with 11.5 and an Isky RPM300 cam caused a lot of scrubs to give up before they got into 3rd gear.



I sure miss leaded 120 octane pump gas.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

My truck has a 3.92 rear. In overdrive it's 2.43. I can't start out in overdrive 1st unless I'm pointing downhill.

  Dennis in Lititz PA

That's encouraging,John.If it works in your Bird,it should be OK in my car.

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

Paul:

I have OD in my '56 Bird, 4.55 rear gear.  The OD is on a toggle, so I can leave it in OD at a stop.  The 4.55 becomes 3.18 in OD, and the Bird steps away from a stop quickly in OD with no excess clutch slipping.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"