Thread: Need Help Identifying a Ford Manual Transmission

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Good afternoon all.

I am currently gathering parts for my next street rod build. I am planning on a 32 3 window that will run a 351 Windsor (which I have) and was planning on mating it with a C4 until I ran across a Ford 4 speed manual that looks like a top loader except that it only has 4 transmission to bell housing holes rather than the 8 found on top loaders.

On the left (passenger) side it has the following codes: RF-D7DR-7AQ40-AA, 2603665-6, and LO4. There is also a tag with the following:

RUGCD HJ5
D8TRMA 0512

On the left side it has ORION followed by 260360.

Does anyone have any idea exactly what this thing is and is it suitable for a lightweight street rod. Any information would be most appreciated. Thanks!

Hey Don:
I think you may have a three speed w/OD. Check the number again and see if it could be RF-D7DR-7A040-AA, which is a US made (as opposed to England or Germany) found in F-150 trucks, Econolines and some passenger cars.

Attached are some pictures that may help you further identify.

Good Luck,
Glenn

First eight are 4 speeds, last eight are the three speeds

It's a 3 speed overdrive. Light duty unit. Check David Kee's toploader site.

www.davidkeetoploaders.com look at the toploader ID section under toploader imposters and you'll see the RUG-CD listed with some pics.

Thanks guys for your rapid response. A 3 speed with overdrive 4th seems like it might not be a bad combination for a mild street rod. I do not abuse my vehicles so do you think it would hold up? As I think back, I had an 84 F150 with a 302 and a 3 speed with overdrive which was fine in a light duty application. If that is the same transmission, I might just go for it. I am interested in your opinions. Thanks

I put 100K miles on one behind a 351W in a '79 Mustang with no trans problems whatever. The 351 has enough torque to pull through the wide ratio spread between 2 and 3. I wouldn't hesitate to use one in a rod.

Thanks R Pope. That just reinforces my experience with the one I had in my F150. I do not abuse my vehicles so that transmission is a definate option. Now if I can just find enough parts to rebuild it .

Can anyone out there lead me in the direction of finding a rebuild kit for my 3 speed with overdrive tranny. There's a number on the tail stock RF-D7DR-7A040-AA. I have a 68 ford torino fastback GT. I did find out that this tranny came out of a ford truck. Also its a RUG CL J4 on the tag of the tranny. This car has a 302 engine.

Just for the record, not all non-OD Toploaders have the 8 bolt hole dual pattern. And, don't get the SROD version with internal shift linkage, they are a bitch to get to shift good. As far as abusing the OD, go ahead! Mine stood up to thousands of powershifts and even taught a few kids to slamshift in my ol' Tang, the clutch (and the engine!) took a beating but the trans never gave a moment's grief. They also came in some cars, Granada's and little Mercs for a few. They are common enough that I'd just look around for a good one rather than rebuild the one you have. Oh, and the trucks have different OD ratios than the cars, so there are choices you can make.
IMO, it's a good choice for a Ford engined car, as long as you have enough torque to pull through the gap between 2 and 3.
Oh, one more thing. An easy way to tell a straight 4 from an OD is, on the 4, the shift levers all point the same way, the OD unit has the 3/4 lever pointing the other way.