Thread: Any Ford toploader experts

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I want a 4 speed for my 65 galaxie but toploaders are too expensive for my budget so I am going to try a cheaper way,I picked up one of those 3 speed with overdrive that looks identicle to a toploader. I have heard thrid and fourth gears were flipped to get overdrive and does anyone know if they can be flipped back or can I use the gears from a toploader to make it a normal 4 speed. I would use it as is but there is a big jump in ratios between 2nd and 3rd and with tall gears makes it impossible between 25 and 30 and I dont want to get rid of the 3.00 gears it has so does anyone know if I can make it a normal 4 speed.

I think you can do it, but why? You'll need all of a Toploader except the case, can't see it being any cheaper. The external linkage OD is a good trans, I had one on a 351W for 100K miles with no problems. The shift gap is a bit wide, but an engine with torque overcomes that.Your 3.00 gears are admittedly too tall for OD, though, unless you have a strong 390 or something like that. I sold my spare OD to a guy who put it in a '68 428 Galaxy and loved it, don't know what his gears were. I know he didn't change them, though.

Around here they go for 500 and up so if I could get it converted by changing a couple gears and related parts it will be alot cheaper since I only paid 60 dollars for the trans,it will be going behind a 70 302 in a 65 custom 500 4 door daily driver. I would spend the money if it was going in a car that was worth some money but a 4 door is not worth much but I want a 4 speed,I was going to put in a T-5 but I think I got a 4 cyl trans.

I broke down and bought a wide ratio toploader.

I think David Kee is a sponsor on this site....I've had satisfactory dealings with him in the past....
http://www.4speedtoploaders.com/