D.Hearne said:What's wrong with a 4 speed ? I run one in my 89 Ranger behind the 331 stroker that's now in place. Ain't got overdrive, but I don't have to worry about the motor trashing it--- ever. I can buy a LOT of gas with the $1500+ price I saved over a 5 speed.
D. Hearne - can you post the possible junkyard sources of Toploaders? People want quite a bit for rebuilt toploaders from what I've seen - nearly as much as a 5 speed.D.Hearne said:What's wrong with a 4 speed ? I run one in my 89 Ranger behind the 331 stroker that's now in place. Ain't got overdrive, but I don't have to worry about the motor trashing it--- ever. I can buy a LOT of gas with the $1500+ price I saved over a 5 speed.
What else, big cars and pickups? What years? three years ago. The guy listed it wrong. 
Said it was an SROD from a 79 Stang. Didn't post pics with his auction. Big mistake on his part. Turned out to be a small block wide ratio Toploader. Pays to be alert on mis-listings, especially with the buy it now feature. As for junkyards, I agree with you there, they're few and far between. Look at the litttle yards, the kind with old stuff and lots of weeds. If you can get even one needing rebuild or repairs, they're not hard to rebuild. I can do them for others if they need. A complete rebuild kit runs about $150. More if it needs gears. 
I bought two Toploaders three years ago also thru an ad in a local ads paper for $150. Both needed repairs. Sold em both to David Kee for $800 last year.Hack said:
D.Hearne said:What's wrong with a 4 speed ? I run one in my 89 Ranger behind the 331 stroker that's now in place. Ain't got overdrive, but I don't have to worry about the motor trashing it--- ever. I can buy a LOT of gas with the $1500+ price I saved over a 5 speed.
Well, not quite, more like 130-140. But the speed limit around here is 70 on the interstate, which means I can get away with 75-80. This puts my cruising rpm right into the power band with the combo I'm running ( 331 stroker, Canfield heads, Ford Z303 hyd roller W/1.7 rockers, the Toploader 4 speed, 3.73 rear with 275/60/15 tires) Why build something with a 200mph capability if you can't use it ? Overdrive ain't gonna hold up to those kind of speeds anyway.Cbarton said:
D.Hearne said:
slapper said:
Cbarton said:
All Toploader 4 speeds had a 1:1 fourth, with the exception of the late 780's 3+1 OD Toploader. Mine's a 1:1. 140 isn't optimistic, it's a reality. Hell even the warmed over 5.0 I had in there last week would hit 125 without problem at 5500 rpms. The 331 is capable of turning 7500 rpms, 140 is only 6300 rpms, I've no doubt the 331 has the cahoney's to pull those rpms in fourth. Most if not all the road tests I've seen on Vette's and others would pull the highest MPH in direct ( 1:1 ) not in overdrive, it takes more torque to pull the same speed in OD than it does in direct. Trying to go that fast in OD builds up a tremendous amount of heat as a result. Not good for any transmissiion. Overdrive just isn't suited for high speeds, if it were they'd have been using it in Nascar. Classic Stangs aren't the most stable cars at those speeds either. I know, cause I've been in a 67 FB at 155 mph.Cbarton said:
liberty, jerico, g-force, nash , richmond. I guess most here only think tremec build 5 speeds just like they think afr is the only head manufactor. I would run a toploader before a tremec 5 speed if strenght was a concern, and if that doesnt work then the only choice is to step up to a high dollar trans. Jerico can build you a four speed that will work great for street and strip with a low first gear ratio so you dont have to go wild on the rear gear ratio, plus they are much lighter and beyond strong.1320stang said:
