Toploader install

[RTG_RACING]

Anyone ever put a toploader into oone of these old trucks? I bought a 4spd toploader for a small block with a wide ratio. Anyway has anyone ever seen a shifter that would work with a bench seat? I hear some used a topshift conversion from a jeep on rat rods but I cant find much on that either.

Thanks for any help.

[averagef250]

A friend of mine had a toploader converted to topshift for his 40 Ford pickup. I don't recall what top plate was used for the conversion, but the cost was huge. He had over $1500 in the top plate to make it work.

[RandyBee1]

I picked up a 3 speed toplader last year that had been converted from a 3 on the tree to a floor mount. It had the correct floor mount linkages, boot, shifter etc. There's a guy in Conneticut that rebuilds these things all the time.Three and four speed. I'll look up his number and post it, probably tomorrow.. Randy B

[averagef250]

Floor shift and topshift are not the same thing. Any old toploader linkage will get you floor shift, topshift puts the shifter in the right spot for a pickup though. Any tranny shop worth a salt can rebuild a toploader.

[RTG_RACING]

Floor shift and topshift are not the same thing. Any old toploader linkage will get you floor shift, topshift puts the shifter in the right spot for a pickup though. Any tranny shop worth a salt can rebuild a toploader.

Yeah they look real simple simple inside. Looks easy to convert to a big block setup. David Kee has a topshift setup listed on his site but it's 500 bucks. To much to spend. If I could get a look at one I could copy it with the mill. I'll just work on getting the other parts located for now. Anyone know what flywheel to get? I see 157 and 164 tooth listed. I also hear some bellhousings are deeper than others. Also does a 351w use an 28oz flywheel?

[69timemachine]

My truck is currently a column 3-speed and I'll be converting to 4 on the floor. I'll be installing my '68 Mustang TopLoader using a '66 Mustang shifter mated to either a Fairlane tailhousing or one of David Kee's multi-position tailhousings. I straightened the curve of the shift lever slightly in the press. Going by my measurements, by having the shifter in the Fairlane position (toward front of tailhousing) and the stick straightened slightly, there should be a couple inches to spare when the tranny is in 2 & 4. I haven't done the actual install yet, but it looks like it'll work fine. Keep in mind though that I'll be adding the hole for the shifter and it will still be a little farther back than the factory 4-speed shifter hole location. I believe the topshift setup would put the shifter in the proper location for the factory shifter hole. David Kee has the different tailhousing cast numbers and dimensions listed on his website.

For my 351C, I should just need an early '70's 302 pickup flywheel and reuse my 6 cylinder/3 speed iron bellhousing. Not sure about the Windsor though.

[mrtleavitt]

When I bought my truck it had a top loader in it. I believe it came from an '80s mustang. It bolted up to the existing bell housing that the original NP435 went on. As soon as I got the truck I ripped out the bucket seats and the top loader and went original. The top loader worked fine with the bench seat after I bent the shifter forward so I could shift into 2nd and 4th. The gearing was nice, but just looked goofy in a ford truck. I didn't keep the tranny, I wish I would have but I think it got tossed! I also had to run a different clutch, I think smaller but can't remember.

[RTG_RACING]

When I bought my truck it had a top loader in it. I believe it came from an '80s mustang. It bolted up to the existing bell housing that the original NP435 went on. As soon as I got the truck I ripped out the bucket seats and the top loader and went original. The top loader worked fine with the bench seat after I bent the shifter forward so I could shift into 2nd and 4th. The gearing was nice, but just looked goofy in a ford truck. I didn't keep the tranny, I wish I would have but I think it got tossed! I also had to run a different clutch, I think smaller but can't remember.

If it came out of the 80s it was probably a 3 speed overdrive. About the same shape but different inside.

[trukcrazy]

Anyone ever put a toploader into oone of these old trucks? I bought a 4spd toploader for a small block with a wide ratio. Anyway has anyone ever seen a shifter that would work with a bench seat? I hear some used a topshift conversion from a jeep on rat rods but I cant find much on that either.

Thanks for any help.

Here's the David Kee link. It is called the street rod shifter. http://4speedtoploaders.com/shopsite_sc ... ifter.html

[RTG_RACING]

OK I have been looking over this toploader and think I have come up with a solution. I am going to use the 3 speed super shifter install kit for the RAT series 3 speed to mount the 4 speed hurst comp shifter. Does anyone have any pics of the of the 3 speed shifter install bracket or a 3 speed floor shifter thats installed? Thanks for any help. As soon as I get moving I will get some pics of the progress up,

[71PA_Highboy]

OK... here is another thought.

The Jeeps use a top cover for the top loader that has a shifter tower that will give you what you want.

Yes, I do know what I am talking about, a friend of mine runs one in his Early Bronco.

They aren't common, but they keep the linkage inside.. makes for a much cleaner install.

Just remember that the distance to the shifter from your hand is going to slow down your shifts... check out Wildhorses4x4 for the 'gearbanger'... it will give you a faster shift, but you will HAVE to use the jeep top-cover shifter assembly.

http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Ge ... ansmission

hth,

eric

[RTG_RACING]

OK... here is another thought.

The Jeeps use a top cover for the top loader that has a shifter tower that will give you what you want.

Yes, I do know what I am talking about, a friend of mine runs one in his Early Bronco.

They aren't common, but they keep the linkage inside.. makes for a much cleaner install.

Just remember that the distance to the shifter from your hand is going to slow down your shifts... check out Wildhorses4x4 for the 'gearbanger'... it will give you a faster shift, but you will HAVE to use the jeep top-cover shifter assembly.

http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Ge ... ansmission

hth,

eric

Thats the same shifter Kee sells for 500 dollars. I looked into that but I like the hurst shifter because of the short throws.

[71PA_Highboy]

Uhh, not really...

it is only short throws at the shifter base... then you extend that handle up another 18" it isn't all that short...

Hence my suggestion for the gear banger... it reduces the amount of thro even with the 18" extension...

hth,

eric

[RTG_RACING]

Uhh, not really...

it is only short throws at the shifter base... then you extend that handle up another 18" it isn't all that short...

Hence my suggestion for the gear banger... it reduces the amount of thro even with the 18" extension...

hth,

eric

Maybe but that thing is fugly. I al looking for a clean install. I wonder what the throws would be like with a jeep shifter.

[71PA_Highboy]

Shifter knob moves 7" from 1st to 2nd gear. This was measured against a wall so it's pretty accurate. The shifter rod is 17" long. With a 8" shifter rod it would be a good geometry problem and the throw would be shorter...


Eric