am i biting off more than i can chew???

[hampster]

ok , at present moment i have a 72 f100 longbed with a 390and a c4 tranny.. i am in the process of putting in a built 460 and i am wondering if i could put in a t56 tranny to go with it .. just concerned if i would be looking at a lot of problems than its worth if anyone has a thought or concerns or anything on this please let me know

[heep70]

Welcome to the website.

What type of tranny is that and what did it come out of?

You should hit the welcome mat and introduce yourself. You will get tons of atention there. Got any pic?

[moore89]

I have a prety well built 460 in my 67 2wd and when I was looking at transmissions and their max torque ratings I think a mild 460 would prematurly(sp?) destroy a T5, T45 or T56 (unless they were rebuilt with stronger parts). I may eventually build a toploader 4 speed for mine but that would also take alot of work. Auto's tend to work better behind these with the right stall in the converter. My Last 460/C6 combo before rebuilding the engine again (wiped out the camshaft) propelled the truck to a mid 13 sec. 1/4 mile run. To fit a T56 behind the 460 I amagine you would have to have one with a removable bellhousing and then have a custom one made.

[hampster]

well i thank you for advise. i just found one that is supposed to handle 600hp and you can get bellhousing fitted for a 460/t56 (tremec 6 speed)gear ratios from2.87 1st to .50 6th.the tranny with bellhouring will run me about $2300 and they say the t56 is a little brauder and stick entry is low so i have to give up bench seat most likely and someone said i may have to widen the floor board for it too fit ......hhmmmm.again i am still up for any advise. i thank the coment about the c6 but here is my dellima i live less than 3 mile from atl dragway and would like to play alittle but i also use this truck as a daily (well weekly) driver. 30miles twice a week were i drive 75-85 mph just to keep from being ran over.. some time i think my peterbilt gets better fuel milage..

[91Bear]

What does the term "toploader" refer to?

[flyboy2610]

The shifter enters the top of the tranny and activates the shift mechanisms for inside, as compared to manual trannies which have levers and linkage on the outside of the tranny.

[moore89]

If you get a T56 in there let me know how it works out because I was just thinking about the fun of rocketing aroud the local strip at night with a 6 speed. And I hear ya on the gas milage (mine was a daily driver until I bought a thunderbird supercoupe), with my 460, 4.56 gears, 315/70/15 radials and 3 gears and no overdrive I was averaging 5-6 mpg and about $45 a week in 93 octaine.

[hampster]

well at the present time motor is still being built but soon after i will attempt putting in the t56. i will definently keep yall posted on it

[fordguy_78]

How about a tremec TKO 500 or 600 there chepper than the t56 and the bolt to the stock Toploader bolt pantern.

[wekelm]

What does the term "toploader" refer to?

A top loader is a ford transmission that all the internal components were loaded in from the top of the tranny the a cover plate was placed on top. The shift controls are on the side of the case. It was and still is a great, strong hot rod tranny. Check out the following link.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/260730

[willowbilly3]

The shifter enters the top of the tranny and activates the shift mechanisms for inside, as compared to manual trannies which have levers and linkage on the outside of the tranny.

Toploader refers to the way the gears are installed, through the top. It can apply to a wide range of trannys but in general when someone says toploader they are referring to the 4 speed that Ford used in passenger cars from 1964 through about the mid 70s. The shifter is bolted to the side and has 3 rods that run to arms. Ford also used a version of this tranny in pickups and vans but made it an overdrive by making third into over and flipping the arm on the 3-4 rod. These do ocassionally get passed off for toploaders but can be bought for much less and aren't as tough.
I say go for the T-56. I don't know much about them but I am a stick shift man and love rowing my own. I think if you are good with the stick you will click off better times because the C6 robs from 30-60 horsepower. I don't think you can get a C4 to stay together behind a healthy big block.

[dablack00]

C4s are great behind big blocks. Ford put some C4 behind 351/400Ms so they are out there. You have to build it right, but it takes less power to turn one, so more power goes to the wheels. It is lighter too. I would love to run a C4, but I have lots of BB C6s around so i run those. The C4 is about the old trans that you can rebuild without any special tools too. I've rebuilt a C6, but not a C4, but I'm looking forward to it.

[willowbilly3]

I really can only repeat what I hear but we talked to a drag racer Saturday with a 68 Shelby 428 and he said he couldn't keep the C4s together in his car. He had the best of everything too, not a lowbuck operation. I have heard 400 horse is about it for reliability in a built C4 . I had also heard there was never a C4 put behind a bigblock by Ford so I guess I was wrong if they came behind the 351M/400.

[customcrewcab]

that use to be true about the C4 but in the last couple of years they have fixed them. i had a friend who had C4 behind a car the made around 1500hp. car was a destroke 351 with yates heads and a super huge turbo.
pretty cool setup with a icebox cooling the air after the innercooler. the car ran 8.50 when i saw it with 3.50 gears.

[crazy larry]

I'd like to try this C4... http://www.performanceautomatic.com/transc4.htm