4 speed for street

[Rory428]

Even if you could buy 3 new Toploaders, you would still have limited gear selection, and a heavier, weaker transmission. So if you were to buy 3 new Toploaders, and broke all of them, are you any further ahead? I also wonder how all the "new" offshore components in a new Toploader, compare for strength and quality, compared to OE Ford parts. Another option would be to buy a used Jerico or G Force. I ran Jericos for 20 years, with used transmissions that I paid $2000. a piece for, with Long V Gate shifters. And after 20 years, sold both for what I paid for them, when I switched to the G Force G101A 4 speed.

[6667fan]

1200 for a Long shifter? Is that buying it through Jerico? Shifter with pistol grip was $700.00 two years ago through Long.

[475fetoploader]

That’s through Jerico yes.

[475fetoploader]

Interesting, I found Long v-gate shifters all over for $700.  Possibly he misspoke. Seemed like a straight forward fella.

[475fetoploader]

Has anyone used/ know of the Johnny Hightower 4 speed? 

[BattlestarGalactic]

I think between him and Doug’s post I have a direction. If you know how a snow ball works, here’s my build. Stroked 428 with stock edl. Heads, top loader, stock 9”, stock front end.


Currently 511” bbm. 35 spline moser rear end.  Probably a Jerico.  Roller/tubular front end rebuild.
I should probably start looking at paint colors.   

Just another example of "Mission Creep". Believe me, it happens to every one of us who love cars!

Naaa, I've never had any problems with that.   

Ya, right. 

The wagon started at 13.0's with a base 428CJ and a toploader.  Now it has a full boogie 496FE and a Liberty 5 spd on the edge of going 9.90's.     So, ya, I don't have any issues with "going to extremes".................. 


A Jerico will surely outlast a "stock" toploader power wise.... no matter how cheap you can buy toploaders(I remember getting them for $100 at swap meets in the 80's).  Overall a toploader is very stout.  The worse thing you can do is wheelhop it and shatter the input gears out of them.   I have broken an output shaft on the street once a long time back.  The thing is, even if you put in a 31 spline output shaft, the front half is still all the same and can break again just as easily.

[475fetoploader]

I really enjoy the fact that there exists an F.E. wagon with a 5 speed.  That’s great stuff.

[machoneman]

Hey, treat those Toploaders like the 'bullets' the nitro racers do all the time. Break it, pull out another one and go! Hah!