toploader shifting

[fryedaddy]

are there anything you can do to improve high rpm shifting with a TL short of removing it or swapping for something different.when i wind up past 6000 my trans gets harder to shift.it makes me lose a lot of et with the slower shifts.trans is fresh,new shifter,clutch,flywheel.if i stay below 5500 its shifts great

[fe468stroker]

The transmission may not be the problem.  The pressure plate releasing at high RPM may be the culprit.  I have a diaphragm style that is causing the same problem - over centering I've been told with factory linkage.

[Rory428]

I agree, I would be looking for sufficent clutch releasing. I have had several Toploaders, never had one that i couldn`t powershift at WOT, providing the shifter was adjusted properly, and the clutch was releasing cleanly. That said, I rarely twisted any of my Toploader cars over 6500 RPM, but never had any issues at 6000, except once on my 70 R code Mach 1, when, unbeknownst to me, the Zbar started to tear at a weld, and reduced the clutch airgap. But once I fixed that, no more issues.

[fryedaddy]

my z bar has a broke weld too,but it only has a small amount of play.you can wiggle it an 1/8 inch or so.could that small amount of play cause a problem?

[Rory428]

Under load, it could well be opening up, reducing the airgap. I would certainly correct that issue before looking for anything else.

[GerryP]

Use the right weight gear lube and do not use synthetic lube.  Older brass ring transmissions will not shift easily at higher RPM with synthetic.

[fryedaddy]

thanks for the info guys.i think i can put a bolt and nut thru the z bar and tighten the play out.i have a little slop in my clutch pedal too.it goes sideways a little when mashed.i have the right lube,it took a while to find but its right.

[Heo]

if you habve a long style pp it may have to heavy wheights on the arms

[frnkeore]

Don't forget the motor mounts. I put a flat head bolt threw the drivers side, so it can't lift. If the engine rises to much, it will bind the Z bar and linkage.

[fryedaddy]

it could be lifting the motor.my engine support on the drivers side has the hole drilled out bigger than normal.it might lift out the enlarged hole and sit back in it when i let off the gas.i had a chain on another engine that was in it with a small amount of slack so the engine could move a little.i may put it on and see if that helps.

[wowens]

Fix the motor mount, weld and reinforce the Z bar, fix pedal slop and properly adjust the clutch linkage. You will most likely have no shifting problems.

[6667fan]

There are R&R kits for the pedal pivot points that utilize bearings. Not a quick and easy job on an assembled car however.
The two piece Z bar can flex if the through bolt is not tight enough. Have someone work the pedal while you watch. The whole assembly inherently has too much deflection. If anything gets worn it gets worse in a hurry.

[cammerfe]

On my '63 F100, I had to rebuild the entire clutch pedal assembly using a set of Hurst steel bushings to 'shrink' the wallered-out holes in the pedal arm, etc, and then use Heim joints, bolts and nuts, and appropriate sized All-thread.. It finally worked just fine, but the TL took a beating before I got it all fixed.

KS

[cjshaker]

The suggestions above should certainly be addressed first, but if you do all those things and still have a problem, try looking for a vintage set of blocker rings. IMO, the newer reproduced brass rings have a slightly different texture to the cone that doesn't play well with hard shifts at RPM. I've had the same issue with the last couple of toploaders that I refreshed/rebuilt. All the gears were new in one of them. I never used to have that problem when Ford rings were still easily found at swap meets, but now they are getting hard to find. I talked with Dan Williams about this some years ago and he was of the same opinion.

[fryedaddy]

thanks Doug,i adjusted my clutch linkage and tightened my z bar bolt.im going to give it another try today.if it dont improve i will look into a set of those older blocker rings.i have to get this thing shifting right or i wasted a bunch of money converting back to a 4 speed.c6 was great,lasted for years and i never missed 1 shift!