FE powered tow rigs

[fekbmax]

What kinda transmission you guys using ?

[JamesonRacing]

Currently have a NP435 in my tow rig (66 F250 C/S) but will be replacing it with a B/W T19 that has a 4:1 sychronized first gear.

[cjshaker]

Same here, NP435 in my '70 F350 dually. They're pretty darn bullet proof. I don't find the non-synchro 1st to be a huge deal, but it can be a pain when you hit a green light just before you come to a complete stop. Even then, it's only an issue when I have the trailer attached and fully loaded. Never an issue to start out in 2nd with the NP435 in my Highboy, or any truck that isn't pulling thousands of pounds of weight.

I'd like to have the T19 with synchronized 1st gear, but from threads I've seen before, there's a fair amount of work to make the switch. I lost the bookmark when my computer crashed, so if anyone has a link to a thread on that conversion, I wouldn't mind seeing it.

[AlanCasida]

I have a T18 with a Gear Vendor overdrive behind It in my 390 powered '67 F250. I have only done local towing but it is pretty much bullet proof too and using an Eaton two-speed switch mounted on the shifter to activate the GV unit is fun.
 

[NIsaacs]

Same here, NP435 in my '70 F350 dually. They're pretty darn bullet proof. I don't find the non-synchro 1st to be a huge deal, but it can be a pain when you hit a green light just before you come to a complete stop. Even then, it's only an issue when I have the trailer attached and fully loaded. Never an issue to start out in 2nd with the NP435 in my Highboy, or any truck that isn't pulling thousands of pounds of weight.

I'd like to have the T19 with synchronized 1st gear, but from threads I've seen before, there's a fair amount of work to make the switch. I lost the bookmark when my computer crashed, so if anyone has a link to a thread on that conversion, I wouldn't mind seeing it.

I seem to think that the Ford 4x2, NP435/T18/T19 were all very similar in bolt pattern/dimensions? Here is a good link to some info.

 http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=Awr9H6k3S7paYXIAfC1XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTByb2lvbXVuBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--/RV=2/RE=1522187191/RO=10/RU=http%3a%2f%2fwww.novak-adapt.com%2fknowledge%2ftransmissions%2fmanual%2ft18-t19/RK=2/RS=7lXLTdcPpTxRYsBOCA0BIZH46vY-

Nick

[fekbmax]

Any auto tranny guys ?

[RJP]

Any auto tranny guys ?

1 Here...I use a C6 in my 390 powered F-250 2WD for towing my boats. Rear end is a Dana 60, 3.73 gear. Boats are 18' V drive/flat bottoms on tandem axle trailers,  weigh varies from about 2600 to 3100 lbs. for boat and trailer.

[chris401]

NP435 with a Dana 4.10 in mine. I live in town now and really like the 1.75:1 3rd gear for turning corners. Dip down to anything over 10 mph and smooth up to speed again. Over drive would be nice for the highways and interstates.

I owned and drove a few newer Fords and dislikes going down to second to keep from bogging the engine.

[TomP]

The gear ratios in T18's and 435's suck! way too wide a drop and a damned near useless first gear. The 4.0 diesel T19 is a joy to drive after you do the simple switch.

[manofmerc]

Hey Tom tell us some more about this T19 .What does it come in ? And what are the advantages over the two other transmissions .Doug

[chris401]

The gear ratios in T18's and 435's suck! way too wide a drop and a damned near useless first gear. The 4.0 diesel T19 is a joy to drive after you do the simple switch.

I can see the drop being too much in the mountains. Loaded or empty, on hills and two lanes it is not a problem for the little 352. Personally I would not go any higher than 4.10 or 4.30 axle with this transmission. I would run a different manual or swap to a C6 for higher 3.73 or 3.54 axle ratios.

[My427stang]

I run the original NP435 in my 71 4x4, I like it, but my father had an NP435 from a 6 cyl truck and it was miserable at WOT behind a healthy.  His truck is long gone now, but it clearly had a wider ratio and a lower reverse gear 

Additionally, I have a top cover and shift lever off of a NP435 equipped Lousville dump truck, it raised the pivot point of the shifter, and after cutting down the long shifter, it made it a little shorter throw.  Still no car tranny, but shifts good for what it is

I have never tried a T18 or T19, with 3.50s and 33 inch tires, it does great starting in second, and although it hasn't towed in years, in the old days (owned this truck since 1984) dropping it in 1st with a load on it, I wasn't trying to power shift and it did just great.  Pulled some BIG things back to our garage too if the wrecker was busy.

I would love to put a 5 speed in it someday and add some real gear, but I like the little single speed integral transfer case, so it'll take some thinking to adapt it.  Not to mention with a 4 inch lift and shift kit, driveshaft angle is already steep, not much room to play with

[TJ]

Hey Tom tell us some more about this T19 .What does it come in ? And what are the advantages over the two other transmissions .Doug

I might be able to fill in some of the info gaps...  The main benefit of the T19 is the synchronized 1st gear, and that really only matters if you tow heavy and need to slow way down.  The T19 and NP435 have optional gear ratios so you'd want to verify what you have before making a switch. 

The 6.68 1st gear of the NP435 is perfect for lugging heavy trailers around a barn yard or camp ground and I like it a lot for creeping through a pasture field with a load of firewood.  Other than that I don't often use it.  The gear spread from 2nd to 4th is a bit wide for some hills when towing heavy with a stock 390 ...can't always keep it in 4th.  A good stroker FE will power through it and not care.

Personally, I dream of putting a GV behind my NP435 ...mainly to slow the motor at freeway speed.

[cjshaker]

The 6.68 1st gear of the NP435 is perfect for lugging heavy trailers around a barn yard or camp ground and I like it a lot for creeping through a pasture field with a load of firewood.  Other than that I don't often use it.  The gear spread from 2nd to 4th is a bit wide for some hills when towing heavy with a stock 390 ...can't always keep it in 4th.  A good stroker FE will power through it and not care.

Personally, I dream of putting a GV behind my NP435 ...mainly to slow the motor at freeway speed.

TJ nailed it here. While I'd love to have a synchro'd 1st gear, my trucks pull double duty for hauling heavy loads like wood, stone etc in some really tight or bumpy areas, and that low 1st is really nice in situations like that. In my Highboy it was invaluable for getting sunken or stuck cars pulled out of dirt or snow. The only thing that limited its pulling power was weight for traction. You don't have to slip the clutch in situations like that, or when taking off while pulling my trailer fully loaded. That saves big on the clutch. I just bought a GV unit for the Mustang, wishing I could afford 2 of them so I had one for the truck.

[TomP]

The 4.0 gear T19 came in 83-87 Ford diesel pickups. Bolts right in, same bellhousing pattern, input shaft, tranny mount and driveshaft as a T18/435. Shorter shifter throws, synchro low.  If you haven't driven one to compare then you have no way of knowing what rotten gear ratios you are putting up with and thinking are OK. A Gear Vendors with a 435, using it to split 2nd, 3rd and high gear would be fine but certainly a lot more costly.Check the local Craigslist for a stick tranny from a mid 80's Ford 6.9 Diesel someone is parting out.