Transmission Choices for 408W

[408Danger]

Good afternoon all, I'm making this post to get some second opinions about an issue I'm having.... I cant figure out what transmission to use for my current setup. Its listed as follows

1990 single cab short bed, originally a 2.3, now swapped with a 408 Windsor stroker, all the goodies inside. Explorer 8.8 rear soon to be swapped in.

Should be making around 450HP N/A.

I'm more stuck on something that has both street (cruising, etc.) and strip manners, pretty much looking for a jack of all trades. I.E; I don't want to be cruising on the highway at high rpm.... More leaning towards an auto, considering consistency and longevity, as well as price point and practicality.

I've been recommended a TH400 or a 4L80. Was looking at the C4 tranny as well. It would be nice to keep in mind the fit, and what all is needed to run one with the Windsor in my lil ranger.

THANK YOU for the help... this many choices gets overwhelming quickly.

 

[Blmpkn]

Definitely want a 4 speed if going auto.. 4l80 all the way.

 

[Shran]

TH400 and 4L80 are both GM transmissions?

If you want overdrive, you could use an AOD or an E4OD. C4 doesn't have overdrive but they are sure small!

 

[bobbywalter]

i run the 4l80 in my ranger. it's not as good as the 6r80.




10R80 and 6R80 Transmission Information | F150 Ecoboost Forum
6R80 Control and Swap Info
6R80 Control and Swap Info
The Ford 6R80 transmission features a six-speed automatic with the following gear ratios: 4.17:1 in first gear, 2.34:1 in second, 1.52:1 in third, 1.14:1 in fourth, 0.87:1 in fifth, and 0.69:1 in sixth (overdrive). This provides a wide gear ratio spread, offering both strong acceleration and efficient cruising.




the 8hp is still cheap and easy to build. arguably the best transmission ever made to this point.


tough call if you want an auto.... there are some great choices.

4r70 would have been my first choice in the past but not as easy to get parts for as they used to be. my suppliers are all out of business now so it's time for the available stuff.

 

[bobbywalter]

there is a member here with a 6r80 in his mid build about to be insane build ranger... i will try to get him to post details.

 

[Shran]

From what I am reading the 6R80 is about the same size as a 4R70W. That would be a lot more attractive to me than trying to stuff a big GM transmission in there with adapters or even a C6/E4OD/etc Ford transmission.

Parts availability is for sure a problem, the shop I had go through my wife's 4R55E said they are having problems getting parts for those and a lot of other stuff, especially Dodge parts. I am all about simplicity and things that just bolt together so it's frustrating for me to hear that it might be easier to use a much newer part with computers and electronic crap than it is to find parts for an old mechanical transmission... but I guess that's the world we are in now.

 

[408Danger]

i run the 4l80 in my ranger. it's not as good as the 6r80.




10R80 and 6R80 Transmission Information | F150 Ecoboost Forum
6R80 Control and Swap Info
6R80 Control and Swap Info
The Ford 6R80 transmission features a six-speed automatic with the following gear ratios: 4.17:1 in first gear, 2.34:1 in second, 1.52:1 in third, 1.14:1 in fourth, 0.87:1 in fifth, and 0.69:1 in sixth (overdrive). This provides a wide gear ratio spread, offering both strong acceleration and efficient cruising.




the 8hp is still cheap and easy to build. arguably the best transmission ever made to this point.


tough call if you want an auto.... there are some great choices.

4r70 would have been my first choice in the past but not as easy to get parts for as they used to be. my suppliers are all out of business now so it's time for the available stuff.

Thanks for the insight, and yes there are quite a few choices. I've been recommended the 4R70W by more people than I can count. From what I can tell if you find the right bellhousing....its a direct bolt up to the 351. But as you said, the parts aren't easy to find.... I'll do some more homework on the 6R80.

 

[408Danger]

there is a member here with a 6r80 in his mid build about to be insane build ranger... i will try to get him to post details.

That would help a lot, if you can... Please do.

 

[Mechrick]

I've been recommended the 4R70W by more people than I can count

It's probably the least expensive option.

The controller is where the time and expense will go, there is firmware available for the Microsquirts to run them. OR a US Shift controller.

If you plan on holeshots with slicks, the C6 would be longer-lasting.

 

[19Walt93]

Check with Performance Automatic, they build an AOD that will live in a street/strip truck. They also have some rugged C4's if you're interested. I used a C4 behind my 351 because I had one and 3.00 gears because it doesn't have overdrive but it's street only and not driven hard very often. 4R70W is an electronically controlled AOD and an E4OD is a C6 derivative that might be a tight fit under a Ranger.

 

[bobbywalter]

for a stock transmission the 4r70 is second only to the mid iteration 6r80 in regards to power handling. these exceed the c6. depending on your intended purposes though the c6 can work very well as you have the power to spare and can be very cost effective in the window you are intending.

even the aod can be built to a juggernaut if your rig is set up for mph on the big end of the strip and you can drive out of the hole. reverse and 3rd locked together makes its 1 to 1 holding capacity embarrass even the mighty c6. of course getting to 3rd gear the c6 has some advantage especially in trans brake scenarios. the hydraulic valve bodies dont need no computer, but that is also a limitation.

i assume this is a 2wd street ripper.
the 4l80 does not have enough gear to warrant the work and costs involved to adapt it. so the 4r70 is definitely the easy button here.

the 6r80 otoh... will cost more no matter what putting it behind a non eec6 engine control system or carb or different brand efi....

more so if you were putting it into a 4x4 and were planning conventional t cases ect. that is the reason i do not have one already. it also helps with lower power like my diesel and say a stockish 302 from a 150 or vic. i prefer it due to its overall design and the fact its good for 550 wheel out of a 80k pickup.

so look around and see what the costs are.

 

[Curtis_408]

The 6R80 set up is what I went with. My 300hp 302/4r70 set up, 2nd build for a 4r70 for it I had an issue that lead to possibly of needing another case. At that point the 6r80 was $50 cheaper than the next 4r70, so that was the beginning.
There are plenty of options for adapters, I went with a plate set up from Ryan denny (YouTube 6r80 302 swap) . It works well, the firewall room is tight, tunnel room is ok with no body lift. Set up with the quick 6 controller is pretty straightforward, there is a lot of adjustment possibilities, I have been running this set up for going on 4-5 years. The transmission when I bought it had 130k on it, only thing I have done to it has been bushings, lead frame and a torque converter. Running stock shifter, the explorer computer gets confused about it's 4r70 not giving input anymore first start up drop in gear will usually want to stall, after that it's figured it out. The "shifttronic" is a set up the quick 6 has as well full manual shifting set is as long as you are in the range of your downshift speed or upshift.
The new engine set up, I'm going to run without an adapter, trimming the block, running a machined threaded dowel that bolts into the block then bolt any modular Ford trans to it.

 

[Mechrick]

The C6 can be built with 4R100 six pinion planetaries and a hardened input shaft to make them good to 1,600 HP.

In terms of sheer brute strength, nothing Ford produced beats it. They are also self-shifters and cheap.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I thought the small block pattern c6 was fairly rare? Probably getting rarer by the day...

 

[Shran]

I thought the small block pattern c6 was fairly rare? Probably getting rarer by the day...

Small block 2wd is pretty easy to find, early 80s up trucks would be a good source. Any with an inline 6 or 351w would probably have a C6. Small block 4x4 C6's are a bit harder to find. 4x4 FE bellhousing pattern ones are REALLY hard to find.