What transmission to use?

[Goldmachine]

My question is, what would be a better transmission for a 302 swap, a t5, or the m5od from a 4.2 f150?

Would the t5 handle abuse in a extended cab with a mild 302? Or are there any other 5 speeds that would word behind a 302?

 

[RonD]

For 2WD the T5 would be fine to use.
For 4WD the M5OD-R2 with transfer case from 4.2l F-150 4x4 would be better, IMO.


Adavance Adapter made a 4WD adapter for the Ford T5 many years ago, they are no longer made, they sometimes come up for sale but not something you can count on.
You should still get a stronger transfer case for the V8

 

[Goldmachine]

My truck is 2wd, so I don't need to worry about the transfer case. But the t5 is plenty strong for my truck? Also what do I do for the clutch?

 

[Shran]

You could also use a ZF 5 speed from a 2wd F250/F350...but they are really a "truck" transmission...and like you would expect, they will shift like a truck, not like a sporty car, and they have a very low 1st gear. The M5OD will be a slight improvement.

I don't know if you could even find one of these, but there was a 4 speed manual offered in the early 80's...maybe earlier as well, but not later, that was very high geared and 4th was an overdrive gear. I had one in an '80 F100 behind an inline six. I could do about 30mph in 1st gear! You would want deep-ish gears in your rear axle, possibly 3.73's or 4.10's, for a fun driver. I believe the F100 had a 3.00 gear.

From what I read I think they were referred to as a "Ford Overdrive" transmission, and were supposedly not very strong, but my experience was that it lasted 200k+ easily with a high schooler driving.

For the clutch I guess you should decided if you want to go the cable route, as is used with the T5...as I understand, anyway, or build hydraulic linkage. I am not familiar with the T5 at all but it is very easy to go hydraulic with just about anything that has an external clutch fork.

 

[Goldmachine]

I might go with the m5od from a 2wd 4.2 f150. Does that transmission have a big bell housing or a smallet one?

 

[Shran]

I might go with the m5od from a 2wd 4.2 f150. Does that transmission have a big bell housing or a smallet one?

I believe it has the small block Ford (300, 302, 351) bellhousing pattern, rather than the modular (4.6, 5.4) pattern if that answers your question.

 

[Goldmachine]

I always thought the mod motors shared the same bellhousing as the small block ford. But I was wondering about the actual size of it. I'm planning on using the tri-y headers and am wondering of they will clear the bellhousing.

 

[Shran]

I always thought the mod motors shared the same bellhousing as the small block ford. But I was wondering about the actual size of it. I'm planning on using the tri-y headers and am wondering of they will clear the bellhousing.

I was under the impression that only the 4.2 and very early 4.6 had small block bellhousings, but I could be wrong.

 

[Goldmachine]

The more research I do about the m5od-r2 and swapping a t5 in I think It would be easier using a c4 or AOD. The 4.2 f150s are hard to find where I am, and everyone is asking a arm and a leg for a t5. C4s and AOD's on the other hand are cheap and plentiful. And an auto is better for the drag strip also.