Questions on a toploader transmission

DanEC · #1 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009, 04:40 PM

I posted this over in the David Kee toploader section but that area isn't getting much action apparently.

I found a 24 inch toploader small input WR toploader for my ERA and the tag is missing. It looks like it's probably from a 67 or 68 Mustang, Fairlane or Cougar. I found a yellow ink stamp on the side that looks like "6 M". It also has a "HB" date casting on the main case. Anything in this that narrows down what it came out of.

It has the long pilot bearing tip on the inut shaft that I understand I will have to cut back to use with a 428 motor. It has some wear in a band about 1/2 inch to 1 inch out from the splined section. The first 1/2 inch or so from the splined section looks good. Looks like the worn band has lost about .003 in dia. Most of this will be cut off when I shorten the tip and what is left will not be much worse than a gentle bevel on the tip. So, I'm thinking this probably won't be an issue - does that sound reasonable? I will probably put a rebuild kit in the transmission and if I need to replace the input shaft I want to do it at the same time.

Thanks

Dan

ZOERA-SC7XX · #2 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009, 04:52 PM

David Kee has a website that identifies these toploaders by tailshaft style and casting number/letters. You can rebuild and replace the input shaft on any of these and have a fine trans.

DanEC · #3 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009, 05:57 PM

Yes, I've compared it to his listing but the same case numbers were used for several years and many models. So, it's not possible to pin it down exactly without the transmission tag code. I hoped the ink stamp code might mean something.

Thanks

Dan

ZOERA-SC7XX · #4 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009, 06:50 PM

Three basic 4 spd toploaders 1964/1969...Short tailshaft-Mustang/Cougar. Medium tailshaft-Fairlane/Torino/Sunbeam Tiger. Long tailshaft-Galaxie/Full size Ford. You should be able to decipher it by the casting numbers. Good luck with your project.

Anthony · #5 (**permalink**) 08-21-2009, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanEC

It has the long pilot bearing tip on the inut shaft that I understand I will have to cut back to use with a 428 motor. It has some wear in a band about 1/2 inch to 1 inch out from the splined section. The first 1/2 inch or so from the splined section looks good. Looks like the worn band has lost about .003 in dia. Most of this will be cut off when I shorten the tip and what is left will not be much worse than a gentle bevel on the tip. So, I'm thinking this probably won't be an issue - does that sound reasonable? I will probably put a rebuild kit in the transmission and if I need to replace the input shaft I want to do it at the same time.

Sounds reasonable. Replace 2nd gear no matter what. Check the synchro teeth on all gears, the small teeth around the gears, for excessive wear. Usually, they are still in good shape on 1st gear, so compare 3rd and 4th (input) to 1st gear teeth. You may want to replace 4th gear (input) shaft with a new one, large spline from Kee anyways, and leave the small main shaft. Actually some of the original 427 cobra's came with big in-small out trannies.

DanEC · #6 (**permalink**) 08-26-2009, 04:17 PM

That sounds like some very practical advice - comparing the condition of first gear to second and third. Never thought about that. In general it looks pretty good inside for what I can see. Some wear on the syncro teeth but not worn down by any means. I learned on my Muncie though that it sometimes takes a practiced eye to spot problems on transmission gears. I plan to go ahead and pull it apart and put some level of a rebuild kit in it. It's been apart before and I'm not sure they used gaskets to put it back together.

Thanks

Dan