The Ford Barn

rotorwrench · 08-17-2015, 10:32 AM

The Tremec T170 is actually a top loader 3-speed with an overdrive gear added. F-150 pickups had them for a couple of years in the mid 80s on straight 6 engines & 302 V8s. There are some good threads on here about them being modified for a torque tube drive. A person would need the usual adapter to bolt it up and it is a big transmission so the torque tube may need to be shortened.

Chisel · 08-17-2015, 12:36 PM

The T170 is only 2 inches longer than the original Ford transmission so you have to shorten the torque tube and drive shaft by 2 inches. Fits like it was made for the 35 to 40 frame. No messing with the wishbone.

Tim Ayers · 08-17-2015, 01:19 PM

Dang, looks good. Curious, how much of an O/D does it give?

Ol' Ron · 08-17-2015, 01:27 PM

The one from the 6 cyl is 36% I have one in my truck behind a 280 CI engine and the OD Is quite an RPM drop. But I love it. It's behind an 8BA, made the adapter from a stock steel bell housing. Using open drive.

Tim Ayers · 08-17-2015, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

The one from the 6 cyl is 36% I have one in my truck behind a 280 CI engine and the OD Is quite an RPM drop. But I love it. It's behind an 8BA, made the adapter from a stock steel bell housing. Using open drive.

Wow, that's a big drop. From the picts, it looks like a hog's head will bolt up to it. Is that accurate?

Can someone give me a more finite range these transmissions were offered in F-150's? I'd like to pick one up just to have in case. I already have a 4 cly. S-10 T-5 speed, but I like the Ford set-up better.

rotorwrench · 08-17-2015, 03:59 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Post #1 of this thread has a hogs head adapter.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...highlight=T170

Just search T170 and you can find most of the important info on these.

Ol' Ron · 08-17-2015, 04:31 PM

No, But the hogs head cam be drilled to adapt it to a 59 or earlier block. The one for the 302 has a lower percentage OD than the 6,bit I forgot what it waz.

rotorwrench · 08-17-2015, 04:49 PM

The Code BV ones I've seen are a 27.6% overdrive. I think they were mostly used on 302 engines. The 36.9% was even used on some 351 engines. The other one for 300 6-cylinders was 41.1% which is a pretty substantial drop. T170 RTS is the one to look for. There is a link to a list of the two digit codes on that link from Miss Victoria I posted.

Jason in TX · 08-18-2015, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chisel

The T170 is only 2 inches longer than the original Ford transmission so you have to shorten the torque tube and drive shaft by 2 inches. Fits like it was made for the 35 to 40 frame. No messing with the wishbone.

Thanks for posting those photos Chisel. I was trying to figure out the difference in stock bock vs the T170 a week and a half ago. (I love the T170s by the way)

Zach - I just spent a week in the mountains with my A banger/39 trans/Volvo Overdrive. I couldn't live without 2 1/2. Being able to split gears made my car race past the others that were running the 3 speed with overdrive.

So, conceptually, to me, an overdrive option that allows you to also split gears is better than just a straight transmission with an extra 4th speed overdrive option.

Tim Ayers · 08-18-2015, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason in TX

Thanks for posting those photos Chisel. I was trying to figure out the difference in stock bock vs the T170 a week and a half ago. (I love the T170s by the way)

Zach - I just spent a week in the mountains with my A banger/39 trans/Volvo Overdrive. I couldn't live without 2 1/2. Being able to split gears made my car race past the others that were running the 3 speed with overdrive.

So, conceptually, to me, an overdrive option that allows you to also split gears is better than just a straight transmission with an extra 4th speed overdrive option.

Jason:

Hhhmm, makes sense.

Bruce Lancaster · 08-18-2015, 10:12 AM

The whole idea is a wider range of overall gear ratios, from low speed acceleration to highway cruising. Working with just the final drive has to handicap the car's performance at one end or the other.
A modern alternative that sounds good is the Mitchell overdrive, a two speed trans that is sold built into a replacement torque tube for I think all '28-48 Fords. It has been getting good reviews from people who have one, and is a bolt-in replacement for stock tube.
Non traditional and very ugly, but since it lives in the darkness below the floor no one will see it.

08-17-2015, 10:32 AM	#61
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,478	Re: Overdrive - Lincoln vs. Columbia The Tremec T170 is actually a top loader 3-speed with an overdrive gear added. F-150 pickups had them for a couple of years in the mid 80s on straight 6 engines & 302 V8s. There are some good threads on here about them being modified for a torque tube drive. A person would need the usual adapter to bolt it up and it is a big transmission so the torque tube may need to be shortened.

08-17-2015, 01:19 PM	#63
Tim Ayers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 6,205	Re: Overdrive - Lincoln vs. Columbia Dang, looks good. Curious, how much of an O/D does it give?

08-17-2015, 01:27 PM	#64
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,883	Re: Overdrive - Lincoln vs. Columbia The one from the 6 cyl is 36% I have one in my truck behind a 280 CI engine and the OD Is quite an RPM drop. But I love it. It's behind an 8BA, made the adapter from a stock steel bell housing. Using open drive.

08-17-2015, 03:59 PM	#66
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,478	Re: Overdrive - Lincoln vs. Columbia Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Post #1 of this thread has a hogs head adapter. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...highlight=T170 Just search T170 and you can find most of the important info on these.

08-17-2015, 04:31 PM	#67
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,883	Re: Overdrive - Lincoln vs. Columbia No, But the hogs head cam be drilled to adapt it to a 59 or earlier block. The one for the 302 has a lower percentage OD than the 6,bit I forgot what it waz.

08-17-2015, 04:49 PM	#68
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,478	Re: Overdrive - Lincoln vs. Columbia The Code BV ones I've seen are a 27.6% overdrive. I think they were mostly used on 302 engines. The 36.9% was even used on some 351 engines. The other one for 300 6-cylinders was 41.1% which is a pretty substantial drop. T170 RTS is the one to look for. There is a link to a list of the two digit codes on that link from Miss Victoria I posted.

08-18-2015, 10:12 AM	#71
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: Overdrive - Lincoln vs. Columbia The whole idea is a wider range of overall gear ratios, from low speed acceleration to highway cruising. Working with just the final drive has to handicap the car's performance at one end or the other. A modern alternative that sounds good is the Mitchell overdrive, a two speed trans that is sold built into a replacement torque tube for I think all '28-48 Fords. It has been getting good reviews from people who have one, and is a bolt-in replacement for stock tube. Non traditional and very ugly, but since it lives in the darkness below the floor no one will see it.