O/D for an older 3/4 ton PU..??

BushogPapa · Jan 4, 2013

What would be the "Best" approach..?

460 4-Barrel, Automatic with plenty more miles left...
Go to a newer "Over-Drive" Auto or get an Over-Drive unit to install in place of the Carrier Bearing..???
Need something that can take the FULL power of the engine...

Ron..

GVSII · Jan 4, 2013

Gear vendor O/D units bolt on behind the main X/mis. Very strong but very pricey. I think US Gear makes a simular unit. Probably better to go with replacement O/D X/mis.

oldtanker · Jan 4, 2013

OK the tranny you want is the E4OD. The early model. It has to come from a donar that has the 460 or the diesel. Only ones that bolt to a big block. A simple on off switch can be placed on the dash to be able yo turn the OD on and off. Going to be spendy most likely to find one. It's a direct bolt in installation but you may have to have the drive shaft streached. What kind of mileage are you getting? When I had my 77 F250 460 V8, 6C auto it would pull 13 empty and 11 loaded.

Rick

BushogPapa · Jan 4, 2013

I have a nicely tuned and jetted Holley on it..

It will get 12 on the freeway with a Cap, pulling a 2 axle trailer...that can drop to 6, everything the same but with 8,500# on the trailer..
Not all that bad actually..I LIKE all that Power...!
Sucker will TOP hills way faster than I want..the vacuum secondaries I may change to mechanical..

Thanks for the information...

Ron.

Jeff B. · Jan 4, 2013

Gear vendors or the old Doug Nash unit(made by U.S. Gear(now Axletech) and sold through the RV industry channels) are pricy, @3000 or so. Best bet is the E4OD trans. You didn"t specify what year, and 2x4 or 4x4. 2x4 would be fairly easy other than controls. With the 4x4 trucks, if you run into any length difference at all, will have you lengthening one drive line and shortening the other, plus moving the transfer case shifter in the cab. for older trucks you will want to check on wiring harness hookups/computer stuff, because all E4OD"s are electronically shifted. I don"t believe there are any conversions to make this unit hydraulically operated without electronic inputs. If you have more questions drop me an e-mail and I"ll give you the 800 number for our tranny shop.
Jeff

davpal · Jan 5, 2013

I had a 1988 ford f-350 4x4 with 4:11 gears 460 fuel injected engine and a 5 speed trans and it only got about 13 mpg on a good day with the 5 speed. I had a 1976 F-250 4x4 with 4:11 gears and a 460 carb with C-6 automatic before that one and it also got about 13 mpg with no overdrive. Bottom line is that truck is going to get 12 or 13 mpg with or without an overdrive. The best way to save money on gas with those trucks is to park them. They weigh too much and they're not aerodynamic, just like every other truck thats been built in the last 40 years from the big three. 6000 lbs = 13 mpg at best.

oldtanker · Jan 5, 2013

Jeff, if I'm not mistaken the first year or 2 of the E4OD were only shifted into OD by a puch button on the dash the rest was all mechanical.

Rick

BushogPapa · Jan 5, 2013

Might be "too Heavy?" but it sure is nice to head to the quarry and get 2 full tons of gravel and it not look like it has any load on it..
Try that with most 1/2 ton "Urban warrior" pickups..
13 is not so bad..when I got it, it only got about 4 mpg..now that was not so good...!
Ron..

Hay_Man · Jan 5, 2013

Hope it has a dump bed on it....Shovel makes my back hurt...!

Pops1532 · Jan 5, 2013

When I had a 460 the amount I was hauling or towing had little effect on fuel economy. How fast I drove made a huge difference.
Try to not like the power so much. You'll pick up some MPG.

oldtanker · Jan 5, 2013

(quoted from post at 10:38:16 01/05/13) When I had a 460 the amount I was hauling or towing had little effect on fuel economy. How fast I drove made a huge difference.
Try to not like the power so much. You'll pick up some MPG.

Mine was a "camper special" from back in the days when slide in's were the thing. Had something like 3:73s in it. At 70 it ran about 1800 RPM's. I left Ft Riley KS with a U-Haul car trailer that was #2400 and a 59 Ply Savoy on it. Plus about 1500 of stuff in the bed when I retired. Made 11 MPG on the 600 mile trip home. Just a 2 wheel drive. Kinda miss that ole truck. Really miss the easy winter starting and POWER! I had an after market Holly on mine too.

Rick

495man · Jan 5, 2013

2wd or 4x4? If 4x4 I'd likely leave well enough alone by the time you mess with transfer case and two drive shafts.

If you are going to the bother of trans swap, swap in a ZF-5 out of a new 3/4 or one ton.

"E4OD" is an "electronic" (hence "E") 4 speed OD trans, that would be the ideal automatic, IF if will run as a stand alone transmission. The switch on the shifter only serves to lock OD out for heavy towing.

BushogPapa · Jan 5, 2013

That is about equal to 66 Bu/Soybeans...not very much...
Loaded many a truck with a #14 scoop shovel, 200 bu each...and my Mother would out work me 2 to 1...
My Grand parents didn't give up hand-mowing and Hand-Digging graves at the Oller Cemetery until after they were 75..
Those would be JDBpuller's Great-Grand Parents..

Ron..

scotc · Jan 5, 2013

If I read correctly, the Gear Vendors unit is actually how Ford made some of their first 4 speed OD automatics.

oldtanker · Jan 5, 2013

(quoted from post at 13:28:27 01/05/13)
2wd or 4x4? If 4x4 I'd likely leave well enough alone by the time you mess with transfer case and two drive shafts.

If you are going to the bother of trans swap, swap in a ZF-5 out of a new 3/4 or one ton.

"E4OD" is an "electronic" (hence "E") 4 speed OD trans, that would be the ideal automatic, IF if will run as a stand alone transmission. The switch on the shifter only serves to lock OD out for heavy towing.

OK, found it.....These transmissions are electronically controlled, so you will also need our Baumannator TCS™ transmission controller. The early ones were not controld by the vehicle computer. I will require a dash switch to disable the OD for heavy towing.

Rick

jackinok · Jan 6, 2013

ive checked on this myself,the current concensius is that its cheaper to install a newer od transmission. However ive used the aftermarket od units and they do offer some advantages.the main one is they shift between normal transmission shifts also basically giving you twice as many gears in the lower ranges ,rather than just one at the top. this gives you an advantage of lower rpms and fuel consumption in city traffic also. the very best mileage i ever got in any pickup ive ever owned was 25 mpg in a 79 ford with a 460,and a aftermarket overdrive.thats average mileage,and i never babied it any.

BushogPapa · Jan 6, 2013

NOW---THAT is what I'd like to hear...!!

What OD ratio was it..??

I used to drive a '55 For with a BB engine and 55 Merc OD 3 speed..it was 18% OD and would absolutely FLY on the freeway (when I was in the Army!)..
Ran it in an economy run and WON, tying with an Injected VW..but Mine was heavier (47+ Ton Miles per Gal) so I won..at 24.11 MPG..
I still have that transmission but I doubt it could stand up to that 460..!!
I used that Merc OD, as I could not get a standard Ford 3 sp to last more than one week without becoming a"Direct-drive ONLY" (Instantly)..!!
I sure LOVED that '55 Ford...it got me an offer to drive for Emerson Fittapaldi in 1967..
He "Tried" to stay with me as I headed South, toward reveille at Ft Know and he had NO chance of keeping up through Cincinnati and on South..
HE flagged ME over, to invite me to Daytona to drive one of his 428 Cobras...!!!
Wish I had....
Ron..

O/D for an older 3/4 ton PU..??

BushogPapa

Well-known Member

GVSII

Member

oldtanker

Well-known Member

BushogPapa

Well-known Member

Jeff B.

Member

davpal

Member

oldtanker

Well-known Member

BushogPapa

Well-known Member

Hay_Man

Member

Pops1532

Well-known Member

oldtanker

Well-known Member

495man

Well-known Member

BushogPapa

Well-known Member

scotc

Well-known Member

oldtanker

Well-known Member

jackinok

Well-known Member

BushogPapa

Well-known Member

Similar threads