There is an early 80s Mustang at a junkyard here with a 4 speed transmission and the knob has an "O/D" marking on it, so, an overdrive gear. Is this the SROD transmission I have heard of?
If so, I was thinking of pulling it and putting it in my 78 on the 2.3L motor, hoping to get some freeway cruising RPM back.
Right now I have the stock 4spd in the car with a 3.00 geared rear axle and at 65mph I'm pulling 3000 RPM, where as when I had the 2.73 gears in the stock axle it was pulling 3000 RPM at 75mph and 65mph was more like 25-2700 RPM (somewhere in that range).
It might be a 5 speed...
I was initially thinking the same but the gear layout is the same as the stock Pinto 4spd, with the overdrive/fifth gear in the lower right next to fourth, which I found interesting.
Isn't the top loader a heavy trans, with big input/output shafts ?
I am going to use a super T-10 in my white car. Not worried about a 5th gear though.
If you want better milage, it would likely be cheaper to change the diff gearing.
Ford called the 5 speed a RAP,
No toploaders in 80s cars.
Got a parts breakdown if you need it,Dave.
don't wast your time with that junk. there are plenty of cable actuated t5's in fox body 4 banger mustangs from 87-94 that will pay off far better and give you a much nicer pick a gear. Plus full blown t5 rebuild kits can be had for under 300 bucks on ebay
Dave, it is a top loader, Ford made and installed thousands of SROD's and put then in everything from Fairmonts to Mustangs to Ganada's, with 4 bangers to V-8's it's a good stout tranny, I've use them in the past, the problem is there is a big step between 2 and 3, with 4th being a overdrive, it makes 3rd gear 1 to 1. If it's real cheap maybe, other wise wait for a good deal on a T-5.
Walt
What is usually reffered to as a toploader is the Borg Warner trans.
Old school style shifter assy.
The SROD does also load through the top and it is a Tremac.
http://www.5speeds.com/toploader.html
Call it whatever you want, some even call it a RUG, it's still a top loader, it's still a 4 speed overdrive, 3rd gear is 1 to 1, 4th gear is 0.82 (if I remember right) ratio and it has a huge gear split between 2 and 3. is it junk? no, it's ok tranny. Would I use it behind a N/A 2.3? prob. not, I'd use taller tires, a T-9 or a T-5
if an 82 gt and a 4 speed. good chance it is a srod. the 5 speed did not start until 83.
the srod is essentially an aluminum top loader with an overdrive of .71.
it works great behind my 351w