Toploader 4 speed

My car has had the same, stock, small input/output toploader for the last several years.

I rebuilt it before installation, and it's about due for another... but that happens when you launch around 6800 without the nitrous, or 5800 on the bottle on slicks.... while shifting at 6800 rpm. [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

It also get PLENTY of street miles... and they aren't easy ones. It sees redline every time it hits the road.

They hold up pretty well, as long as the transmissions aren't powershifted, aren't forceably downshifted fast and often, and aren't abused in general. Of course, you can kill any transmission if you try hard enough.

Good Luck!
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You don't need one for the tranny. That's for automatics. I don't even know of one that's made for a toploader.

Good Luck!
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On 2004-05-23 20:00, n2omike wrote:
You don't need one for the tranny. That's for automatics. I don't even know of one that's made for a toploader.

Good Luck!

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Sure Mike they make one for sticks i had one on my 289 with the top loader. lakewood
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They are dang near bulletproof in my humble oppinion but for heavy torque loads I do recommend heavy weight oil. (80W-140)
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im planning a 600-650 hp FE build-up aimed for strip service in a +-3000 lb. car. would a toploader handle that kind of abuse or should i be looking into a g-force or jerico transmission?
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You get what you pay for.
1.g-force 101 (needle bearing output)$4000
2. jerico DR4 $2600
3. toploader (??cheap)




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It seems we use a different HP rating down here in OZ, but i ran about 700hp through a standard toploader for 5 or 6 years. Countless 6,000rpm launches on anything up to a 250hp shot.

The gearbox was the only standard part in the car, and the only part that never broke!

It all depends on how you treat the transmission, and the load it actually sees.

If you don't abuse the trans by forceably shifting it too fast, etc... (see my first post), and never launch the car WFO on slicks, any of the above will be more than you need.

Traction will dertermin the amount of stress the transmission sees. If the wheels are free to spin, the transmission never gets loaded that heavily. Launching WFO on slicks is the 'acid test' for any driveline. Ask me how I know....

A Jerico will not shift slowly without sounding like a coffee grinder. They are built to be banged hard. They don't work right unless they are swiftly jerked into the next gear. They have no syncronizers. They have a 'dog leg' shifting setup... similar to a dirt bike's. They are a race only piece.

Good Luck!
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I have been trying to put together a toploader for my Falcon for months. I found out that toploaders are no longer cheap. They are not all that plentiful in good condition anymore. Most all of them that I have found are really beat to death and need complete gear set replacement. Some even have bad cases from the main bearings spinning in them etc. That is why many of the rebuilders are casting new cases. Then you find the real rusty ones. I found one that looked good outside, but after taking the cover off I found that it had sat with water in it for years. Some of the problems in terms of wear and damage are not always obvious. You need to really know what you are looking at. Buyer beware. They are great transmissions. Some would say they are the best factory 4 speed made (we are all partial to the Ford stuff). I would first look on David Kee's web site and see how much a completely rebuilt toploader costs for your application. I have found that you will be hard pressed to do a good rebuilt trans for much less. Do the math on all the parts and compare it to a complete unit that you can just add oil and bolt in. Then there is the learning curve for you to try to rebuild it yourself. If you make a mistake it could be a very costly one. I would try to find a good core cheap for a trade. Then call David and ask him about your plans. He has a great reputation and is very pleasant. There are other rebuilders and good info pages on toploaders on the net. Just do a search engine search, it is worthwhile. I am still searching for a Falcon tailshaft if anyone has one. Good luck, Peter.

I thought I got a pretty good deal on mine too. I bought an old rusted '67 parts car complte with a 4 speed, hurst shifter, 9" posi, 289 4brl, center and overhead console, all for $900. After I took the good stuff off of it, I put it back together with my old 3spd stuff and got it running decent. Then took the old beater to the strip that weekend with a "For Sale" on it, ran low 15's in the 1/4 and sold it for $1000. [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif[/img]
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