1965 Galaxie 500 - Cruise-O-Matic to Toploader swap

Hey everyone,
Just joined the forum, and so far it's been nothing but helpful. Here's the scoop on my Galaxie:
The tranny has been on edge for a while, and after about a month of sitting in the garage, it no longer responds to Reverse. In fact, it goes forward in all gears unless it's in Park. So, I decided that it's time to put a 4-speed in her. I did a search on the forum and there are some similar threads, but I could not find one that's specific to my swap. I want to know what model of T-10 Toploader would fit to my 390, or if there's a better option. I wouldn't mind a 5-speed, but I figure a T-10 would be the simplest and most "correct" option. Can someone point me to a thread or something?
Thanks,
Michael

First of all Mike I'll give you a little 4 speed 101, A T10 is not a toploader, it has a side cover. The toploader replaced the T10 on full sized cars in late 64.
Now for your swap, go with the toploader it should be a fairly easy task, however finding the factory parts is another story. Most of the stick shift stuff is specific to 65-66 full sized Ford and Mercs. Optimally a stick shift donor car is the way to go but the parts can be tracked down. Once you get all the parts, the job is 90% complete.

Cant help ya with the toploader swap info but wanted to say welcome to FM and the Galaxie Forum. Nice to see another "stacked" (headlight) Galaxie owner here.

Keith/Bumble

Originally Posted by AGuyAndAGal

Hey everyone,
Just joined the forum, and so far it's been nothing but helpful. Here's the scoop on my Galaxie:
The tranny has been on edge for a while, and after about a month of sitting in the garage, it no longer responds to Reverse. In fact, it goes forward in all gears unless it's in Park. So, I decided that it's time to put a 4-speed in her. I did a search on the forum and there are some similar threads, but I could not find one that's specific to my swap. I want to know what model of T-10 Toploader would fit to my 390, or if there's a better option. I wouldn't mind a 5-speed, but I figure a T-10 would be the simplest and most "correct" option. Can someone point me to a thread or something?
Thanks,
Michael

I wouldn't worry so much about "correct", when it comes to a driver, you need to go for 1). what you can afford and 2). what will give you the longest life, greatest reliablity and the least amount amount of trouble. If you got the bucks, the time and the talent - I'd say go for as many gears as you can get. I'd put a 5 speed in it in hot New York minute.

Now back to the hard part and hard parts ... you picked one of the worst cars to make a conversion from auto to manual. Like the other poster said, your choices of swap parts are severly limited. For a factory type swap, you will need a donor car if you have any hope of doing this on a budget. Its your best bet. You can still "get'er done" - using a fabricated pedal, hydralic clutch and liberal application of cash to ease you over the rough spots.

Are you real sure a swap over to a better automatic would not be a better deal? Tje way I figure it - based on my own expereinces, no matter which way you choose, it'll come pretty close to $2,500 to swap to a C-4, C-6; about anouther $500 - $1000 to go with a 4-speed, auto, one with overdrive - you need to start thinking about the price of gas, an overdrive (manual or auto) is a good way to keep up the performance and still get decent gas mileage.... assumeing you use new, performance parts. Unless you can find a cheap donor car, and do most of the work yourself, it'll cost pretty much the same for a stick conversion. Its hard to find parts for "orphan" models like the 65, 66.

You can do it for less, a lot less, but that means more time, more scrounging and a lot more good fortune.

Beoweolf, you've got a good point. I am planning on doing it myself, and not expecting it to happen quickly. I'm definitely on a budget, so that will slow things down even more (read, a college kid's budget (yes, I am in college haha)). It looks like a 4 speed donor car is the best option, but it may be a very difficult one, since I don't think I've ever seen a 4 speed Galaxie in person. But I haven't yet ruled out the idea of a 5 speed from some other Ford product. It might take more fabrication work for mounts, etc, but either option isn't going to be a walk in the park, exactly, unless, like UTRY said, a donor car is found.
Thanks for the input thus far guys!

Mike, you don't need a 4 speed donor car, even a 3 speed will give you everything you need except the tranny, which are not to hard to find.

Originally Posted by AGuyAndAGal

Beoweolf, you've got a good point. I am planning on doing it myself, and not expecting it to happen quickly. I'm definitely on a budget, so that will slow things down even more (read, a college kid's budget (yes, I am in college haha)). It looks like a 4 speed donor car is the best option, but it may be a very difficult one, since I don't think I've ever seen a 4 speed Galaxie in person. But I haven't yet ruled out the idea of a 5 speed from some other Ford product. It might take more fabrication work for mounts, etc, but either option isn't going to be a walk in the park, exactly, unless, like UTRY said, a donor car is found.
Thanks for the input thus far guys!

...Don't spend a lot of time looking for a Galaxie, the chances of finding a decent manual shift, factory 4-speed Galaixe will limit you way too much. What I would keep my eye out for would be a Custom or Custom sedan, with a 3-speed manual shift...maybe even an original factory I-6 or sbf. The clutch pedal and assymbly is the hard thing to find. Under the dash, firewall - all the required holes are in place. At worse, you may have to punch out, remove some blocking plates - usually the factory just covered the holes with rubber plugs.

Assuming you will go with a floor shifter: the biggest headache I had (I converted my first car, a '57 Ford from auto to stick) was cutting the floor for the shifter and unsuccessfully, trying to find a collar to replace the steering wheel automatic, gear selector. Funny how hard it is to find the little, cosmetic things, when you spend most of your time and worrying on big parts. Its the little things, the cleanup, dress-up and fabrication that changes the conversion from "obvious" to a place where people think the car came that way from the factory. Thats the standard I try to shoot for, I figure if its easy for the average guy to see what you changed at a first glance, then you didn't do it right.

Awesome. I'll start searching for 3-speed cars too. Thanks

Its hard to find parts for "orphan" models like the 65, 66.

Why are these the orphans? You're right though, if it's a `63 or a`64, no problem finding stuff.

How much parts-sharing did the Galaxies do with the other models in Ford's lineup in 65-66? i.e., (I'm probably wrong here, but...) a Mustang pedal assembly is not interchangeable is it?
Orphan indeed-I've seen probably 2 65 Galaxies in person in my area!