aight so i guess i have a busted tcase in the 88 f150 so what do i do... dig up another project, duh!
anyway i have a 65 f100 with a 352, 3 on the tree, i would like to find a OD manual trans for it... i have a tranny out of my early 80's f150 but it is 4x4 and not sure i can make it work. plus not sure if it will hold up to the twisting power of the ole big block. it is one of those aluminum cased top loader 3+OD. any ideas? i think i can get a T5 to work but then i hafta get a custom bell housing and all that stuff and i dont want to spent much $$$$$$$$

 

maybe one of those 5 or 6 speeds out of an old 2 tons?

 

As you have already figured out, the problem is the bellhousing. The FE is unique in its design. I don't think you are going to find a "cheap" five speed to replace this. I had one of those aluminum ODs you are talking about and I put it through hell with my 302 and 39.5" Swampers and finally ended up breaking the ears off the case where the trans mount goes. And no, the 4x4 will not work in a 2wd. If I were you, I would put in a 4spd granny out of any older 2wd Ford. Borg Warner T18, or New Process 437 (I think that is the number) Even then, these are 2 or 4wd dependent. Or if you could come across an old 4spd toploader out of a car would work, as long as you don't speed shift it. Take into consideration that you may need to alter your driveshaft. Good luck.

By the way, I have an 88 Bronco T-case. It has a round bolt on flange on the rear of the case for the rear driveshaft.

 

i have a slip yoke on the 88 or i would take you up on that.(i found one for 250 locally)
yes i have come to the realization that the bolt pattern on the fe is the problem area, the dive shaft shortnig wouldnt be a big cost but yes another cost indeed. i might just leave it on the coulmn and go with a high rear end gear so i can run 70mph without problems..or a 2speed rear end?!?

 

Don't condemn the truck. Just open your options. By the way, the New Process is a 435. Remembered that earlier today. 250 ain't bad, I paid 350 for a t case to fit a 92 F150 from a junkyard.

 

neither truck is condemed s/p? is there no way to put a tailshaft housing on a 4x4 tranny to work with a 2wd? cuz i have a toploader 3spd+od in my carport! but as stated its for a 4x4. and by the way the 95 tcase is the same as the one i need so i guess 250 aint bad and i should grab it before its gone.

 

The problem is not with the housing, it is with the length of the output shaft. You would have to take the trans apart, and replace the output shaft with one from a 2wd unit, then install the housing. But if you have a 2wd trans, why are you gonna take apart a 4wd trans?

 

the t5 will not survive behind a 352,
bigbronc is telling you straight and you ahve to ensure the input shaft will work with an FE clutch, I have yet to see a 5 speed behind a FE engine but I'm sure it's possible

check out fordtruk.com (slick 60's)

 

so really a non overdrive toploader is my best option for it. or my only reasonable option.

 

That or a granny gear four speed. Not many options for an FE motor these days.

 

If I'm thinking right they made an overdrive that bolts onto the back of the 3 speeds. Not sure if they make one for the 4 speeds. My grandpa's 69 with 360 and the 3 speed had a **** under the dash that you pulled once you got going.

 

A Tremec 3550 or TKO has the same bolt pattern as a toploader so it should fit an FE bellhousing. Don't know about the input shaft geometry though, but that should be doable with a different clutch disc and possibly an adapter bushing. You'd need to talk to a Tremec vendor to work out all the bits and pieces.

The bad news is that Tremecs aren't cheap