Toploader

[rsk289]

I'd be really grateful for info regarding toploaders in 289 street cars. I'm building a Kirkham copy of a 2000-series car, using a 5-bolt 289. Rather than try to find a T10, I have decided to fit a toploader. Now, there's a few of these...
Could anyone point me in the direction of some part numbers, dimensions etc. that should work in an original car? I suspect the trans itself is easy enough (dangerous words), but the tailshaft is not so straightforward.
Thanks
Roger

[Clois Harlan]

Here you go:

Toploader ID Chart

[rsk289]

Originally Posted by Clois Harlan

Here you go:

Toploader ID Chart

Yes, I've studied that and other versions, but the 289 Cobra is not listed. I'm assuming it isn't the same as the '65 427, which is.

[Rick Parker]

Roger:

Toploader wasn't installed in 260/289 as OEM. But you probably knew that. Why your aversion to T10?

[blue sky]

Original Mk1 and 2 cars used T10s of the Galaxie design with 28 spline output shaft. This is the long tailhousing with shifter located at the front of the tailhousing. So a toploader of the same model would be direct replacement. I would prefer a close ratio vs. wide ratio given a Cobra's weight but that is what ever you prefer or have available to you. A Tiger/Fairlane toploader will also fit since the shifter is mounted in the same spot but the tail housing is several inches shorter. These transmissions also happen to be harder to locate since there numbers were much less than the others. Obviously a longer drive shaft than original is required with this version.

[rsk289]

I had assumed T10s were very difficult to find - I have seen a T10 advertised as for '63 Falcon, Mercury, Comet - is that the same spec? Shifter mounts look to be at the front of the case.
Is the T10 reliable, tough enough? I suppose for mainly road use it should be OK.
I'm confused with the toploaders (and I guess T10) descriptions. I had thought the Galaxie boxes were big-block only. Is this wrong? Or are big-block and small-block T10/toploader the same?
Thanks for the help, really useful!
Roger

[DanEC]

The gear box portions are pretty much the same other than wide and close ratio and big/little input/ouput. Most of the Toploader differences are in the tailhousing lengths. Gears and the main case are pretty much universal with exception to the input shaft. If a T10 would hold up behind a heavy Galaxie it should have no problem with anything in a Cobra.

[blue sky]

Roger, Do not use either a T10 or toploader from a Falcon. It mounts the shifter further left into the seat whereas the Galaxie and Tiger/Fairlane trans pockets the shifter into the trans closer to the mainshaft. There were Galaxie T10(toploader also I believe which someone else can verify) trans for both big and small block. The difference being the length of the input shaft. Big block input shafts were slightly shorter. Ford made a stepped bushing that fitted into the crank that allowed a big block trans to adapt to a small block. A T10 is a good trans although I don't know how available they are in the UK. They weren't when I lived there. I have been told by racers that they prefer a toploader since the gears are more durable for high ouput and that the design of the main case flexes less due to the opening on the top versus the side. I am not a racer so I assume many will have there own opinion. If you are using a 5 bolt bell housing you most likely would want an early T10 or toploader that only has the narrow bolt pattern on the main case for mounting rather than the later ones that had both wide and narrow patterns on the case. You can PM me with your email address and I can forward some photos. Don't know how to do the on the site. AJ

[Bernica]

If you go the Toploader route, you might want to check out David Kee. He is all about Toploaders....

David Kee Toploader Transmissions, Inc.

[rsk289]

I'm sure he is - but unfortunately he's very difficult to contact!

[Guitardave]

To bad you are not close to Texas. I have a toploader from a Galaxie sitting in my garage waiting for a project like yours.