A Toploader transmission is a manually shifted gearbox design built in three-speed and four-speed configurations, introduced in 1963 by the Ford Motor Company to replace the BorgWarner T-10. It was used in most Fords and Mercurys from 1964 until 1973, as well as in some foreign models, and is officially designated the 3.03 three speed or Ford design four speed. The designation 3.03 is the centerline distance between counter shaft and mainshaft. The Toploader got its name from the fact that the access plate to the inner workings was located on the top of the main case, as opposed to side access on most gearboxes it would be compared with, such as the Ford Dagenham or GM's Saginaw or Muncie. Distinguishing the three speed from the four is as simple as counting the fasteners on the top plate: the four speed has ten fasteners; the three, nine. Both the three and four speed top loader gearboxes were designed to function in constant mesh, due to synchronizer sleeves being used instead of sliding gears, and be fully synchronized, with the exception of reverse. Forward gears are helical-type, while reverse gear and the exterior of the first and second synchronizers sleeve are spur-type gears. This transmission is also known as the Tremec T-170, HEH, or RUG depending on the year(s) of production.[1] At some point in the early 1970s production of this transmission was moved to Mexico, and the name was changed to Tremec.
Renowned for high-performance strength and durability, the Toploader (particularly the four-speed) equipped such sought after "A-list" cars as the Mustang, Talladega, AC Cobra, AC Frua and Sunbeam Tiger as well as the Ford Fairlane, Falcon, Galaxie, Ranchero, Torino, Bronco and the Mercury Comet, Caliente, Cyclone, (Mercury Cougar 1967 1973) and Marauder. Overall, the Toploader was used in 133 different models, and was used extensively in racing as well. The 3 speed 3.03 was also the heavy duty transmission in 1960s Oldsmobile, Buick and Pontiac cars, with FOMOCO cast into the right side of the case; sourcing parts from competitors was common practice in those days, as Lincoln used GM's Hydra-Matic transmission for years in the early 1950s. The Jeep T150 transmission is a Toploader with the addition of a cast top cover and a floor ("cane") shifter.
Specifications
Top and side view, with Hurst shifter.
The Toploader comprises two components: the main case, which encloses the gears, input and counter shaft, and the tailhousing, which encloses the speedometer gear and output shaft. The main case measures 12" in length, while the tailhousing measures 14", 14 1⁄2" or 17", depending on the application.
Shifter bosses are cast into the tailhousing along various points depending on the location of the shifter, as required for each model. Generally Falcons and Comets have shifters mounted forward along the housing, Mustangs rearward, and Fairlanes and full size Fords somewhere in between. Toploaders were also designed for two specific applications: small blocks like the Ford Windsor engine, and big blocks like the Ford FE engine and Ford 385 engine series. Some big blocks required a larger "input shaft" to withstand the torque.
Toploader 4 speed
Application
Engine used (cid)
Toploader Length
Input shaft OD
Splines, input
Splines, output
Cougar
289, 302, 351
26"
1 1⁄16"
10
28
Falcon, Comet
170, 200, 260, 289
26"
1 1⁄16"
10
28
Fairlane 1964-65
170, 200, 260, 289
25 1⁄2"
1 1⁄16"
10
28
Fairlane 1967-68
200, 289, 390
26"
1 1⁄16"
10
28
Maverick
200, 250, 302
26"
1 1⁄16"
10
28
Mustang 1964-73
170, 200, 289
26"
1 1⁄16"
10
28
Ranchero 1967-68
200, 289, 390
26"
1 1⁄16"
10
28
Tiger, TVR
260, 289
27 1⁄2"
1 1⁄16"
10
28
Fords, Mercurys
200, 289, 390
29"
1 1⁄16"
10
28
Ranchero 1969 up
302,351C, 428, 429
29"
1 3⁄8"
10
31
Fords, Mercurys
428, 429, Boss
29"
1 3⁄8"
10
31
Mustang 1968 up
427, 428, Boss
26"
1 3⁄8"
10
31
Note: 1964 and early 1965 Toploaders came with 25-spline output shafts which subsequently proved to be defective and were quickly replaced.
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A Toploader transmission is a manually shifted gearbox design built in three speed and four speed configurations introduced in 1963 by the Ford Motor Company to replace the BorgWarner T 10 It was used in most Fords and Mercurys from 1964 until 1973 as well as in some foreign models and is officially designated the 3 03 three speed or Ford design four speed The designation 3 03 is the centerline distance between counter shaft and mainshaft The Toploader got its name from the fact that the access plate to the inner workings was located on the top of the main case as opposed to side access on most gearboxes it would be compared with such as the Ford Dagenham or GM s Saginaw or Muncie Distinguishing the three speed from the four is as simple as counting the fasteners on the top plate the four speed has ten fasteners the three nine Both the three and four speed top loader gearboxes were designed to function in constant mesh due to synchronizer sleeves being used instead of sliding gears and be fully synchronized with the exception of reverse Forward gears are helical type while reverse gear and the exterior of the first and second synchronizers sleeve are spur type gears This transmission is also known as the Tremec T 170 HEH or RUG depending on the year s of production 1 At some point in the early 1970s production of this transmission was moved to Mexico and the name was changed to Tremec Toploader TransmissionOverviewType3 or 4 speed manualManufacturerFord Motor CompanyAlso calledFord Design 4 Speed3 03Top LoaderProduction1964 1973ChronologyPredecessorBorg Warner T 10Dagenham 4 speed Contents 1 Applications 2 Specifications 3 Gear Ratios 4 References 5 External linksApplications EditRenowned for high performance strength and durability the Toploader particularly the four speed equipped such sought after A list cars as the Mustang Talladega AC Cobra AC Frua and Sunbeam Tiger as well as the Ford Fairlane Falcon Galaxie Ranchero Torino Bronco and the Mercury Comet Caliente Cyclone Mercury Cougar 1967 1973 and Marauder Overall the Toploader was used in 133 different models and was used extensively in racing as well The 3 speed 3 03 was also the heavy duty transmission in 1960s Oldsmobile Buick and Pontiac cars with FOMOCO cast into the right side of the case sourcing parts from competitors was common practice in those days as Lincoln used GM s Hydra Matic transmission for years in the early 1950s The Jeep T150 transmission is a Toploader with the addition of a cast top cover and a floor cane shifter Specifications Edit Top and side view with Hurst shifter The Toploader comprises two components the main case which encloses the gears input and counter shaft and the tailhousing which encloses the speedometer gear and output shaft The main case measures 12 in length while the tailhousing measures 14 14 1 2 or 17 depending on the application Shifter bosses are cast into the tailhousing along various points depending on the location of the shifter as required for each model Generally Falcons and Comets have shifters mounted forward along the housing Mustangs rearward and Fairlanes and full size Fords somewhere in between Toploaders were also designed for two specific applications small blocks like the Ford Windsor engine and big blocks like the Ford FE engine and Ford 385 engine series Some big blocks required a larger input shaft to withstand the torque Toploader 4 speed Application Engine used cid Toploader Length Input shaft OD Splines input Splines outputCougar 289 302 351 26 1 1 16 10 28Falcon Comet 170 200 260 289 26 1 1 16 10 28Fairlane 1964 65 170 200 260 289 25 1 2 1 1 16 10 28Fairlane 1967 68 200 289 390 26 1 1 16 10 28Maverick 200 250 302 26 1 1 16 10 28Mustang 1964 73 170 200 289 26 1 1 16 10 28Ranchero 1967 68 200 289 390 26 1 1 16 10 28Tiger TVR 260 289 27 1 2 1 1 16 10 28Fords Mercurys 200 289 390 29 1 1 16 10 28Ranchero 1969 up 302 351C 428 429 29 1 3 8 10 31Fords Mercurys 428 429 Boss 29 1 3 8 10 31Mustang 1968 up 427 428 Boss 26 1 3 8 10 31Note 1964 and early 1965 Toploaders came with 25 spline output shafts which subsequently proved to be defective and were quickly replaced Gear Ratios EditToploader 3 speed Close 2 1st 2nd 3rdRatio 2 42 1 61 1 00Toploader 3 speed Wide 1st 2nd 3rdRatio 2 99 1 75 1 00Toploader 4 speed Close 1st 2nd 3rd 4thRatio 2 32 1 69 1 29 1 00Tooth Count 32 28 25 23Counter Gear Tooth Count 15 18 21 25Toploader 4 speed Wide 1st 2nd 3rd 4thRatio 2 78 1 93 1 36 1 00Tooth Count 32 31 25 23Counter Gear Tooth Count 15 21 24 30Note Gear ratio is determined by tooth count on second gear Close ratio has 28 teeth wide has 31 References Edit O Clair Jim February 2007 Ford Toploader Four speed Transmission Hemmings Motor News Retrieved 2010 01 02 FORD FINAL DRIVE RATIOS Gear Vendors Retrieved 2021 06 15 External links EditWebsite on the Toploader 4 speeds Mustang Monthly How to Rebuild a Toploader Four Speed http www tbtrans com ford toploader 4 speed trans htm Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ford Toploader transmission amp oldid 1078979973, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
