View Single Post
Old 04-05-2008, 12:11 PM   #3 (permalink)
Run to Rund
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 140
The HD 3 speed, Ford top loader, is named because of the stamped steel top cover plate instead of the side cover with shift levers of the Saginaw/GM unit. The Ford was used from 66-71, and was standard in big cars and 442s during the time period that it was used.
The Ford was very strong, and indeed the top loader 4 speed was tested by Olds engineers and they wanted to use it in 442s, but were stopped by GM management. The Ford designed and built trannies were the strongest and best shifting in their era. Today's Jerico that the NHRA stock and super stock racers use is based on the Ford design.

The ratios of your tranny are 2.42, 1.61, 1.0 forward and 2.33:1 reverse.
Run to Rund is offline   Reply With Quote