Toploader 4 speed VS FMX auto

Metal396 · 03-06-2003, 09:00 PM

What do you guys think i should do as far as gearing in my mustang? Put in a Toploader 4 speed tranny, and 3.80:1(or close) limited slip gears... Or Get a shift kit and 2500 stall in my FMX with some 3.25:1 limited slip rear end?

I love shifting manual transmissions but yeah in everyday driving and traffic autos can be less exhausting. Plus to me it kinda seems like when having a big heavy muscle car , autos are the best shifting choice. And in lighter smaller v8 muscle cars or other domestics, manual trannies work out much better.

One of the things id love about having a toploader 4 speed or 5 speed, is theyre generally lighter weight than an auto, and if i have a 5 speed, i have more capability for better gas mileage... But i need some second oppinions cause i cant make up my mind hehehe. Thanks for your help.

joinrdie · 03-06-2003, 09:20 PM

If I was you, I think I would save up for a C6, but as long as there's nothing wrong with your FMX, go ahead and get the gears and posi first. You can buy a brand new C6 from TCI for about 800 bucks through Jegs. Then you can get a combination detent/ratchet shifter and have the best of both worlds.

Rev · 03-06-2003, 09:42 PM

I like my C-4, but without a manual valve body, I can't always select the gear when I want to. Otherwise, I like it.

Rev

Dark Knight · 03-08-2003, 09:13 AM

I broke my old FMX... in 2 pieces... a toploader is goin to be about as heavy as the FMX.. a C-4 will be way lighter..

what about a tremec or a built AOD?

mustangman65_79 · 03-08-2003, 10:22 AM

Well, to make things easier for u, I have a T-4 Tranny with only 2,000 miles on it for sale of a price of $500. I spent $1200 rebuilding it, then the motor blew, but insted of using it again, I just used my T-5

trevor'72 · 03-11-2003, 01:59 PM

Toploaders are very very very cool!!!!!!!! And will handle nearly 400 ft/lbs of torque the way they come. No they aren't even close to as heavy as an FMX trany. I don't want to put you down but FMX trannies are junk. They are realy heavy and don't stand up to abuse. They are not that easy to find any more so you might be able to sell it for a pretty penny if is 100% original to a guy retoring his car. I agree with "joinrdie". The auto tranny of choice is the C6. Strong reliable, tones or parts heavier than C4 but much lighter that FMX.

If it were me I'd put in a toploader, but finding the parts for that would be like finding a needle in a thousand haystacks!

But if you can find the parts, there's nothing like riping gears curtosy of a hurst competition shifter. Be sides what wlse lets you chirp the tires in all 4 gears with a torquy 2v cleveland, mine does so with possi too.

Dark Knight · 03-16-2003, 10:00 AM

actually, toploader parts arent that hard to find..toploader4speed.com sells complete transmissions..

here too
http://www.toploaderheaven.com/

03-06-2003, 09:00 PM	#1
Metal396 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 109	Toploader 4 speed VS FMX auto What do you guys think i should do as far as gearing in my mustang? Put in a Toploader 4 speed tranny, and 3.80:1(or close) limited slip gears... Or Get a shift kit and 2500 stall in my FMX with some 3.25:1 limited slip rear end? I love shifting manual transmissions but yeah in everyday driving and traffic autos can be less exhausting. Plus to me it kinda seems like when having a big heavy muscle car , autos are the best shifting choice. And in lighter smaller v8 muscle cars or other domestics, manual trannies work out much better. One of the things id love about having a toploader 4 speed or 5 speed, is theyre generally lighter weight than an auto, and if i have a 5 speed, i have more capability for better gas mileage... But i need some second oppinions cause i cant make up my mind hehehe. Thanks for your help. __________________ 1973 Mustang Coupe 351 cleveland 2v heads Edelbrock Performer Intake, Holley 600cfm carb Hooker Headers, 2.5 inch pipes, Magnaflow X-pipe, Flowmaster 2 chamber mufflers with turndowns. Stock Fmx tranny and 2.75 rear end My website:http://www.geocities.com/spddemontc User Rides Index: http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/...splay.cgi?2541

03-06-2003, 09:20 PM	#2
joinrdie Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Aurora/Boulder, CO Posts: 57	If I was you, I think I would save up for a C6, but as long as there's nothing wrong with your FMX, go ahead and get the gears and posi first. You can buy a brand new C6 from TCI for about 800 bucks through Jegs. Then you can get a combination detent/ratchet shifter and have the best of both worlds. __________________ '73 Mach 1 351C+.030" 2V, FMX Holley 750, Edelbrock, Hedman, Lunati Cam http://www.mach-sr1.org

03-06-2003, 09:42 PM	#3
Rev Registered Member Join Date: Nov 1998 Location: Houston, Tx. Posts: 3,887	Lke my C-4 I like my C-4, but without a manual valve body, I can't always select the gear when I want to. Otherwise, I like it. Rev __________________ '66 Coupe, 306, 350-375 HP, C-4, 13.07 e.t., 104.8 mph, 1/4 mi. O.B.C. #2 '66 coupe

03-08-2003, 09:13 AM	#4
Dark Knight Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Az Posts: 854	I broke my old FMX... in 2 pieces... a toploader is goin to be about as heavy as the FMX.. a C-4 will be way lighter.. what about a tremec or a built AOD? __________________ 84 convt,roller 302,AFR's, performer 3.55's, underdrives BBK shorties stock cam, 1.7's 13.58@102.84 and a '68 stang .. project 8 sec street car... 557 big block + N20 :-) http://members.cox.net/darkknight302/68nwrear.jpg

03-08-2003, 10:22 AM	#5
mustangman65_79 My poor 79 RIP Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Suisun City, Posts: 2,320	Well, to make things easier for u, I have a T-4 Tranny with only 2,000 miles on it for sale of a price of $500. I spent $1200 rebuilding it, then the motor blew, but insted of using it again, I just used my T-5 __________________ '84 mustang GT turbo '85 LTD '89 Camaro Irocz z28 '94 Lightning '96 Trans am

03-11-2003, 01:59 PM	#6
trevor'72 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 35	trannys Toploaders are very very very cool!!!!!!!! And will handle nearly 400 ft/lbs of torque the way they come. No they aren't even close to as heavy as an FMX trany. I don't want to put you down but FMX trannies are junk. They are realy heavy and don't stand up to abuse. They are not that easy to find any more so you might be able to sell it for a pretty penny if is 100% original to a guy retoring his car. I agree with "joinrdie". The auto tranny of choice is the C6. Strong reliable, tones or parts heavier than C4 but much lighter that FMX. If it were me I'd put in a toploader, but finding the parts for that would be like finding a needle in a thousand haystacks! But if you can find the parts, there's nothing like riping gears curtosy of a hurst competition shifter. Be sides what wlse lets you chirp the tires in all 4 gears with a torquy 2v cleveland, mine does so with possi too.

03-16-2003, 10:00 AM	#7
Dark Knight Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Az Posts: 854	actually, toploader parts arent that hard to find..toploader4speed.com sells complete transmissions.. here too http://www.toploaderheaven.com/ __________________ 84 convt,roller 302,AFR's, performer 3.55's, underdrives BBK shorties stock cam, 1.7's 13.58@102.84 and a '68 stang .. project 8 sec street car... 557 big block + N20 :-) http://members.cox.net/darkknight302/68nwrear.jpg

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