Toploader Transmission
A Toploader transmission is a manually shifted three and four speed gearbox introduced in 1964 by
Ford Motor Company to replace the
BorgWarner T-10. It was used in most Fords and Mercurys from 1964 until 1973 as well as some foreign models. Officially designated the
3.03 three speed or
Ford design four speed, 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 the side, a convention used on most gearboxes such as the Ford Dagenham or GMs 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; the three, nine. By 1967 both the three and four speed 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 sleeves are spur-type gears.
Renowned for high-performance indestructibility, the Toploader, particularly the four speed, was equipped in such sought after "A-list" cars as the
Mustang,
Talladega and
AC Cobra as well as the
Ford Fairlane,
Falcon,
Galaxie,
Ranchero,
Torino and the
Mercury Comet,
Caliente,
Cyclone and
Marauder. Overall the Toploader was used in 133 different models.
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 289 and 390, and big blocks like the Cobra and Boss. Big blocks required a larger "input shaft" to withstand the torque.
Toploader 4 speed| Application | Engine used (cid) | Toploader Length | Imput 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 | 27 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 | 200, 289 | 26" | 1 1/16" | 10 | 28 |
| Ranchero 1967-68 | 200, 289, 390 | 26" | 1 1/16" | 10 | 28 |
| Tiger, TVR | 289 | 27 1/2" | 1 1/16" | 10 | 28 |
| Fords, Mercurys | 200, 289, 390 | 29" | 1 1/16" | 10 | 28 |
| Ranchero 1969 up | 302, 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 susequently proved to be defective and were quickly replaced.
Toploader 4 speed| Close | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | | Ratio | 2.32 | 1.69 | 1.29 | 1.0 |
| Tooth Count | 32 | 28 | 25 | 23 |
| Counter Gear Tooth Count | 15 | 18 | 21 | 25 |
| Wide | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| Ratio | 2.78 | 1.93 | 1.36 | 1.0 |
| Tooth Count | 32 | 31 | 25 | 23 |
| Counter Gear Tooth Count | 15 | 21 | 24 | 30 |
Note: Gear ratio is determined by tooth count on second gear.Close ratio has 28 teeth, wide has 31.
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Manual transmission*
David Kee Toploader Transmissions, Inc. The foremost authority on the Toploader
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Gearzone.net The Toploader 4 Speed Transmission
