F150 top loader to 59ab adapter anyone?

31blackcoupe

31blackcoupe

Senior Member
Just removed my 4 banger which ran great with this F150 top loader overdrive transmission that was in the car when I bought it. I am now in the process of putting in a 1948 59ab Flathead V8. Does anyone know of an adapter solution and/or parts supplier to make this trans fit the V8 motor? Any help would be appreciated. The torque tube has been shortened as well as the rear radius rods. The stock cross member is untouched and still in the original location. I have already converted to hydro brakes. The trans is mid 1980's from a light duty truck from what I can gather. Sometimes referred to as a T170FT Tremec (I think).
Thanks!
 
I do believe that the 4-speed truck half bell of the late 40s & early 50s (known as the hogs head) can be used for most Borg Warner and Tremec pattern bolt ups. The T-170 RTS model is usually the transmission of choice since it has very good ratios if you get the right one. I think the adapters for the T-5 will also work and I think several are available made from cast aluminum.
 
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Isn't this a Ford style bolt pattern, and not the "H" style pattern like the T5s? I seem to remember several threads on the HAMB about using this trans - not sure with a 59 ab though. Go over to that forum and do a search. Ivan sure you will find what you are looking for there.

I don't believe the old hogs head will work only because that was for an 8ba motor with no integral bellhousing - again, the Hamb us your best bet for info on this setup ....
 
I have this exact swap. I got my adaptor, clutch, and throwout bearing here. He ships overseas. www.macsspeed.com
The website seems to be down at the moment, but they're on Facebook. Their products are top notch, and the dollar is really in your favour at present. On Facebook they are Mac's Speed Shop, and they're in Whitford, Auckland.
 
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31blackcoupe said:
Just removed my 4 banger which ran great with this F150 top loader overdrive transmission that was in the car when I bought it. I am now in the process of putting in a 1948 59ab Flathead V8. Does anyone know of an adapter solution and/or parts supplier to make this trans fit the V8 motor? Any help would be appreciated. The torque tube has been shortened as well as the rear radius rods. The stock cross member is untouched and still in the original location. I have already converted to hydro brakes. The trans is mid 1980's from a light duty truck from what I can gather. Sometimes referred to as a T170FT Tremec (I think).
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Model Engineering/just 32 makes one for a Ford top loader 4 speed which i believe is the same bolt pattern as the trans you are referring to. I have one that I haven't installed yet and if you'd like I'll post some photos. Excellent quality and good people to deal with. Their web site isn't the best but give them a phone call, well worth it. 330-644-3450
http://modelengineeringco.com/
 
TomT/Williamsburg said:
I don't believe the old hogs head will work only because that was for an 8ba motor with no integral bellhousing - again, the Hamb us your best bet for info on this setup ....
Click to expand...

The hogshead is what you need for a 59a block, on the 8ba block you would need the addition bell adapter.

The hogshead can be used to adapt about anything, just depends if you are wanting to go to the effort.
 

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51504bat said:
Model Engineering/just 32 makes one for a Ford top loader 4 speed which i believe is the same bolt pattern as the trans you are referring to. I have one that I haven't installed yet and if you'd like I'll post some photos. Excellent quality and good people to deal with. Their web site isn't the best but give them a phone call, well worth it. 330-644-3450
http://modelengineeringco.com/
Click to expand...

This is what you want.
 
Thanks Tom,
I have the hogs head for the T-5 and the bolt pattern on the trans is too wide by +/- 2". Gotta find something else
 
31blackcoupe said:
Thanks Tom,
I have the hogs head for the T-5 and the bolt pattern on the trans is too wide by +/- 2". Gotta find something else
Click to expand...

Just curious, which bolt pattern is too wide, the Ford 4-speed? Not sure why that would matter, it would most likely require an adapter plate anyway.
 
JSeery said:
The hogshead is what you need for a 59a block, on the 8ba block you would need the addition bell adapter.

The hogshead can be used to adapt about anything, just depends if you are wanting to go to the effort.
Click to expand...

The RTS trans will bolt directly to an 8BA bellhousing. Most of those transmission have both the wide and early narrow bolt pattern. The narrow one is what you want.
 
Camaro T5s and T5s for Fords use a different bolt pattern than the S10 "H" T5 bolt pattern. I got an adapter from Cornhusker who sells both the Ford/Camaro and S10 bolt patterns. I bought the Ford pattern for my T5Z ****** in my 32 5-window project .... I do believe your ****** has the Camaro/Ford bolt pattern ..... am I correct flatjack9?
 
flatjack9 said:
The RTS trans will bolt directly to an 8BA bellhousing. Most of those transmission have both the wide and early narrow bolt pattern. The narrow one is what you want.
Click to expand...

Assume your referring to the one piece bellhousing as opposed to the hogshead, correct? I know O'Ron has adapted later transmissions to the one piece steel bellhousing, I have never use one, but I work with 59a blocks!:)
 
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TomT/Williamsburg said:
Camaro T5s and T5s for Fords use a different bolt pattern than the S10 "H" T5 bolt pattern. I got an adapter from Cornhusker who sells both the Ford/Camaro and S10 bolt patterns. I bought the Ford pattern for my T5Z ****** in my 32 5-window project .... I do believe your ****** has the Camaro/Ford bolt pattern ..... am I correct flatjack9?
Click to expand...

Off topic: Tom, that is the setup I have (T5z) except I fab'd my own adapter plate and used a hogshead. What rear gears are you running? I'm using 4:11, but it's a quickchange so can be about anything I want it to be.
 
Guys, guys, guys..... the word T5 was not mentioned in the OPs post.
OP... if you still have a torque tube rear and you want to keep it, you will have to do this to the trans....
 
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