I love a the 4 speed in my Galaxie and always pay more attention to manual transmission cars at car shows. There are so many auto cars that when I see one after the other my eyes start to glaze over a little. Akin to another SBC in a hot rod. My opinion might be a little different if I didn't live in the flatlands of Indiana. Boston or San Francisco would get tiresome.

Put some more carburetors on it too (3x2, 2x4, etc.).

Pat

 

I love a the 4 speed in my Galaxie and always pay more attention to manual transmission cars at car shows.

Put some more carburetors on it too (3x2, 2x4, etc.).

Pat

I agree. I don't really go to car shows unless l just stumble across one... I've never entered one.
If a guy's doing an engine swap, saaayyy... and LS or a SBC into a platform that never came with that engine... ? Oh yeah, do what it takes to get it out on the road... an auto trans is way simpler... it's what I'd do too.

I was just outside messing with my single 4 bbl 352... I've got my hands full with ONE, I don't even want to mess around with two, much less three. I've done multi- carb setups on motorcycles and dang near pulled my hair out getting them sync'd up and running "kinda-sorta" close to correct, but never quite right... the last 10% has always eluded me.

If l was pouring money into this car, there might be some sort of slipper clutch or Jericho-type of transmission to help harness the power... but I'm not. I'm working on a 400-450 hp 390 that would be an embarrassment at any kind of "drag and drive" event... MAYBE high 13 second quarters, probably low 14s. That's all cool with me because I'm not building this car for clout or to get smooches from YouTubers. They talk a lot and some are actually fun to watch, but they also make their entire existence based around their YT channels, keeping the algorithm and sponsors happy.

I went off in a weird direction there.... back to the show...!

A solid 14-sec car that does burnouts at will and is FUN to drive?
Yep, that's where I'm at.

 

1 - It's not mine, so it does not matter what I prefer. 2 - If you're not going to do it now with this one, when will you? 3 - If you're still thinking about it enough to ask, then it will bug you forever if you don't, and nobody else is going want to hear the whining. Have pity on us and just go for it.

 

This was purely out of curiosity.

I'm not undecided or looking for validation or a consensus... the opinions expressed here have no bearing on my decision, it's already been made.

Finding the parts to make it all work have the largest impact... pretty much dictate the entirety of the process.

 

Hot rods have three pedals.

 

End

Of

Story

😝

 

332-428 Ford FE Engine Forum-1965 GALAXIE 4 SPD CHANGE OVER PARTS

1965 Galaxie 4 speed change over parts. Pedals, z bar, frame bracket, clutch spring, upper clutch rod. $450. Will ship on your dime. Z bar, frame brac

www.fordfe.com

 

Easy, buddy, we're all just havin' a good chat, right? A "thanks, but up-yours" isn't where I was going with that. I guess I triggered something, and I apologize if you took it poorly.

 

Easy, buddy, we're all just havin' a good chat, right? A "thanks, but up-yours" isn't where I was going with that. I guess I triggered something, and I apologize if you took it poorly.

LOL!! That's like an "apology" from my ex-wife.

There may be a common denominator for people getting offended....just sayin... 😉

 

I'd love to put a TKX behind my 390, but my cousin has convinced me to just go for a old ZF 5 from a late 80s early 90s F series so I can hopefully not need some wierd in between computer to keep the factory speedometer working.

 

Does your cousin know that there's no ZF5 with an FE compatible bolt pattern?

You might be able to get an adapter plate made, or maybe there's one available since FE engines were a mainstay of the truck line until the end (1976), buuuut... the ZF5 is a truck transmission. They come with wide or close ratio gearing, neither of which is entirely suitable for a car, imo.
They're mostly found in the heavier F250s and up with the diesel or 460 gas engines. It took me a couple of years to find a small bolt pattern (300, 302, 351W) 4x4 model for my '85 F150. That rarity is also dependant on your region... up here in the PNW they're hard to come by, it may be the exact opposite where you live.

Also, the ZF5 (and ZF6) transmissions are pretty large physically. I can't do it today, but if you'd like l can take a couple of comparison pics of the ZF5 and a typical Toploader 4-speed this weekend... the size difference and the amount of floor cutting necessary to make it fit might change your mind.
The cost of the things might change your mind too, if you haven't already price checked them.

The one l got came from a '94 pickup and came with a computer... l don't know what it does since the earlier models have a regular speedometer cable, but l know l won't be using it.

 

Keep in-mind an "OD" trans is just a spread-ratio with a 'normal' rear gear. You could use a close-ratio ZF5 with a factory 2.47 rear gear for highway in 1:1 5th, giving an equivalent ±3.5 trans first gear with the 2.47 for launch. This is reasonably close to other OD transmissions, using a 3.35 1st with a 3.5 rear ratio and 0.7:1 5th... if you see what I mean. 🤷‍♂️ Adjust the spread with rear ratio to get your "OD" and 1st gear.

 

I'm in the same boat, wanting a manual in my '64 Galaxie 500 XL, but if I pull the trigger I'll probably go with a 5 speed (or 6? hmm). One of the very few times I'm glad I ended up with the 289, I guess.
That all said, I have a bad habit of pulling apart a car to fix something up, and then years later it's still not back together because of lack of time or WYAIT stuff. So whatever I decide, I'm going to enjoy it with an automatic for a while before I pull it apart, and in the meantime, keep my eyes open for a deal on a 3 pedal setup and a T5 with a 289 bolt pattern.