Posted by Ed Trethewey on Friday, July 13, 2001 at 4:32PM :
In Reply to: Re: AA Ranger OD with NP 435D4 posted by Russ Roth on Friday, July 13, 2001 at 3:14PM :
The 7-1/2" setback of the 4-spd gearshift lever caused by the OD box put the shift tower about an inch further back toward the seat.
Newer floor shift trucks of all makes have basically a straight lever, with minimal bends, unlike the long and whippy curved levers that came out of the trans underneath the dash.
I heated the 4-spd lever up, and straightened it, then whacked 7" of length from it, and bent it 15* toward the driver.
I think (now that I'm driving it) that I'll bend it 15* toward the rear about 10" down from the knob so I won't have such a long reach when going up into Low or Third.
I rebent the AA lever some, too, so when it is pulled back into Direct so the two levers line up side to side when the 4-spd. is in Second or High.
I'm with ya on that 435--that is one quality piece of work. While I had it apart, I took the opportunity to replace the 3-4 synchro and dress some of the teeth slightly. That thing is smooth, smooth! The '78 service manual shows Ford using a 542 5-spd. that year, and internally its basically a 435 with another gear.
Hmmm...A Granny low and then four close-ratio gears, + an OD...I'm having some evil thoughts...
Ed
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