Thread: what trans is behind your 302??

I'm going to be putting a 302 into my ranger, and was wondering what would be ideal for an offroad truck. I'm not asking if a manual or auto is better, but which model auto or manual would be best. 4speEd, t5, c4, aod, etc..?

I'm looking at a carbed 302 with a aod with overdrive, but I know nothing about this trans. Is it not an ideal transmission for offroading? Or is it?

Whats your budget?


If I ever build a 302 ranger, it's getting a t-56 behind it.

Not very high Haha. I'm looking to spend around $500 so just something that will do for now I guess

T5 is your only option then. and it won't last very long...


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Didn't Dan vance have a t5 in his truck ?

How is the aod trans?

I havent had much luck with the t5 trans and that was only behind a v6. What I run in my truck is a M5r2 and its holding up amazingly well behind my 347 and that's in a 6500 lb truck. The M5r2 is the trans that came in v6,i6, and 5.0 f150s, Broncos and in the t-bird supercoupe it should be around 500 bucks sierra trucking stocks the 2wd version

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Turbo 400

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With the m5r2 would it required a different bellhousing?

Originally Posted by shaun_kite

Turbo 400

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so the sprag can blow out the side of the case and take your leg out? junk, no thanks.

If you want a 3 speed auto. c6 is THE way to go. they are STRONG. I know a class 8 truck with a 650hp/650lb-ft of torque big block ford that runs a basically stock c6. Only mods are a manual valvebody and upgraded clutches and band.


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Originally Posted by LivinLocal619

With the m5r2 would it required a different bellhousing?

no they came factory behind the 302s

Originally Posted by LivinLocal619

With the m5r2 would it required a different bellhousing?

no, what 84prerunner said..


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I would like to have a 5spd so I'm thinking the m5r2 would be good, but I cant seem t find any on craigslist or anything

www.car-part.com


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Its not very commonly referred to as an M5R2. the general public just calls it a 5spd trans lol. Thomas said sierra bros stocks them....

Haha yeah that makes sense. Were is sierra bros located?

Ive been there before, but cant remember. i want to say it was in fontana.

if i remember right AOD is just a C4 with overdrive, and either one of them can be had for very cheap. They're also both fairly inexpensive to rebuild and can be pretty stout if you have the right parts.

Turbo 400 is a great trans. Reliability is key and you are the only person I have ever heard call them junk. Its almost laughable. As far as blowing up.. I highly doubt my stockish 302 would ever put up enough power for a trans failure. I wonder how many have even blown up?

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Originally Posted by LivinLocal619

With the m5r2 would it required a different bellhousing?

They have a built in bell housing and all those motors used the same bell housing pattern. So it bolts right up to a 5.0 it uses the same master/slave cylinder as the ranger does so it can plug right into the stock ranger clutch petals

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Originally Posted by LivinLocal619

Haha yeah that makes sense. Were is sierra bros located?

They have a couple locations so might want to look them up. If they are out of stock on them it won't be long till they have more. They do a lot of work with the M5r1 ranger trans and M5r2 f150 trans

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Originally Posted by shaun_kite

Turbo 400 is a great trans. Reliability is key and you are the only person I have ever heard call them junk. Its almost laughable. As far as blowing up.. I highly doubt my stockish 302 would ever put up enough power for a trans failure. I wonder how many have even blown up?

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lol, your truck has one and because it's never broke, it's the shit. th400 is an inferior transmission when compared to a c6, end of story. the sprag in the th400 likes to go kaboom. and even the aftermarket sprag in the wazoo TT transmissions don't hold up (as seen in the DA TT at LDC last weekend). And why would one spend all kinds of extra money for the adapter setup to put a chevy th400 behind a ford engine when you can get a far superior ford transmission that bolts right up. I've seen drag cars with ~500-600hp engines scatter a th400, and everyone knows desert racing is much harder on a transmission then drag racing due to repetition and duration. And as noted above, I've seen a basically stock, $1500 c6 live behind a 650hp big block in a class 8 truck. You simply can't do that with a th400.

Yes, I'm biased. I also know my bias is very well backed by things I've seen, been around, and been involved with.

The AOD is not a c4 with an overdrive, they are completely different transmissions.

The AOD is ok in stock form, it should live. If you do break it, you can do lots to it to make it very strong and very reliable. 4r70w internals, 300m input and intermediate shaft, and a valvebody will get it to be about bullet proof behind a mild 302 in an offroad truck..


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Originally Posted by letsgetthisdone

I've seen drag cars with ~500-600hp engines scatter a th400, and everyone knows desert racing is much harder on a transmission then drag racing due to repetition and duration.

Really? My TCI TH400 has been behind my 530 rwhp 3550 lbs Chevelle for the past 6 years of transbrake launches and hasn't blown apart yet.

Originally Posted by 94cobra69ss396

Really? My TCI TH400 has been behind my 530 rwhp 3550 lbs Chevelle for the past 6 years of transbrake launches and hasn't blown apart yet.

do you have a transbrake?


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I spent about an hour out of boredom researching the key differences from a c6 to the th400 last night after I read your comment. The summary is simple..both are good, reliable transmissions with pros and cons to either application. I have had very good luck with mine as many have with theirs. My only real experience with ford transmissions was with the 4r70w and the r100..which IMO are both pieces of shit. Let it be noted that I own 4 Fords, and Ford is all I have ever bought so no bias here..

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4r70w and 4r100 are both good transmissions. The early ones had some issues that were later fixed by ford...


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Originally Posted by letsgetthisdone

4r70w and 4r100 are both good transmissions. The early ones had some issues that were later fixed by ford...


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While my Excursion tranny has not had any problems, I know every friend I have with a Superduty and the R100 has had issues. My friend Jack had to have his rebuilt THREE TIMES in the span of two years by the Ford dealership in Vegas. I suppose it is hit or miss with that one.

The 4R70W is a fucking turd and any transmission builder will tell you that. I have had to get mine rebuilt and was lucky it went as long as it did.

Oh man, I guess the Internet and some third grader trans shop is always right...


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I don't rely on the internet for all my information, nor do I pretend to know everything. I am simply stating my opinion based on personal experience. And it would be third grader trans SHOPS..multiple shops have told me nothing but horror stories about the 4R70W..not just one. But you are right..they are probably all just amateurs.

when I talk to guys like Broader and Underdog Racing, they have only good things to say about the 4r70w. And I have more then a few people putting 700-800hp to the ground through them with no issues...

And what kind of horror stories? I know that working where I do, most people NEVER change their ATF, ever. which will lead to premature failure...


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Needing early rebuilds, never ending overdrive problems, overheating, shuddering.. I am glad you have friends getting such high hp through them with no problems. Let me quote you here..

your friend has one in their car.."and because it's never broke, it's the shit?"

It's all in good fun Sean. I know you are knowledgable in this field. We have different opinions and that is fine.

4r100= fail in stock form.

what id like to know is if the C6 is such an awesome badass unbreakable king of all transmission then why doesnt any of the big names run one? almost everyone runs a th400.

Originally Posted by 84prerunner

4r100= fail in stock form.

what id like to know is if the C6 is such an awesome badass unbreakable king of all transmission then why doesnt any of the big names run one? almost everyone runs a th400.

The TT trans builders answered this on RDC after the unfortunate accident in the DA truck. Basially, they just couldn't make them work with the amount of HP needed to win a race. Info here: Transmission Scatter Shields/Blankets Discussion

OD and shuddering problems are an easy fix if you take the trans to someone who knows the little tricks to fix them. All it takes is some minor changes to the separator plate. overheating and premature rebuilds go hand in hand, especially if the fluid isn't changed regularly.

You also have to remember, an auto trans is a consumable just like a clutch for a manual transmission, since the thing that makes an auto work are clutches. So the hard they're driven and the worse they're treated, the shorter their life is. And keeping them cool, and the fluid in good condition is important to making them last..


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Originally Posted by 84prerunner

4r100= fail in stock form.

what id like to know is if the C6 is such an awesome badass unbreakable king of all transmission then why doesnt any of the big names run one? almost everyone runs a th400.

because when you call the big name offroad trans builders, all they build are th400's. so that's what everyone assumes is the best..


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Originally Posted by shaun_kite

The TT trans builders answered this on RDC after the unfortunate accident in the DA truck. Basially, they just couldn't make them work with the amount of HP needed to win a race. Info here: Transmission Scatter Shields/Blankets Discussion

Broader would disagree with that statement. I'm not sure how they're not viable. A basically stock one can live in a 650hp 8 truck with 37's. another 150hp and 39' should easily be handled with upgraded hard parts..


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Originally Posted by letsgetthisdone

do you have a transbrake?


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Yes.

Originally Posted by 94cobra69ss396

Yes.

good luck? or the cars I've seen had bad luck? or more passes on the trans? idk....


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I have 6 years of racing on mine.

I dunno mang


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hmm maybe they arent as bad as you make them out to be? your posts always make everything so black and white. If it isnt the best in your opinion then its shit. im sure there are hundreds of TH400s out there that have never had an issue even when being abused. im also sure there have been plenty of C6s that have bit the dust long before they should have.