400ci and trannies

ssiimmss · 10-26-2008, 03:45 PM

I've got an 81 f250 camper special with a 400ci and a 4 spd manual trans. mostly stock. It shifts like poop (long, hard shifts) and needs a throw out bearing. If I were to replace my transmission (either auto or man) would the donor have to be from a 400ci or can i snag one from a 351, 390, 460? Is it worth it or are the other **** as well?

cburcham73 · 10-27-2008, 09:41 AM

your saying it has long and hard shifts? huh???it should only shift hard if you dump the clutch pedal.i would keep the 4spd, change out the clutch,pressure plate and throwout bearing. as for the swap,i think the 351{m} is an odd ball by itself ,360,390,460 are the same. as for your 400 dont know.

75K30 · 10-27-2008, 10:05 AM

Welcome to the site;

You are dealing with three different engines here.

These would be the FE / FT engines, and these were the 332, 352, 360, 390, 406, 410, 427, and 428. These have thier own bellhousing, so none of these have anything in common with other engine series. The FE flywheels will fit the 385 series engine, and it will require a little work to manage to fit the larger clutch if this swap is what you are looking for, but this is getting heavy on the technical side.

Next is the 335 series engine, and these incude the 351M the 400, and the 351C.
These do share the same bellhousing pattern as the 385 series, but thats all. Flywheels do not interchange.

Last on mentioned is the 385 series, this includes the 370 (oddball, and why it is mistaken for the 390, not by looks, but by displacement), the 429, and the 460.
Again this series shares the same bellhousing as the 335 series engine, and the transmissions from these will interchange from the 335 to the 385, and so forth and so on.

Cornfused yet! It can be a real handfull.

Chances are though that even of you find another 4speed truck trans, you will encounter the same thing. Track transmissions are not car transmissions, and have a very low first gear, and were never known for car like shifts.
Wide ratios, and a very wide pattern makes them more suited for trucks.
Keep in mind that this thing was designed to haul a heavy camper on its back.
Sounds more like a mechanical problem that requires a little maintenance, instead of replacement.

cburcham73 · 10-27-2008, 11:01 AM

dam...75K30... that was a mouthfull. that was engine/tranny fitment 101.

ssiimmss · 10-27-2008, 12:14 PM

fantastic info man...

so you guys are thinking that a complete clutch overhaul should get me back to decent shifting? What i ment by long and hard, is that when i shift, it takes a little bit of time between gears before i can move into the next gear (this is mostly 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd) and you've really got to push the stick... but it never grinds or anything like that. I was just curious if this was the way a 3/4 ton shifted in 1981 or if I could make it better... and thats where the thought of an automatic came about.

75K30 · 10-27-2008, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cburcham73

dam...75K30... that was a mouthfull. that was engine/tranny fitment 101.

Its all in my noodle, but, I really cant type all that well, lol.
Providing in depth explainations requires a little time on my part...

ssiimmss
As far as the truck trans shifting like butter, well it can, and I have to ask when the last time the fluid was changed? You shifter can also require some attention. The shifter itself can be worn, and you have to hunt to find the gear. Worn shifters can be replaced, and brought back to life.
Since your stuff does not grind, your box might be just fine, and either the ball, or the end on the shifter itself is just flat worn out.
Replace, or at least pull the lever (easy to do) and inspect it. I think you will find your trouble there.
Best of luck.....

87c10slammer · 10-28-2008, 09:50 PM

i know when i changed my 351m out to a 460 i had to change a vacuum diaphram on the tranny and that helped out the long shifts alot... i got nice smooth shifts after that.. it may be your problem.. but im not exactly a ford guy and it was a few years ago so i cant tell you exactly what part it was... 75 may know what i am talkin about.. lol.

75K30 · 10-28-2008, 10:00 PM

87c10slammer :

You are making a reference to the vacuum modulator, and those are for automatic transmissions. The OP has a 4 speed. No vacuum to tell the trans to shift. Its all about the driver......

87c10slammer · 10-28-2008, 10:03 PM

woops didnt see that..lol but it is usefull knowledge..lol.. it took me 6months to figure out why my truck was shifting like **** after i did the swap.. i even rebuilt the tranny a month after i did th swap to no avail...then i started to dig a little deeper and found a how to swap guide and that is where i found that info

75K30 · 10-28-2008, 10:23 PM

You are right, that is good info....

10-26-2008, 03:45 PM	#1
ssiimmss Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2	400ci and trannies I've got an 81 f250 camper special with a 400ci and a 4 spd manual trans. mostly stock. It shifts like poop (long, hard shifts) and needs a throw out bearing. If I were to replace my transmission (either auto or man) would the donor have to be from a 400ci or can i snag one from a 351, 390, 460? Is it worth it or are the other **** as well?

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10-27-2008, 09:41 AM	#2
cburcham73 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: williamsburg virginia Posts: 183	your saying it has long and hard shifts? huh???it should only shift hard if you dump the clutch pedal.i would keep the 4spd, change out the clutch,pressure plate and throwout bearing. as for the swap,i think the 351{m} is an odd ball by itself ,360,390,460 are the same. as for your 400 dont know.

10-27-2008, 10:05 AM	#3
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,992	Welcome to the site; You are dealing with three different engines here. These would be the FE / FT engines, and these were the 332, 352, 360, 390, 406, 410, 427, and 428. These have thier own bellhousing, so none of these have anything in common with other engine series. The FE flywheels will fit the 385 series engine, and it will require a little work to manage to fit the larger clutch if this swap is what you are looking for, but this is getting heavy on the technical side. Next is the 335 series engine, and these incude the 351M the 400, and the 351C. These do share the same bellhousing pattern as the 385 series, but thats all. Flywheels do not interchange. Last on mentioned is the 385 series, this includes the 370 (oddball, and why it is mistaken for the 390, not by looks, but by displacement), the 429, and the 460. Again this series shares the same bellhousing as the 335 series engine, and the transmissions from these will interchange from the 335 to the 385, and so forth and so on. Cornfused yet! It can be a real handfull. Chances are though that even of you find another 4speed truck trans, you will encounter the same thing. Track transmissions are not car transmissions, and have a very low first gear, and were never known for car like shifts. Wide ratios, and a very wide pattern makes them more suited for trucks. Keep in mind that this thing was designed to haul a heavy camper on its back. Sounds more like a mechanical problem that requires a little maintenance, instead of replacement.

10-27-2008, 11:01 AM	#4
cburcham73 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: williamsburg virginia Posts: 183	dam...75K30... that was a mouthfull. that was engine/tranny fitment 101.

10-27-2008, 12:14 PM	#5
ssiimmss Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2	fantastic info man... so you guys are thinking that a complete clutch overhaul should get me back to decent shifting? What i ment by long and hard, is that when i shift, it takes a little bit of time between gears before i can move into the next gear (this is mostly 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd) and you've really got to push the stick... but it never grinds or anything like that. I was just curious if this was the way a 3/4 ton shifted in 1981 or if I could make it better... and thats where the thought of an automatic came about.

10-28-2008, 09:50 PM	#7
87c10slammer Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: levittown pa Posts: 2,197	i know when i changed my 351m out to a 460 i had to change a vacuum diaphram on the tranny and that helped out the long shifts alot... i got nice smooth shifts after that.. it may be your problem.. but im not exactly a ford guy and it was a few years ago so i cant tell you exactly what part it was... 75 may know what i am talkin about.. lol.

10-28-2008, 10:00 PM	#8
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,992	87c10slammer : You are making a reference to the vacuum modulator, and those are for automatic transmissions. The OP has a 4 speed. No vacuum to tell the trans to shift. Its all about the driver......

10-28-2008, 10:03 PM	#9
87c10slammer Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: levittown pa Posts: 2,197	woops didnt see that..lol but it is usefull knowledge..lol.. it took me 6months to figure out why my truck was shifting like **** after i did the swap.. i even rebuilt the tranny a month after i did th swap to no avail...then i started to dig a little deeper and found a how to swap guide and that is where i found that info

10-28-2008, 10:23 PM	#10
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,992	You are right, that is good info....