LocostUSA.com

I'm new here and I'm here because I intend to build a Locost.

I've found a Mercury Bobcat with a 2.3 for a donor, but it has an automatic trans. I've looke here and elsewhere for hours and have been unable to understand what to look for in a standard transmission. I would have guessed a Mustange T5, but the threads that deal with such things have my admittedly-addled 63- year-old brain cells bumping into one another. Someone, please tell me what will fit. Thanks.

Hi Hal-
Welcome to the forum! I wish I could give you a simple, straight answer to the question, but I'm afraid I don't know. I'm sure somebody in here does. I do know there's been a bit of discussion of Pinto 2.3 fitments to various bell housings and transmissions. I'm not 100% sure you can mate the old 2.3 to a T5 without some kind of adapter. But I'm not the authority, I haven't tried to use a 2.3. Keep searching, and maybe if we boot this thread every now and then somebody will chime in.

Good Luck!

JD Kemp

If it is a 2.3L with the oil filter behind the left engine mount, then it should be a "lima" and have the same dimensions as the ford ranger and mustang 5 and 4 spds of the late 70s through the 90s.

If the filter is forward of the mount, then it is a 2.0L and the lima parts don't fit.

IMHO, the best 80s trans to use is from a thunderbird turbo coupe, cougar xr7, or mustang svo, followed by a standard mustang T5, followed by a ranger T5, followed by the ranger mazda trans, etc.

Whichever one you choose, to minimze problems, get everything from the crank to the starter, to the driveshaft, to every nut and bolt or be nickel and dimed to death.

You could also buy a donor that was running and parked a few years ago, pull the trans, then donate what you don't need to the scrap yard if they will haul it away.

Thanks for the responses. It turns out I jumped the gun and the Bobcat was already sold. I found something else interesting, but I need to post in Non-traditional about it. This is a great board.

Here is my admittedly too late 2 cents just for the record and others who may come across this thread in the future.

Four transmissions are possibilities. My personal experience is with the 4spd FOG.

1) Mustang II "RAD" 4 speed transmission. As similar as the Pinto (same as Bobcat) and Mustang II were, there were some notable differences. Although the base stock transmission for both was a 4 speed, the Mustang had a "RAD" and the Pinto had a Ford of Germany (FOG) transmission. Upside of the RAD is it was intended to handle more power. Down side is that I don't ever hear anything about them. Maybe I just need to get out more.

2) Pinto "FOG" 4 speed. This is my current choice and I have a good number of miles on it now in my Locost. Advantage over the T5 is that, as near as I can tell, the shifter is about 2-3 inches further back than the longest T5. By widening the tunnel and scooting my engine back I got the shifter placed right where I'm most comfortable with it. This was also facilitated by the relatively narrow gear box. Down side of this tranny is that it is only 4 speed and on the freeway it would really be nice to have a fifth.

3) Ford T5 5 speed. First, there are many variations of this transmission - input shaft lengths, shifter positions, clutch actuation, etc. Be sure you actually have a correct bell housing and transmission combination for the engine you use. Upside of this tranny is that it is (in one form or another) maybe the most widely available transmission out there. Should be bullet proof in any Locost implementation. But it is wide and short. I'm not sure there would have been room (even in my 4" wider chassis) in my footwells to widen the tunnel enough to move the tranny back they way I did with the FOG. If you use a somewhat normal position for the engine in a normal Locost frame, expect to implement a shifter extender.

4) Ford T-9 5 speed. I have no personal experience with this transmission, but the more I know, the more I wish I'd found one for my locost. Down side of this transmission is it's relative rarity. As near as I can tell, it only showed up on our shores in the Merkur Xr4Ti. A quick scan of online salvage yards shows there are still some out there. It appears that this transmission has the same form factor as the FOG 4 speed. I have not had one to measure though. Sure looks the same in photos. When I finally get around to do a drivetrain refresh on my car, a T-9 is on the wish list.

John

If your considering a ranger, check this out too:

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_li ... ssion.html

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/T5ID.htm

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_li ... nders.html

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/index.php

You can pick up an 80s, 4 cylinder mustang subframe with the strut spindles to adapt and rack and pinion, then use the ranger rotors for 5 lugs all around.

Do NOT use any of the Ranger TK trannys. They were used up until 1988 and were available in 4 and 5 speed configuration. Very bad ratios (granny low) and not very durable. It is fairly easy to spot as it has a separate bell housing. The good Ranger transmission is the M5R1 and was used from 88 to present.

Bill

Is it my imagination, or did Ford make a different bell housing pattern for every car it has ever produced? jeez.

In this case, yes, its mostly your imagination. All 2.3 Limas have the same bell housing pattern regardless of the application (I think!). When I said the TK tranny had a separate bell housing, I meant it is not integral. Pattern is the same.

Bill

I have a T-5 in my locost. As long as the one you got wasn't beaten on and full of gear oil you should be good to go, otherwise pass and go with a T-5