1. Ford Performance Transmissions We offer levels 2, 3 and 4 Ford performance transmissions, custom-built by one of our master technicians from start to finish, with the same passion they’d have for their own personal rides.
2. Reman Transmissions When you purchase a Ford remanufactured transmission assembly, you’re getting a product that’s built to the exacting specifications of Ford Motor Company – one that’s built for your vehicle.

Built Ford Tough.

The 4 speed toploader is one of the toughest manual transmissions ever built.

Identification of the Toploader is easy. Toploaders are top accessible (from a 10 bolt steel plate)

The transmission serial number is a production serial number and should not be confounded with the engine serial number, they are not the same. Some transmissions have a date code instead of the serial number. 2 different INPUT shaft are commonly available for all V8 Ford's, 1 1/16' and 1 3/8'.

For decoding the specific application look for a metal tab riveted on the right side of the transmission body housing.

HEH-? or RUG-? are the codes necessary for decoding specific transmission application from the

Close and Wide Ratio

2 types of gear ratio are commonly associated with the 60's 70's toploader

Ratio chartpage gives a good idea of rpm, speeds and shifting points for both Close and Wide ratio transmissions.

Ford Transit 250

Decoding the Toploader

For most 60's and 70's Toploaders the ID starts with either prefix HEH or RUG

The lower number on the tag is the transmission serial number. The transmission serial number is a production serial number and should not be confounded with the engine serial number, they are not the same. Some transmissions have a date code instead of the serial number.

Input Shaft

2 different INPUT shaft are commonly available for all V8 Ford's, 1 1/16' and 1 3/8'. But both input shafts have the same number of splines of 10.

Tailshaft

Also 2 popular OUTPUT shafts are available for the V8 toploader a 28 spline or a 31 spline shaft (sorry, no pictures)

Tailshaft housing

Ford Transit 250

Many different Tailshaft housings and shifter positions available with Toploaders.

here are a few

Bolt patterns (bellhousing)

2 different bolt patterns. Early Toploaders used a narrow bolt pattern type for attaching the transmission to the bellhousing and the later versions used a wider butterfly type bolt pattern.

Toploader exploded view