does anyone know where i can decode a dearborn 3-speed trans that came in the buicks?or does anyone what the casting number mean on them? Thanks
George, I did a little digging. Some info(not gospel) For GTO's & Firebirds. The trans, if you got a 4 speed was a Muncie. Saginaw would NEVER stand up to the torque. If you wanted a heavy duty 4 speed you got the M22 Muncie rock crusher. Surprisingly, the M22 wasn't even the STRONGEST trans in a Ponch. The strongest unbreakable trans Pontiac used was their 3 speed. And many GTOS came with 3 speeds. The 3 speed was made in Dearborn Michigan...aka Ford Motor Company. It was identical to Ford's unbreakable 4 speed Top Loader transmission minus one gear. Pontiac used Ford 3 speeds right up to the 1969-71 Judge. I believe the order code for the Toploader 3 Speed Manual was M13 with the following ratio's 2.42:1 1.61:1 1.00:1 Reverse 2.33:1 No real luck on a decode site. These are the two main info guys however one link is not currently working. You could Email them... The Toploader trans is a swap not too difficult to do with the right parts/info. For some info on the swap and parts/prices check out Dan Williams' site at www.toploadertransmissions.com and David Kees site at www.4speedtoploaders.com Both sites have a wealth of info on what RUG # trans A Hurst pic is attached.
Ford trannies are identified by a metal tag riveted to the passsenger side of the case, near the bellhousing.....the model ID is a 3 letter code, and a 2 or 3 digit suffix. For my '67 Fairlane it's RUG-J2 ....'RUG' is the style, and '-J2' is the specific application (390 GT) Casting numbers use the generic ford numbering system.... C5AF-6060-B 'C' is the decade.....1960's '5' is the year.........1965 'A' is the car line ....Galaxie, etc. 'O' is Fairlane, 'Z' is Mustang Parts cast for a 'A' car may be used in other series of cars. 'F' is the engineering division '6060' is the type of part. ie, cylinder head '-B' is the revision. Date codes.....'6B12' would be 1966....B=Feb.....12......day Nice pn system!, I wish GM would've used something similar! Did you get the original trans?
Walt these casting #`s are also for GM cars i assume?i didnt get the trans yet i`m waiting for him to dig it out,he said the internals are busted but the case is intact. Thanks
If the case was originally designed for a Ford application, it should have a Ford casting number on it....Most of the cases have numbers that specify it for a 'big' Ford....like C5'A'F.....as most cases will fit most lines of cars. The tailshaft is more likely to have been designed for a specific application....Galaxie (big), Fairlane (mid-size), Mustang, etc... I have no idea what casting numbers would be on the tailshaft for a GM application. If it fits a Ford, it would be a Ford number. If Ford made it for Gm...????. If GM made their own tailshafts, I guess it would have a GM number. The metal tag on the trans has the codes you need. But sometimes the tags break off.....hope it's still there!
Yea i really hope the tag is still intact,here is a code off a GM car that i got does any of this ring a bell?
First pic: C8AR.......1968 big series car 7006.....I think just means 'transmission case' C....is the revision. For a specific application Second pic: C5FR......1965, dunno what carline 'F' is for Third pic is a date code: 9...1969 D...April 10...tenth day Fourth pic shows the ID tag. And the painted on code might be a GM code. Tailhousing....is that a C5AE? ....that would be 1965 big series. I don't know if if could fit GM. Keep in mind a C5AE (or 1965) number might've been used on later years. They only changed the casting number when they changed the casting...
the painted code on the case is a DB same code as my protecto plate which probably means dearborn,thanks for the info on this,i`ll wait to see whats on my case as soon as he digs it out. Thanks
Did you get the '67 Service Bulletin book I found you? Look in group 40...there should be a speedometer gear chart that lists tranny codes. My '66 book shows a 'KT' code which matches the code painted on my '66 4 speed trans. Even tho my protecto-plate shows a 'WA' trans code. I don't think the p-o-p code is the same as is on the trans. BTW, the '66 3 speed GS trans is a code KF....maybe that'll be painted on yours? In what book did I see the 'WA' code listed for '66? I know I saw it somewhere...
I bought the book but i havent received it yet,as for the P-O-P code you are right i guess,so the trans tag should say a DB on it correct?all Muncie 4-speed cars in `67 have a P code on the protecto plate and on the trans. Thanks
This is an old thread, but I have a Dearborn/ Ford 3 speed out of a 68 GS. Its coded "RAT-E1" Are you still interested in getting one George?
Just wanted to give some info. I have a 67 GS 400 convertible with a manual 3-speed on the floor with console and tach. I do have the original tranny and the date code is correct and it is a RAT E. I'm guessing that the RAT E was used in all 3-speed cars in 67. As far as casting numbers, I found that the same casting numbers were used for diffirent applications as well as years. The 3 digit code used for applications will tell you which tranny, year and month. Mine is 179, 1 is for 3-speed, 7 is for 1967 and 9 is the month. As far as I can tell, the RAT E was specifically used in non-ford vehicles since is doesn't appear on any of fords manual transmission application charts. If anyone has more input please feel free to chime in.
