72 F250 4x4 TKO-600 swap

[smsparky36]

I am restoring a 72 F250 4x4 and looking at doing a TKO-600, 5-speed. It originally had the NP435. Has anybody done one of these swaps on a 4x4? Looking for pointers and how the 4x4 shift lever was modified to be installed with a TKO-600. Any information or helpful tips would be appreciated.

[My427stang]

I have done 2WD TKO swaps, you need a mid shift conversion, it uses the middle of three plates, not the rear. Sometimes hard to find

Also, everyone I have done, I used a car bell, so be prepared, a Ford short input on the TKO, may be a little too short when you get in there with a truck bell Maybe not though, worth waiting and measuring. Bruce at Modern Driveline could be a good info for input shaft options.

For the intermediate driveshaft, seems like it's be easy after that

I am jealous, I have a integral transfer case, otherwise mine would have one too!

[smsparky36]

Thanks for the information, do you feel the swap is worth the cost?

I have been talking to MDL, they put a quote together for me based on the truck information. The mid-mount the shifter & shorter input shaft based on the truck bell housing is included in their quote. When I talked with MDL they indicated that they have done this swap on 4x4 trucks, however when I ask about how they address the transfer case shifter, they had no response.

On the original NP435 transmission the gear shift is at around 4.5” from the bell housing and the transfer case shifter is around 12.5”. I estimate that the gear shift location on the TKO with the mid conversion is around 12.5” from the bell housing. This means that I will need to relocate the transfer case shifter. Also the transfer case shifter is currently mounted to the NP435 transmission. So somehow I will have to build a way to mount the shifter to the TKO transmission. I was just hoping someone else has done it already.

[My427stang]

Absolutely worth the cost, I love mine in my car, and every once I did they loved, transforms the truck when you can go 4.11/4.56 gear and then drive like it has a 3.00 gear in 5th

[RGB]

To replace the car FE Toploader with "Ford" TKO600 REQUIRES short input shaft kit (add $200 and PITA... warranty?).
(FE cars have the SHORTER depth bellhousing...)

I SWITCHED to the deeper bell in FE cars, to fit "out of the box" "Ford" TKO600 ".

QuickTime FE bell (2), depth:
6057: 6.425" (same as FE car)
6056: 7.150" (?? same as non-FE car and ALL trucks ??).

Live rear axle cars may have enough driveshaft trans spline, but needs to verified at minimum travel (OR driveshaft shortened).

DO a transmission MOCK it up, without clutch and pressure plate.
Verify front face of input splines do NOT rub bronze pilot bushing (ruin shifts).
(to fix 1/8" step around forward edge of bushing, then sink it .050 deeper)
Verify the lever and TOB fit and all linkage works, adjust linkage & TOB pivot height now!

SYMPTOM - IF inserted trans does not go in the last 0.030", DO NOT pull together with bolts, OUCH!, see above.

My understanding is non-FE cars and ALL truck have the same depth bell? IF SO, "out of the box" Ford TKO600 works?

Will TKO600 Mid-range shifter location tolerate 5/8" rearward movement in truck?