Six Bolt Toploaders

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Joe Travers
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Six Bolt Toploaders

Post by Joe Travers »

Looking @ Kee's table; I'm assuming the HEH-BK & BP are the 6 bolt ones for Falcon/Comet?
BK- close ratio, BP- wide?

Joe
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1963 1/2 Custom Hardtop
342 stroker, solid roller, T-10, 3.55 posi

Lou's Comet
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Re: Six Bolt Toploaders

Post by Lou's Comet »

Joe Travers wrote:
Tue Aug 20, 2024 8:37 am
Looking @ Kee's table; I'm assuming the HEH-BK & BP are the 6 bolt ones for Falcon/Comet?
BK- close ratio, BP- wide?

Joe
They also have a HEH-BS listed for 65 comet/falcon

Lou
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Joe Travers
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Re: Six Bolt Toploaders

Post by Joe Travers »

Lou's Comet wrote:
Tue Aug 20, 2024 9:14 am
They also have a HEH-BS listed for 65 comet/falcon
Thanks, Lou!
Totally missed that one. By the dates listed, looks like BP may be 5 bolt narrow housing w/ wide ratio?
T-10s and Toploaders made @ the same time. One of those wacky Ford things, drives me nuts.

Joe
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1963 1/2 Custom Hardtop
342 stroker, solid roller, T-10, 3.55 posi

comethead
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Re: Six Bolt Toploaders

Post by comethead »

Last year I found an HEH BK trans on eBay with a Hurst shifter. Bought it and yup….it had a 65 Cyclone VIN stamped on the lower flange of the main case. Pretty cool close ratio Hipo Comet trans. It was a pile of poo though. Second gear engagement teeth were wiped clean and I think all the gears and synchros were toast.
A fellow on the East Coast contacted me about it. Apparently he had two 64 Hipos and a 65. He wanted the trans. I sold it and I’m happy it ended up going to a real Comet guy.

Joe
1965 Caliente HT- 289/4 speed
1964 Falcon HT- track car- 302/4 speed
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Joe Travers
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Re: Six Bolt Toploaders

Post by Joe Travers »

comethead wrote:
Fri Aug 23, 2024 3:02 am
Last year I found an HEH BK trans on eBay with a Hurst shifter. Bought it and yup….it had a 65 Cyclone VIN stamped on the lower flange of the main case. Pretty cool close ratio Hipo Comet trans. It was a pile of poo though. Second gear engagement teeth were wiped clean and I think all the gears and synchros were toast.
A fellow on the East Coast contacted me about it. Apparently he had two 64 Hipos and a 65. He wanted the trans. I sold it and I’m happy it ended up going to a real Comet guy.

Joe
Cool deal, Joe 👍
Hope you broke even on the tranny. I'm keeping my eye open for a BK, but I'm not gonna get swindled.

Joe II
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1963 1/2 Custom Hardtop
342 stroker, solid roller, T-10, 3.55 posi

comethead
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Re: Six Bolt Toploaders

Post by comethead »

Yeah Joe I got all my money back plus a finders fee. I wouldn’t waste time looking for a BK. They’re rare and not worth it unless you have a numbers Hipo car. Better to find a cheap Toploader and convert it to close ratio and find an early tail housing with the forward shifter bosses.
I guess “cheap Toploader” may be a thing of the past.
My buddy is building a Cobra and he said he wanted a Toploader built. I got all new parts except for the tail housing. Big in/big out, wide ratio and all new guts. Cost was $2400. Considering the junk they have on eBay I thought the price wast too bad. Although I wouldn’t pay that! :lol:

Joe
1965 Caliente HT- 289/4 speed
1964 Falcon HT- track car- 302/4 speed
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Joe Travers
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Re: Six Bolt Toploaders

Post by Joe Travers »

comethead wrote:
Sat Aug 24, 2024 1:37 am
Better to find a cheap Toploader and convert it to close ratio and find an early tail housing with the forward shifter bosses.
You're right, no need for any number matching.
Finding the tail housing will be the toughest part. I see T-10 tail housings for sale all the time. I think Mustang guys are thinking like you.
Might be the place to look. :idea:
Or better yet, change gear cluster in T-10 and change out to torque lock sliders.

Joe
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1963 1/2 Custom Hardtop
342 stroker, solid roller, T-10, 3.55 posi

comethead
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Re: Six Bolt Toploaders

Post by comethead »

FYI all new sliders and gears for Toploaders are of the “torque lock” design. Also I’ve seen a bracket selling on eBay that uses the tail housing bolts to locate the bracket about where the stock 63-65 Comet Falcon shifter would be on the forward part of the tail housing. Pretty slick part to convert any tail housing for a Comet. If I find it I’ll post a link.
Looks heavy duty like it’s made of 1/4” plate. A dude might even be able to fab one hisself.
Joe
1965 Caliente HT- 289/4 speed
1964 Falcon HT- track car- 302/4 speed
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Joe Travers
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Re: Six Bolt Toploaders

Post by Joe Travers »

comethead wrote:
Sun Aug 25, 2024 1:15 am
FYI all new sliders and gears for Toploaders are of the “torque lock” design. Also I’ve seen a bracket selling on eBay that uses the tail housing bolts to locate the bracket about where the stock 63-65 Comet Falcon shifter would be on the forward part of the tail housing. Pretty slick part to convert any tail housing for a Comet. If I find it I’ll post a link.
Looks heavy duty like it’s made of 1/4” plate. A dude might even be able to fab one hisself.
Joe
Thanks, Joe! Good food for thought 👍

Joe II
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1963 1/2 Custom Hardtop
342 stroker, solid roller, T-10, 3.55 posi

Rootsy
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Re: Six Bolt Toploaders

Post by Rootsy »

Yeah I am into my toploader for a solid $2500 (maybe more) minus the $1000 shifter. Bought a junker from Facebook marketplace, kept the main case, shift rods and detents. Rest is 100% new (most from David Kee) except the tailshaft housing. Spent $400 for a Mustang one on eBay that had the bosses (cut off mind you) for the comet / falcon. A bit of time on the mill and some spacers in the lathe and works just like it should. They are getting hard to find.
1964 Cyclone - 2 Dr / HT - A work in progress...

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Joe Travers
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Re: Six Bolt Toploaders

Post by Joe Travers »

Rootsy wrote:
Thu Aug 29, 2024 7:06 pm
They are getting hard to find.
Mustang builders have been hoarding parts for decades, now.
I know one locally.

Joe
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1963 1/2 Custom Hardtop
342 stroker, solid roller, T-10, 3.55 posi

Rootsy
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Re: Six Bolt Toploaders

Post by Rootsy »

Joe Travers wrote:
Fri Aug 30, 2024 8:04 am
Rootsy wrote:
Thu Aug 29, 2024 7:06 pm
They are getting hard to find.
Mustang builders have been hoarding parts for decades, now.
I know one locally.

Joe
Dan Williams told me he is sold out and he is no longer making the new universal ones. David Kee is having trouble getting the universal ones he offers too.

Recently there was an early comet / falcon toploader for sale close to me. The price was good enough that had I not already had my setup complete I would have purchased just for the tailshaft housing. The rest was pretty worthless (narrow case, 25 spline out).

Guy on FB Market place had a couple of comet / falcon tailshaft housings recently for like $450. He stopped by here a month or so back and bought the tailshaft housing and main shaft I had sitting around from my donor trans.
1964 Cyclone - 2 Dr / HT - A work in progress...

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Joe Travers
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Re: Six Bolt Toploaders

Post by Joe Travers »

No big problem w/ T-10, just don't beat on it too hard.
Holds up good for hot rod engines if you run street tires w/ recommended pressure.
Hooking up ain't my bag. Too hard on my wallet! :P

Joe
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1963 1/2 Custom Hardtop
342 stroker, solid roller, T-10, 3.55 posi

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