Truck Transmission Guide

Pickup trucks over the last six decades have been equipped with three- to five-speed manual and automatic transmissions.

Dozens of manual and automatic transmissions, some with engineering designs dating to 1948, match in-line four-cylinder, V-6 and V-8 engines in American-made and imported pickup trucks. Borg-Warner and Allison transmissions are common equipment for domestic and foreign trucks.

Three-Speed Manuals

Borg-Warner three-speeds were the base manual transmissions for Ford and General Motors trucks from 1948 through the 1980s. The T85, T86, T87 and T89 featured cast-iron cases with nine-bolt side covers. These transmissions also featured non-synchronized first gears with toothed brass syncro rings ranging from 27 to 36 teeth.

Four-Speed Manuals

Ford trucks and vans were equipped with the Tremec HEH and RUG four-speed manuals with a cast-iron or aluminum case and syncro rings featuring 36 teeth. Other four-speeds were the Borg-Warner T18 and T19 for Ford F-500 to F-800 trucks through 1993. A common 1980s and 1990s model was the all-aluminum New Process 435.

Five-Speed Manuals

Mazda equipped compact Ford Ranger trucks through the 2000s with MR51 and MR52 five-speed manuals. These transmissions were all-aluminum with all-synchronized forward gears. Mitsubishi also provided five-speed FM145, FM146 and FM132 models.

Automatics

As the number of manual transmission options dwindle with contemporary trucks, four-, five- and six-speed automatics become more common, including the Allison 1000, 2000, 3000, and the GM-Allison Hybrid EP40 and EP 50 electric drive units.

References

• Drivetrain: Ford 3, 4 & 5 Speed Reference Material Manual Transmission V26
• Hemmings: Warner T-85/T-89 Three-Speed Transmissions
• Allison Transmission: It's the Transmission That Makes the Truck