The torque converter on an automatic helps a whole bunch too. "Ol Blue" was a cab and a half F-150 with the 5 liter (302) with a 5 speed manual and 3.5:1 rear end. It was totally worthless for low end torque and for pulling something. My neighbor has the same old 5 liter in his large van only with an automatic transmission and he towed his very large like 26 foot travel trailer out to the east coast and back. He isn't real mechanical, so he probably didn't know that he shouldn't have pulled that much with that van, but he did and it did it. Low end torque is why I got the 5.4 engine and the six speed automatic in my next F-150.
