I have an 87 F-150 2WD with a T-18 tranny on a 300 6 cyl motor and I am converting the truck to 4x4. I would like to have a 5 spd tranny for better gas mileage and greater highway speeds. Which tranny should I use?

 

only one to use is the ZF5 from a small block engine !

 

I guess what I am asking is which transmission is better? the 4 spd or 5 spd?

 

the T18 , T19 , NP435 were tough as nails and all the same and all good but no over drive ! and they were cheaper and easier to find and repair !
the ZF5 would be a over drive tranny and they do work good and are a more modern tranny , ether way you would need to have a tranny that is for a 4x4 as to bolt a transfer case on back of it !

if it were me i would use any of the 4spds and then put a doubler transfer case on it and then would run higher gears in the rear for cruising !