I've been throwing around the idea of doing a 5 speed swap into my '93 f150. I've been looking at using the ZF. Any input on this trans would be great. I cant seem to find a whole to of reviews on it. Also, I was toying with the idea of an engine sway. Someone recently suggested that I use the inline 6 300. I understand that this is a nice torquie engine, but would it be good in a truck with a 6" lift on 35s. I've also thought about a 5.8L. What are your thoughts on this as well? Thanks in advance.

Josh

 

For 35's I would do a 5.8 and 4.56 gears.

 

X2. 5.8 & 4.56

 

My 86' F250 has a 5.8 with 35's and 4.10 gears. I think its a good combo...

 

What are your thoughts on the tranny?

 

What kind of mpg are you seeing?

 

SCRebel, how hard was your axle swap, I've thought about doing that too.

 

Personally my opinion, the 5.0 and the 5-speed. I do not like the 5.8 at all.. I had one in my CC with only 120,000. It ran smooth and clean, but lacked power and did even worse when it came to mileage. I seen 12mpg consistently. I wanted towing capability and better mileage, and couldnt get it with the 5.8, which is why I dumped it.

I have a 93 F-150 with the 5.0 and a 4-Speed manual. It sips the fuel nicely! Again, not a ton of power, but at least now I am getting 20mpg's. I have a 5-Speed I am overhauling with hopes of even better mileage!

 

The ZF5 is a tough tough trans. I rather have the ZF5 than a M5OD, or what ever its called.

The swap wasn't very hard. The most time comsuming part is making sure the tire is in the center of the fender well. Once you get the tire in the center of the fender well, just bolt the radius arm brackets where they land on the frame.

If you do the swap, I recommend adjustable drag link, and track bar of course. Early Bronco Restoration Full Size Bronco Restoration Classic Ford Bronco Parts For Sale sells a adjustable drag link that works with the solid axle tie rod to the 80's and 90's pitman arm.

It took me 3 afternoons to complete the swap.

 

lol, agh... Still only like 8-10 MPG. It's and old truck

 

My F250 had a zf5speed, 5.8L, 4.10 gears, with 35" tires on it for a while. In my opinion, the ZF5speed is an excellent transmission. Very tough which helps it out if you off-road with it or abuse it however you like. It also has a nice Granny Low 1st gear which is great for towing, but it still has Overdrive for getting her on the highway. With 4.10s I was seeing around 1800 RPM's doing 55 in 5th gear with 35" tires on it I think, might have been a little lower than that for RPM though. I will tell you, that the 35" tires suck a ton of power out of the motor, and you will appreciate the 4.56, especially because it'll be a close to stock ratio, and won't affect your mpg's too bad because you have OD.
I also have a straight axle out of a 79 F250 in my truck (a Dana 44HD). I do like it a lot better than the TTB, but my truck was pretty laid out in the front from having a plow on it. It only took me and 1 other guy 6 hours or so to do the swap, the other guy had done it on another truck though, so he knew what had to be done. I think SCRebel is right, the hardest part is centering it. But it just takes a couple of measurements and it can get centered pretty easy. Mine has a Limited slip in it also, so I've got TRUE 4 wheel drive.
Whoever said that they didn't like the 351w because of MPG's, should drive a truck with a 460 and appreciate the MPG's the 351w gets. You've got to sacrifice a little MPGs to get a little more power.

 

I've had lots of trucks (never a 300 that ran though)
Between the 300-302-351-460 I have been most impressed with 300 and the 460. A friend had an 88 rc lb 300 and 5spd that we literally only cut the bumper to fit 35s. I'm pretty sure it had 355 gears. Not sure though. It was darn impressive.
My 460s are great. I never complain of the mpg because,well, it's a 460. Your an idiot if you expect your gonna get anything decent. I had a f150 with 302 and 4spd (overdrive manual) and it was a fun 2wd. And an early 80s rc sb 4spd 302 I can't remember what that got. I have a 90 xcab 4x4 and a 92 crewcab 2wd with a 351. I gotta say they both freakin suck. The cc 351 gets the same mpg as my 4x4 xcab 460 with 410s and 255-85s. My 90 barely gets 14 with a tailwind and has about the same power as a 302 and manual trans.
302=car / 2wd truck motor
300-351= decent truck motors. But don't expect too much
460= truck motor
7.3= truck motor

The 351 is held back so much by the crappy heads and cam. All my carbd 351s are awesome engines (even with stock heads) but the efi on the 351 needs some tuning.

 

Mine doesn't. That why future plans for me is a Detroit Locker in the rear, and a Detroit Tru trac LSD in the front.

Also for the record: I just swapped out a 302 for a 351w. I have loads more power than the 302, and get lot better mpg. I get anywhere from 14-16 mpg city, depending on how I drive.

Like what UNTAMND stated everything is restricted on the 351w. Intake, heads, and really even the cam.

I plan to build a mild 351w, and I am sticking with the SD. For me I plan on Edelbrock Truck 5.8 EFI intake, Ford Racing GT-40 turbo swirl aluminum heads, Crane 444232 cam and 1.7 rockers, shorty headers, and of course a tuner for my EEC.

 

UNTAMND- I agree halfway with what you're saying. The 351 is so close to being a good truck motor, but it's still so far away. With a little bit more free flow, and a better cam, you can get a screaming small block comparable to the old carb'd motors (and beyond) I don't know much about the 300's, I've driven one but never owned one. They have some low end grunt, but that's about it.
SCRebel- It's definitely a good plan to put a L/S in the front, lockers get destroyed pretty quick up front. But that should be a pretty sweet motor, all said and done.

 

Yeah. Detroit's TrueTrac locker is LSD and it uses worm gears instead of clutches, and I have heard actual lockers don't like front axles.

And thanks about the motor, But that plan is in the future, I need the best mpg I can get right now. Lol. But I'll start picking up parts along, and along until I get everything, hopefully by then I will have another DD and My 89 will be my "hot rod".