hey there,
my 1984 f150 has a 4 speed with granny low, and it does enough highway driving that I'm wondering if it would be worth swapping to a 5 speed whenever this transmission kicks the bucket, or sooner if I can find a garage that wants to make a trade? is it a hard procedure, or just a bolt and go?

thanks
-Andrew

 

From what i have been told on here its bolt and go provided its small block to sb and bb to bb

 

^^What he said. Very easy, just make sure it is the same as yours. (4x4 or 2wd)

Im not sure if the clutch is the same, I would imagine it is.

 

The 5 speeds used in later model Fords had integral bell housings. Your clutch disc and pressure plate may work with them, but since you are going to R&R the trans, a new clutch, throwout, pilot etc would be a good idea.

The ZF trans has a low (5.72 iirc) first gear. The Mazda uses a 3.91 (iirc) first and has closer ratios. The ZF is stronger than the Mazda box.

Both use internal concentric hydraulic throwout bearings. Adapting your set up to that may take some doing. You must also be sure the bearing matches the trans and clutch components.

You will probably be in for crossmember and driveshaft work as well.

And you may need to modify your transmission cover in the cab, as they may be taller than your current trans.

Worth it? Depends on how lucky you get in finding a serviceable trans at a reasonable price, and if you can do the labor yourself.

If you have to hire this done, it will never pay back in gas mileage.

 

I myself have been looking for a small block ZF since November.. No luck.
Found 2 Mazda M5R2's, passed on them

 

Andrew - You really need to help us help you by placing info about your truck in your sig. Or, in posts where you ask a question. Otherwise we have to relie on memory and "assume" we know, and that's not good.

There are three different transmission bolt patterns and three different transmissions:

• Small Block:
  • 300 six/302/351W
  • Integral slave cylinder, meaning it is inside the bell housing and fits behind the throw out breaking on the input shaft
• Big Block:
  • 429/460 with no mods
  • 351M/400 with mods
  • External slave cylinder with release lever
• Diesel:
  • 6.9 & 7.3L
  • External slave cylinder

EDIT: The big block and diesel ZF5's have a much larger input shaft so the clutch disk that came with any other Ford-supplied tranny will not work. Nor will the throw out bearing. But the small block ZF takes the same clutch as the other transmissions. But, since the cost of a full clutch kit, including disk, pressure plate, throw out bearing, and pilot bearing, is sometimes literally $.01 more than just the disk (I know this as I bought one recently) you should go with the whole kit.

 

What ever you do don't use the Mazda top loader 5 speed. I have one in my 95 F150 4x4 302. It works OK but they are not very strong. I baby mine just because I know their reputation. The Mazda 5 speeds are pretty common. If I had a ZF I would swap mine out & never think twice.
If you lost a clutch with the Mazda 5 speed trying to shift them without a clutch is near impossible. 1st to 2nd it can be done but the rest I have never been able to shift without a clutch. My Ranger's were the same.

 

Gary,
I wasn't aware that the Windsor pattern ZF input shaft was larger than the standard 1 1/16-10.

I know that the 460 and diesel patterns step it up to 1 1/4"

 

Well, ahhh, I think the pain med's caused a brain cramp. I think you are right.

 

Meds just take the edge off pain like that.
You asked me a week ago about my nose running and ears ringing.

I will look it up but IIRC from the last time I put a clutch in a ZF/351 I had to use the small pilot tool.

 

This page appears to prove your point. There is no reference to the ZF for a 5.8L, so it must use the same one as the other trannys do.

 

And you answered your own question about what diesels came with the ZF5.
6.9 & 7.3

 

Good point. I updated my previous post to include that info, as well as correct the statement about input shaft sizes.

Sure looks like we could somehow capture some of these points so we don't have to re-invent the wheel time after time.

 

Meds from out west are not narcotics and wouldn't hide the pain. But they'd make you not care about it.

 

Sounds good to me. Bring me some?