Alright so to do my 5.8 swap correctly based off what I know the curnet Mazda transmission has to go out of the truck and something that is stronger Needs to go in its place, now Preferable I would put a ZF-5 in there but as I have been told/figured out, its a rare item especially if the truck is two wheel drive like mine. So this leaves me stumped, I don't wanna break the bank or look around for months to try and find a good deal on a ZF-5 but honestly other than putting a C-6 auto behind the engine and calling it done I'm not sure what I should go with. I would like to maintain some form of overdrive for long trips but I do very few of them a year so it would not be a huge deal if I do not have it. When I do drive it its maybe a 25 mile round trip at the most and thats to work and back doing 55 miles an hour or more depending on how far in the gas I am . Like I say I'm not to sure and would rather be sure that what I'm getting is gonna fit my needs and still take the power of a 351 with a cam and gt40 heads. Best regards and thanks in advance, Shadow.

 

You can still use the Mazda transmission. it is not as heavy duty as the zf5, but as long as you don't beat the snot out of the truck you will be ok.

 

Well that's kinda the thing, I might be doing some beating on it when I'm not actually using it as a truck and hauling stuff or just using it to take me to a few places the car does not reach without hitting the ground.

 

As long as you don't do clutch drops at every traffic light you will be fine. My stepfather had a 2wd 1988 f150 with the 300 I6 and Mazda transmission, he used to beat the hell out of it (burnouts with 32" tires, push starting a mack box truck, towing a tandem axle trailer loaded with rocks with a load in the bed as well.) it got sold for parts with over 300k miles on it when the body was about ready to fall off the frame. It still ran good and shifted good as well.

 

While that is a promising statement a 300 and and a 351w are in some ways a different animal but with story's like that I'm tempted to give it a shot and if I feel its starting to fail me or I bust the thing there will be a good solid replacement not far behind.

 

Yeah don't bother changing the trans unless it actually starts giving problems, if you drive at all sensible I don't see a good M5 just crumbleing for no reason, and that should give you lots of time to track down a ZF or even a spare M5.

 

Since it's 2wd could you use a mustang transmission..? Or is there a way to build a M5?