I have a 2 wheel drive 1980 F100 with a 300 6. It had a 3 speed on the column and we swapped it to a T18. The T18 as we all know is basically a 3 speed with a granny gear. The T18 doesnt really fit my needs as it is only a highway and around town driver. I want to swap it to the mazda 5 speed and want to get the transmission and parts from the junk yard. Could yall make a list of everything ill need to get to do the swap and what parts i should buy new?
Thanks, John

 

You are going to need;

The clutch pedal assembly under the dash.

The clutch master on the firewall and all it's lines and linkages. You will also need to drill two holes to mount that.

The transmission, shifter, and while you are under your truck measure the length of the tranny you have now. When in the junkyard, measure the length of the 5 speed. If they are different by more than a inch, see if you can scrounge the driveshaft also if the truck is the same wheelbase as yours.

I would also get the tranny harness, so you will have something to work with when you get home as far as the wiring is concerned(different plugs for the reverse lights, etc.)

I would buy the hydraulic throwout bearing new and replace it, along with the clutch. I believe this tranny has a internal type throwout bearing and you can't replace it without pulling the tranny out.

 

What wiring would I need? This would be going in a carb truck with a cable speedo.

 

Reverse light wiring. I guess that's it. I don't think you have a neutral safety on the clutch pedal do you?

I kept thinking about a 4x4, it has the 4x4 light wiring also.

 

Nope no saftey switch and just 2wd lol. Is it a pretty strait forward swap? I havnt ever dealt with a hydraulic clutch only a manual linkage one. What are the basics of the hydraulic system and how do the parts work compared to the manual style?

Thanks, John

 

You will have to find the proper spot to bolt the clutch master in position on the firewall. It works pretty much the same as the brakes. Push on the clutch pedal, it pushes on the master, the master pushes fluid down a line and it extends the slave cylinder to engage the clutch.

 

Ohh okay i get it now. I read somewhere you have to reinforce the firewall for the slave cylinder. How and where on the firewall would I mount and reinforce?

Thanks, John

 

Very high mileage trucks tend to crack the firewall up near the clutch master. Especially the trucks with the larger clutches, and the ones where the lube is gone on the tube where the throwout bearing rides.

I believe you will have many many years of service before yours ever breaks loose. You can do a search for firewall re-enforcement, Ford doesn't make them anymore, there is one guy that reproduces them, and they are not easy to install.

 

This is one of the rare times I will differ from Dave's recommendation - I would install the firewall reinforcement plate as I install the clutch assembly. I don't like having something that may break, and Ford had quite a few problems with the firewalls cracking back in the day.

Here's a link to Terrapin Mfg's web site. He makes one of the plates available, and maybe the only one - I don't know. Yes, there is some work installing it, but I think it is well worth the peace of mind it gives.

 

I'd like to make a recommendation to get most, if not all, the hydraulic parts new. The master and line aren't as bad or failure prone as the slave. If the slave fails, the transmission has to come back out to replace it. Fairly cheap insurance just to go with a new part.

I know most will say go Motorcraft on all parts, but I've been running an Advance Auto slave (Perfection brand, I think) for the last 4 years (50k+) with no issues or leaks.

 

The plate says its for 83 and up. Would it be any different than the one for a 1980?

 

No, it isn't different. But your firewall may be slightly different. Some of the 80 trucks may not have the dimpled spots showing where the holes would go. But, IIRC, Rogue_Wulf reported that his '80 had them. Search the forum for Terrapin and see what you find. It was fairly recently, like in the last couple of months.

But, even if yours doesn't have the dimples you can still install the plate. You just have to find the center of the holes before drilling.

 

Another question for yall. If I was to find one of these transmissions in a mazda truck, would they work. Would the input and ouput shafts be same or different? What model mazda would i look at to find this transmission of i could use one directly from a mazda?

Thanks, John

 

John,

Wouldn't work unfortunately. The Mazda series trucks are the Ranger Clones, and use the M5od-R1. Different bell housing pattern for smaller motors. The one you want is the M5od-R2, a little beefier inside, and Ford's small block bellhousing pattern.

Bob

 

I don't know if the bell housing pattern is the same, nor about the in/out shafts. The guy to ask would be Rogue_Wulff as he has one of those Mazda trucks. Don't know what transmission, but he may know. PM him. But, if no response let me know and I'll see if I can find him.