I'm wanting to change out my E4OD for a M5OD in my '91 F150 with the 4.9 I6 motor. I want to make sure I'm looking at the right years for a parts truck. From what I understand anything from '88-'96 should work. Is this correct?

From what I've read those years all came with the M5OD when ordered with a manual but the old 4 speed was still available as a special order in the first couple years. Is this also correct?

There is one parts truck advertised local to me that is a '94 F150, but the seller says it has the ZF5 transmission in it. That trans was only in the F250's and above wasn't it? I gotta think he's either mistaken or lying.

I haven't 100% decided whether it would be better to buy a parts truck or just order the needed parts separately. I'd want to go with new parts anyways for the clutch, flywheel, master and slave cylinders, starter and the front drive shaft.

That leaves the transmission, rear drive shaft (which I can't find new), pedal assembly and cross member as used parts I'd need. Some of those seem to be a bit hard to find though, especially the pedal assembly.

I don't really want to have the problem of getting rid of the carcass after I strip everything I'd need from a parts truck, but it would help to have one for the little things I'm probably overlooking that I'll need.

I'd appreciate opinions on which is the better way to go.

 

No you heard wrong. The 87-96 trans will work but not all the parts involved.

You want a 87-91 truck for the pedals, and harness

As for that 94, 99% of the people selling their crap have no idea what it is

 

also, 92 started using an electronic speedometer read by the VSS in the rear axle. your 91 has a cable driven speedometer driven off a gear in the tailshaft of the transmission if 2 wheel drive, or the tailshaft of the transfer case in the 4 wheel drive.
so you will need a transmission with a speedometer cable drive if you have a 2 wheel drive truck.

 

Good point. Forgot all about that.... Unless he has a 4wd then the speed cable goes in the t-case

 

So the pedal assembly from the 92-96 is different than my 91? I didn't know that, so that's very useful information. The last thing I want is to buy a parts truck only to find it doesn't have the parts I need! Most of the potential parts trucks I've found are in the 92-96 range so if they won't work perhaps I am better off just searching for all the individual parts instead of going the parts truck route. From what I've seen so far the pedal box is one of the harder parts to source.

My truck is a 4x4 so any of the 87-96 transmissions should work as long as they are also from a 4x4 and not a 2WD, right? If I'm not going to use a parts truck I may just spend the money and buy a remanufactured trans instead of a used one. I'm still in the planning stage of this job and trying to figure the best way to go.

 

yup, since you have a 4X4 you will only need a 4X4 trans for your engine. then you can put your current t-case on the back of it.
you may also need driveshafts and rear trans cross member.