I'm in the middle of building a beast of an f150 and just wanted to get y'alls take on it. So please comment and tell me what you think! First lets start with the motor, I'm saying so long to the worn out 302 thats in the truck and buying a carbureted crate motor form performance unlimited check it out!347 Sroker, 331 Crate Engines, Ford Stroker Engines, Ford Performance Engine
Its a full roller 347 stroker with edelbrock heads, performer rpm air gap intake holley 750 double pumper essentially the full monty lol. They claim it produces 475Hp not sure on the torque numbers there is a youtube video of it on the dynohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO99DFdeWSE
Once that is in I'm putting in a puck type clutch to go with my 5 speed. It will use a msd 6al box as well. The truck is not going to be a daily driver so I'm running open long tubes as well. Down the road it will also see a 150 shot of nitrous. I'm removing all of the old wiring and just going to a switch panel to control ignition, fuel, fans, etc. I am also ditching the factory tanks and putting a 20 gallon fuel cell in the bed with a holley red fuel pump. What do you guys think?!

 

I think you're going to have a real hard time trying to get the truck to hook up.

Maybe a shortened axle, 4-link, tubs and a tonneau cover to hide it all?

 

Are you keeping the factory Mazda 5-speed behind that 347? If so, plan on replacing it at regular intervals.

 

I'm thinking about using the "ZF" transmission that came in the 250/350s I have herd it reacts better to high horse power. But yes I am going to blow up my mazda transmission before i replace it though.

I'm thinking about possibly a detroit locker in the rear. I assume My wheels are going to be hopping around all over the place with that power so maybe some ladder bars in the future idk...?

 

The next fuse in the drive line is the 8.8" axle. Once you start getting traction you will find the weak links.

A ZF behind a stroker 347 is probably not going to be a hot setup due to the ultra-low first gear and the fact it's a truck transmission meaning it does not shift fast.

The Lightning guys tend to favor the TKO or T56 Tremec transmissions.

 

SeattleFSB over at FullsizeBronco's found that out quickly. He put a 408 stroker in his Bronco and shortly after roasted his E4OD. With that built to handle the power he quickly grenaded the spiders in his stock rear end. A Currie F9 rear fixed that for him.

 

How about the transfer case? Will those transmissions bolt up fine to it? The gearing doesn't bother me I the ZF, will it handle the power?

 

The stock transfer case will not bolt up to a TKO or T56, it will require some fabrication to use a divorced transfer case.

Some ZF 5-speed info: ZF 5 Speed Specs | ZF S5-42 & ZF S5-47

 

The ZF5 will take the power until you start speed shifting. The syncs do NOT like that

 

i wouldn't put anything less than a properly built up E40D behind it.whats the point in the power if you can't use it? (and in this case,power isn't being made for work duty lol.) you want quick instant shifts and a trans that is build up to handle it.
get ready to lube up and bend over though,it's gunna sting a bit.but you know what they say,you gotta pay if you wanna play.

 

What transmission goes in should be based on what the truck will be used for.

Mostly drag racing, you want an automatic because they can shift faster than you ever could, and do so consistently every time.

Mostly a play toy for the street, you'll want a stick shift because auto's are BORING as hell even with a shift kit and don't give you the freedom to do exactly as you please.

The Borg-Warner 13-56 transfer case can handle the torque just fine, that same case was used behind diesels which as I'm sure you know also frequently have the power turned up on them too.

 

What do I think? I think it would be nuts for a college student (or anyone really) to sink $20k into an old pickup truck to make a hot rod. Do you have that kind of disposable income?

 

Wait a sec. OP, you never actually said what this thing would be used for. I am ASSuming street toy because you didn't mention anything else, but if you're going off-road with it then that's cool and I'd just use a ZF trans. Like I said above, the only advantage an auto has is fast, consistent shifts.

If it IS a street toy, then why are you starting with a 4x4 truck!? Either take the 4x4 parts out and sell them, or start with a 2wd. Then you can run whatever trans you want without having to worry bout the transfer case AND you'll ditch quite a few pounds from the truck as well.

Just an estimate but for every ~100 lbs you lose, you gain ~0.1 seconds in the 1/4 mile, not considering things like wind and rolling resistance. This does not apply to rotating parts that the engine has to turn such as flywheel, trans internals, driveshafts, wheels, etc because you will see even better gains by losing weight there.

 

I will generally drive it around town (stoplight drags lol) but It does go off-road a fair amount so I'm keeping the 4x4. Manual all the way, death before automatic. And yes I'm spending lots of money on a truck worth know where nere what I'm putting into it but that's motorsports plain and simple. The ZF is looking like what would be best for me with a good solid clutch.

 

8.8 will be fine with upgrades. I would go auto if it's a 4x4. Seems like an engine that is gonna pull hard in the upper RPMs so a big converter and low gears and some kind of traction device is mandatory.