Is there any structural difference between a 97 ford f150 4.6l v8, one with auto and one with manual? besideds the hole in the floor.

Im thinking of going to manual when my tranny dies, its manual, and i hate it...

So im guessing a hole in the floor and some differnet brakets. How about the computer. What would i need to change.

 

Nobody likes the hard ones. I'm almost certain you'd need a new computer, what with the celinoids reporting codes back to it and all. Theres probably difference in length so you'd need a new drive shaft. Then theres the hard part, the steering colume.

 

I know this won't help ya, Anthony, but I'm thinking about a manual upgrade eventually (in the next 5 or so years)... especially if the 4R70W starts getting squirrely. I'll be looking at transplanting a 6 speed from a 5.4 or 6.8 SD...

-Kerry

 

well ive decided...when i get the funds, and get it all ready to be built...im going to try to do it...Your runnning a 7700 multi fuel vehicle right?

ANyways, the way a 6 speed for a 5.8 or the 6.8 might be geared might be to much for the 4.6 and 5.4 (expecially if you use a 6.8)

Like me, i planning on a sleeper, offroad type truck 3-4 inch lift, big horsepower on stock motor..

 

No, mine is a straight gas "L" code 5.4l 7700... the gearing in a 6 speed doesn't change between either SD gas engine. It only changes between gas and diesel. The gas 6 spd is "deeper" due to the lower torque output from the gas engine. It's known as a "low" torque S6-650 transmission. You start out in second gear unloaded and that's like 3.31:1, that's pretty good. You want a deep 1st gear, well it's got that too...5.79:1. The OD is 0.70:1, It's basically a 4spd w/OD (aka 5spd) with a creeper gear (aka Granny Low).

The "bell housing" on a ZF-6 from a 5.4 or 6.8 is a direct bolt up to your 4.6. The mods involved are pretty much as Mat described, the biggest he didn't mention was the fab for a new crossmember. We'll need a 4x tranny to make the transition easier should a tailshaft difference be involved. IIRC the xfer case (44-06) is the same, the difference is the front diff construction (no vacuum actuated shift fork on an SD).

There's a lot more tech available on the ZF-5 speed swaps... I may go that route. We'll see, I have a few years left.

-Kerry

 

the v-8 was never offered with a manual, there is a lot of wiring to be done and some fab work. you will need a donor superduty truck.

 

kerry i got a questoin. why is it a straight L code 7700 wouldnt that be just a regular truck, or doese it have special gas saving charateristics?

 

The "L" code engine is the gas only 5.4. Nothing special about it. The 7700's were all built with 5.4's and some did come with NGV and Bi-fuel prep 5.4's. The NGVs and Bi-fuels are coded differently in the VIN.

7700 was the heavy duty package... 7700GVWR from the higher spring rates and on 4X's the larger diameter tortion bars, heavier duty frame (thicker cross section - more tortional strength), it also came with the 7 lug/16" wheels, heavier duty tranny cooling, heavier duty front brakes, 10.25" rear... and yes the 5.4L engine in either gas, NVG or bi-fuel prep depending on the year.

Yes, Mike, you are correct, the F150s w/ 5.4's never came with manuals. Why can't I think about building one? Any wiring harnesses that may be required can easily be obtained from a SD donor (junkyard - I don't have to butcher them) or ZF/Ford (I've had help with harness mods from my local Ford dealer before), though I can think of only requiring a reverse gear sensor as the rear end has the speed sensor. Many of the wiring harnesses for the automatic can be disconnected/ retired in place or reused. Telling the ECU don't worring about an automatic can be very easy. Frame fab is minimal compared to a complete SAS... moving a cross member, to me, is minimal. Getting the parts for the clutch pedal assembly, slave cylinder, et al. may be interesting... that could be an in depth point of discussion when I get there. The drive shafts may actually be rougher and that's what driveline shops are for.

Like I said I am just thinking about it, IN 5 YEARS ... I'll take pics for you, so you can see...

-Kerry