4-speed Tranny Question...
 

I have a '86 F-150 and its getting horrible gas mileage, because i have a granny gear 4-speed and 3.50 gears in the rear end....so i badly need an overdrive gear, and the syncros in my current tranny are worn out because the tranny has 190,000 on it with no overhaul...so i was considering a 5-speed(M5R2, ZF) or the 4-speed that they put in the "'86 and below" trucks would be fine, but i need to know what this tranny is called so i can start searching around for one....im sure one of you could help me out with this:-huh

and anymore info you guys could give me about these tranny's would be great:-X22

my 85 has a tod (topmounted od) the other onver drive tranny used was the srod (single rail od) but both have a high first gear and aren't very strong. so hauling any good sized load could result in failure. they are also nowhere near strong enoughy to tow much of anything.
You could look into a different rear gear set.

Well im not gonna be towing at all...I just need a good tranny that has an overdrive gear and is not all sloppy and worn out like my current one is

if you have a granny gear, you don't have the TOD or SROD. you have one of 3 transmissions...a Borg-Warner T-18 or T-19, or a New Process 435. if you can shift into reverse while rolling, you have the T-19 (if memory serves). the TOD and SROD are Tremec trannies...both have an OD gear (obviously), but the TOD is the better of the two. I've had both, and I have managed to pull some significant loads with the SROD (5000 lbs.)

Well it looks like the SROD and TOD are hard trannies to find, so i think im gonna go with a 5-speed...I think the M5R2 is the one to go with, are these tranny's fairly easy to come by? and how much do you think im going to pay for a low mileage one?

This is just a suggestion. What if you leave the 4 speed granny box in place, and change your rearend gears (3.08, 3.00. or 2.73)? Or even cheaper yet, just put a taller set of tires on the rear? You mentioned your 4 speed is getting pretty worn out, I can believe it I rebuilt mine last winter at around 180k. Check out the Bronco Graveyard website they carry complete rebuild kits for both 4 speed grannyboxes Ford used (New Process 435 and Borg Warner T-18). I am partial to having the granny gear, it comes in handy if you need a low gear for pulling stumps or any other situation where you need a little extra grunt.

If you are wanting to go to a 5 speed go with the ZF from what I understand its built like a mack truck and has low gear and overdrive. Best of both worlds, if I switch thats what I would go with.

well first of all, i really like having the 3.50 gears for a little get up whenever i need it, so all i need is a transmission with and overdrive gear and ill be fine...and about the zf, i would take one, but i have absolutly no use for the granny gear, i dont ever plan on towing anything so the that gear would be useless, thats why i want to get a M5R2 because its perfect for what i need...so does anyone know how much money i could get a low mileage one for?

Ford Fan... i never intended to take my truck offroad though its a beater until i got a phone call. My buddy had a 99 F-250 5.4 and got suck in a mud pit. My best friend and i drove seperately and it was a good thing we did. He has a 94 Bronco w/ 31's and h could not get over the hill (Very steep and fairly long. going to pipeline). i had 33's and i was able to clear the hill. we used F-250, granny and the 300 CI to pull out the poor truck. never though i had to use it, but its worth having. plus u can start in 2nd REALLY easily. lol

well since i dont really know much about the ZF can someone help me out on what i need to do the swap???

im lookin in2 the zf myself. which tranny u get depends on the transfer case i believe. i have been told that there are 2 models to fit each transfer case. i assume this is due to light and HD applications. ull need a new clutch maybe bell housing.other than that it should be a direct swap.

well mines a 2WD so there is no Tranfer Case...do they even make these tranny's for 2WD's???

yea. they had to. the 300 was available in 2 and 4x4 trucks with the zf. its gonna be a much easier swap for you then me.

find a 87-98 f250 or f350 with the 300-6 or 351w. you'll be good to go with the zf 5spd. since you have a 86 it'll bolt right in since ya have a hydro clutch. the zf has the bellhousing built onto the tranny so you wont need one.

so i bolts right in where the T-18 went??? no new driveshaft or crossmember or anything like that??? and the shifter comes through the same place???