Hey guys, I've got a pathetic Jasper... I've done what I can to make it last and make it shift right (John Wood Valve Body pretty much fixed it), but I know that Reverse and 3rd are gonna go out on me eventually (both slip, but Reverse is the worst... they both share the same drive clutch BTW... I don't expect more than 10K to 20K outta what's left of my transmission). Anyways, I know I could build a 4R100 up so it'd last, but I'm really thinking of going with a manual... I heard it put pretty well in another forum so I'll say it here: "I'm just a farm boy and I can't afford a bunch of transmissions!" Now, I know there's a TON of nasty arguments that have come up over the auto vs. manual, but I'm just looking for some input so lets act like adults, alright?

So, here's what I wanna know: should I go with a ZF6, or try to custom swap an NV4500 or NV5600? I heard the New Venture manuals are about the toughest transmissions out there... the point of this swap would be to make the truck go as far as possible. I have intentions of adding a DP-Tuner, 38R, and Stage-2's later on down the road, but for now I'm stock. But I know as far as bolting everything up, from the engine to the transfer case, it can all be bolted up. I don't think the shifter would fit through the same hole the ZF6 would (I'd cut out the hump from a stick and swap it into my truck to keep it clean). But I don't wanna have to mod the floor a ton... I don't wanna have to use custom drive shafts either. I don't have a problem with sliding the X-member around... I expect that. Any thoughts on this? How tough is the ZF6? How long could I make a built-up 4R100 last? I know that a swap is gonna cost me around $3000 if I buy most of my parts, but I think I'd scout a junk yard instead. So anyways, post up with your thoughts! Any other transmission swaps I could do? Thanks, guys!

 

BTS Trans.

Last one you will have to buy. (or at least that's what I've read!)

When mine gets ready to go south, I'll be going to John Woods. A helluva lot closer for me....

 

I love my ZF6 and wouldn't do anything to change it. I know that you can make a 4r100 bulletproof with the right parts and know how. I guess it's all about what you want out of your truck. When you decide to go with the DP, 38R, and bigger sticks you will probably want a automatic because it will be alot faster. But for longevity I vote ZF6 (there are alot fewer parts in a manual to tear up).

 

Well, I don't mind spending a bit more to make my 4R100 last... I mean, alot of us have those "lean on the door and drive" kinda nights when the last thing we wanna do is use that left foot and right arm. I think a stick would be fun... I don't need to have a FAST truck. I mean, it'd be cool, but my goal is to make a truck that'll tow a trailer like it ain't back there, but at the same time, hold up to the hell a farm will cause, and last like the engine that's powering the truck. I suppose I could swap in a zf6 for the time-being and work on rebuilding my 4R100 myself... that would be fun!

And after looking some, an NV4500/NV5600 swap would pretty much blow my "mod it so you can put it back" policy... I like to mod it, but I like it to be so I could put it back at any given moment, especially if I ever had to sell the truck (I'll avoid that if I can). I also like my mods to look like they belonged, came from the factory that way, and were a manufactured product, a rigged piece of crap! Anyways, sorry for the rant...

*gets of soap box*

 

That ZF6 will hold up for farm use and for play

 

Hmmm... I'm wondering here. I mean, can I burn up a built-up 4R100? All I do is haul on a regular basis through the mountains (about 3K), but I intend to pull a heavy trailer for farm equipment as well as a travel trailer (both around 10K or so). I also intend to do injectors and a tuner one of these days... I need my transmission to last. If a 4R100 can't handle it, then I'm not gonna spend my money... I may need to just call John Wood and BTS (if I can get BTS to return my messages!) and get some info off them. I'd go with John Wood, though, just because he's already proven himself to me (his valve body fixed my trans at his recommendation OVER THE PHONE!!!)... thanks for the input.

What's all this crap I hear about the ZF6 not lasting long? Are these guys abusing their trucks? I know there are some (are they called compensators) in there that will wear... what's up with that?

 

Well, I just changed out my 4r100 auto for the ZF-6 and can say it is definately worth it. It ended up costing me a good chunk of money, but I got all new hydraulics, a new clutch flywheel and pressure plate, a trans with <90,000 miles on it, a manual transfer case with <90,000 miles on it, all of the necessary bolts, floor hump, cooler lines, steering column (which you DO NOT need contrary to popular belief), wiring harness, computer, and a few other items I am forgetting. If you need any help let me know. Most of the stuff is fresh in my head. A safe estimate would be 20hrs labor.

 

Yup, I'm really considering it... I just wish I could get some feedback from both guys with built-up 4R100's and guys with ZF6's that have really worked their trucks and have put MANY miles on them. Anybody out there?

 

I just changed the ZF6 in my service truck. it had 300,000 miles on it. The truck was a hot shot truck in Texas than went to the north east for a while and lastly a cowboys truck. than I bought it. it lived it's life overloaded and under maintained. the only reason for the tranny swap was a broken cooler line dumped all the fluid when he was towing about 12,000 pounds in a goose neck trailer.
of all the ranch trucks I maintain they love the 2000 powerstroke I sold them with the ZF6 it will out pull all the other trucks and go another 200 miles on a tank of fuel.
the 4r100 transmissions I have built for them are lasting extremely well considering the way they are treated (one just left the shop with a 24' stock trailer and 10,000 lbs of horses) 90 pounds of air in the tires so they weren't squished! the only problem they are having is towing heavy loads at slow speeds (climbing the mountains here in Arizona with 10,000 + pound loads and only able to go 3 or 4 miles an hour) they tend to over heat so I add the tru cool cooler, temp gauge and run mobil 1 synthetic fluid in them

 

as for miles all of the ranch trucks are over 200,000 miles some are over 300,000

 

Nice... that's the kinda feedback I'm looking for: practical under real-life situations, not 500HP at the strip every weekend and driving like a scalded dog for 100 miles every day. I'm assuming you rebuild transmissions for a living, or at least have alot of experience with them. What's the typical life of a stock ZF6 and your built-up 4R100s?

 

Yup, just slow to chime in. 343,000 miles on my ZF-6, but I've never towed more than 25,000 pounds with it. I'd start off by saying "if it were me", but let's face it, I would have never purchased an auto tranny. Now my wife's truck has a 4R100. She drives the handshaker just fine (she used to have a ZF-6 too on her previous truck.)

If you're planning on modding the truck like you're talking about, I'd stick in a BTS or JW 4R100. That's what we'll do to the wife's truck when hers starts acting up. The ZF-6 is a great tranny, but it's not bulletproof.

I've seen pictures of Cale blowing a 7.3 block into 3 pieces with over 100 psi of boost. If a BTS tranny can handle that, I'd say it's strong enough. You're already familiar with JW products, and I now DP and JW work well together. Why not call John back and tell him what you're thinking about and see what he says?

 

Well, I would've already, but I called him MANY times for help and identified myself as "the guy that bought the valve body from you". It'd be hard to keep it straight if I said I was Jon... I just need to break down and tell him. I know he's good-natured and he'd take it well. It's pretty interesting how many good vibes I'm getting about my 4R100... I love it, but I am just in need of something that will last, won't cost a TON of money, and is easy to fix/rebuild if needed. I'd be willing to give up "leaning on the door and driving" if everything would last longer, but if I can get that kinda longevity outta a 4R100, then I'm game! I was told that to go JW or BTS is dependent on where I am... whichever is closer basically. I don't know... I've still got time, but I'd like to get it figured out so I can stop thinking about it and know what I'll do as soon as the trans pukes on me. Thanks for the replies... and BTW, 26K is pretty incredible. I doubt I'd ever pull that much... but still, that's good!

 

I guess the question now is, do you want to drive a manual or an auto. I have no doubt a JW or BTS auto, or a ZF-6 will hold up fine. If we were talking stock 4r100, then I would say ZF-6. It seems how you will be using it comes down to preference on an auto or manual as both will cost about the same. Remember this though, you will be getting used parts with the manual swap unless you get reman, so the history is unknown, whereas the same amount of money spent on a built auto gets you a new trans in an old case... Less gamble on the auto

 

Right... I don't know. A manual would be fun every now and then and would be alot more direct. I could have control over when it shifts, too... for instance, when I'm climbing a hill and could make it up without down-shifting, but the truck thinks there's a load and down-shifts. See what I mean? I'm sure a good trans a tuning would make it WAY better... a stick really doesn't fit the "Lariat" the truck is anyhow. I just got a newer PCM and really don't want another one... it's tough. I wish I could get some miles feedback on some JW and BTS trannies!