interchange ?'s
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interchange ?'s
Hello! I have a 86 F-150 2 wheel drive with the 4.9 six. I am wanting to convert to 4 wheel drive. I know that everything is basically a bolt in swap with a 80-86 vintage pickup. I have looked in my area for awhile now and haven't been able to find a donor vehicle that was worth picking up for my swap. I have however found a 88 F-150 that has just recently had the transfer case and rearend rebuilt and has also had new tirerods and such put on. It was involved in a fender bender and the insurance company totalled it. It could be made to drive with a new radiator/ radiator support, but the body isn't that great. I was wondering if the transfer case, transmission, and front axle would interchange with my 86. Let me know what you think?
THanks!
Ben
THanks!
Ben
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2010
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Hello! I have a 86 F-150 2 wheel drive with the 4.9 six. I am wanting to convert to 4 wheel drive. I know that everything is basically a bolt in swap with a 80-86 vintage pickup. I have looked in my area for awhile now and haven't been able to find a donor vehicle that was worth picking up for my swap. I have however found a 88 F-150 that has just recently had the transfer case and rearend rebuilt and has also had new tirerods and such put on. It was involved in a fender bender and the insurance company totalled it. It could be made to drive with a new radiator/ radiator support, but the body isn't that great. I was wondering if the transfer case, transmission, and front axle would interchange with my 86. Let me know what you think?
THanks!
Ben
THanks!
Ben
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,521
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From: Lost
You could swap the entire drivetrain (trans, transfer case, front & rear axles) into your truck. If both have the same wheelbase, even the driveshafts would be a direct swap.
The rear axle may not be needed, it all depends on the gear ratio. If both rear axles have the same ratio, then swapping would be optional.
The hyd clutch system differs, but they can be merged, allowing the 5 speed to be used in the place of the current 4 speed. If your current 4 speed is not the OD variation, you will gain OD, but loose the ultra low 1st gear. If you have the 4 speed OD, the 5 speed is a better option, as it has less gear spread between 1st & 4th than the spread between 1st & 3rd in the 4 speed.
4th gear in the 5 speed is direct, and the 4 speed has direct as either 3rd in the OD unit, or 4th in the non-OD unit.
The non-OD 4 speed is the toughest of the bunch, the 5 speed being 2nd, and the OD 4 speed being the weakest.
The rear axle may not be needed, it all depends on the gear ratio. If both rear axles have the same ratio, then swapping would be optional.
The hyd clutch system differs, but they can be merged, allowing the 5 speed to be used in the place of the current 4 speed. If your current 4 speed is not the OD variation, you will gain OD, but loose the ultra low 1st gear. If you have the 4 speed OD, the 5 speed is a better option, as it has less gear spread between 1st & 4th than the spread between 1st & 3rd in the 4 speed.
4th gear in the 5 speed is direct, and the 4 speed has direct as either 3rd in the OD unit, or 4th in the non-OD unit.
The non-OD 4 speed is the toughest of the bunch, the 5 speed being 2nd, and the OD 4 speed being the weakest.
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Thanks everyone for your responses. I just got off of the phone with a guy that my neighbor recommended to visit with about this swap. He said everything should swap over, but he was worried about the front spring mounts where the front coil springs mount to the frame. He also wasn't sure about if the transmission/transfercase crossmember would bolt up to my 86 frame. Whats your guys opinion or thoughts on this??
Thanks!
Ben
Thanks!
Ben
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2010
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RW,
Good to know! I have the non od version and am contemplating the ZFS swap but I do like the fact that the trans seems bullet proof.
Good to know! I have the non od version and am contemplating the ZFS swap but I do like the fact that the trans seems bullet proof.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Lost
Thanks everyone for your responses. I just got off of the phone with a guy that my neighbor recommended to visit with about this swap. He said everything should swap over, but he was worried about the front spring mounts where the front coil springs mount to the frame. He also wasn't sure about if the transmission/transfercase crossmember would bolt up to my 86 frame. Whats your guys opinion or thoughts on this??
Thanks!
Ben
Thanks!
Ben
Crossmember for the trans *may* sit a little further back for the 5 speed, but it should be swappable. May need to drill a couple holes though. Having a complete chassis for the donor makes it much simpler, especially if the wheelbase is the same. This aspect just simplifies the rear driveshaft portion, the rest is the same regardless of wheelbase.
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Post Fiend
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From: Lost
The Mazda 5 speed is certainly a bit stouter than the old 4 speed OD, but lacks in comparison to either the 4 speed HD (non-OD) or ZF 5 speed.
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Junior User
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Thanks again everyone for your responses! So if I am understanding this right, the 86 and 88 frames are pretty much identical then right? Just a few body/interior differences then? Also, the guy told me that the 5 speed was not the mazda, "these are his exact words, "Its not that cheap mazda, its the heavier one." lol Anyway, could this may have had the ZF swapped in??
Ben
Ben
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From: Virginia
Someone on here before claimed you could get the zf in certain year f150's. Said his dad had a original one. We might be able to tell what the truck is supposed to have once you get it, and you can give us the tranny code located on the door jamb. You can also probably tell when you start looking at the wiring to the tranny. Unless they had a donor also, you will see wires spliced in more than likely. That's the great thing about having a factory donor though, it all bolts in and all the wiring plugs in. There is a tranny harness. It starts at a lime green plug under the brake booster. You can unplug this harness, and plug the donor harness right in, and everything will plug right in and work.
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Well thanks a bunch everyone for your knowlege! Since everything should swap fairly easy, I have decided to go ahead and speak for the pickup. I will let you all know what I find when I get it home. I haven't seen the pickup yet, but the guy says its mechanically sound except for the fender bender damage.
Ben
Ben