okay so i have an 89 bronco xlt, it has a 5.0 302 and an m5odr2 5 speed gearbox in it.
i have recently came to posses an np-435 4 speed gear box and i want to put it in my truck has anyone ever done this and if so what would i need to do it
the first problem i see is the transmission cross member namely the gussets on either side moving the brace forward is easy just measure and drill new holes for it, the gusetts though i cant figure a way to drill those holes, cause id have to get the drill inside the frame rail, any help would be great, i forsee a clutch job in the future and id like to do the swap. then

 

The ZF S5-42 is a simpler swap however, it can be done. Take a close look, my '93 has a set of holes just a few inches further forward on both frame rails presumably for a crossmember to support a shorter transmission. The frame could well have changed and the 435 hadn't been available in the Bronco since the early 80's. But someone here has more details than I do.

 

My frame (it is an 88) has the holes for the this swap. I was running a np435 for two years before doing the diesel conversion. The frames (88-89) should be the same.

 

yeah mine has the holes for the main brace, but my tranny brace has gussets that bolt to the upper part of the frame rail can i just delete the gussets? when i had my 85 f150 there were no gussets on that tranny brace, if i can delete those gussets then the rest of the job is a cake walk i just wanna make sure im not hurting the structural integrity of the cross brace