I found a zf5 out of a 2wd 460 truck that is the right price, so I'm going to do the swap. I'm also buying the neutral balance flywheel, as the 429 is a '70 block with dove-c heads. Truck is a '64 4x4 shortbed with divorced np205. Couple of questions:

Do I have to change the crossmember?
The Centerforce clutch/pressure plate has 2,600 miles on it - do I have to change it?
I don't recall the number of splines on my input shaft on the 435 - are they the same number?
Am I forced to go to a hydraulic clutch with a slave, or can I use my existing clutch linkage?
Speedo cable issues?

Thanks in advance...

 

1) You may have to move it back. I did when I went from a T-19 to a ZF.
2) The input shaft splines are larger with the ZF so you will have to change the disc anyhow.
3) See above...
4) Some have said they can make it work. I really don't know.
5) I have only done a 4X4, there is no provision for a cable on those.
My speedo cable is driven from the output of my B/W 1356 transfer case.

 

So I bought the zf and the flywheel that the seller said had been redrilled to accept the zf (a 390 flywheel with neutral balance) to mate to my 429. I pulled the Np435, new pilot bushing is in, and now I mocked up the pressure plate with the redrilled flywheel - surprise, they don't jive. I looked up the Centerforce clutch kit (#MST559033, 1 3/8 shaft, 10 spline, 11.5" clutch) and Centerforce flywheel (#700280, 176 tooth, fits 390 and 429 families) that I bought when I built the thing - they both worked just fine with the 429. I know I have to use a redrilled 390 flywheel to accept the clutch that I have, but I can't find a part number on the fly that I bought from the seller to verify its origin. If I counted correctly, the new fly has 180 teeth.

Is there an aftermarket company that specifically sells the fly I'm looking for? Or did I miss something with the compatibility of the parts I currently have?

 

385 pattern ZF's will have an 1 1/4"-10 input shaft.

You might call L&L's tech line. They have a lot of 460 conversion parts and have been doing it for a long time.

I'll admit now that I have NO experience swapping in internally balanced engines.

 

So at the bare minimum I'm buying a clutch kit...

 

i think you need a flywheel and clutch that is made for the zf 5speed then you will have to have the counter weight machined off the flywheel and get it rebalanced for the internal balanced engine.

 

My mistake - 184 teeth, I checked and rechecked....indicating 390 FE flywheel. I can tell it has been redrilled, so I'm hoping that the seller was honest.

I lined up the former pressure plate with the new 390 flywheel - the redrilled mounting holes appear to be about a 1/2 inch outward from the holes on the old pressure plate (meaning the pressure plate is too small diameter). Also, the clutch disc is too small for the ZF input shaft. It's clear that I need a new pressure plate and clutch disc - question is, what the hell part numbers do I need? Right now I dont care the manufacturer for the clutch - I'm just trying to make it all fit.

 

Gary Lewis has an epic thread going in the '80-86 forum about a ZF swap behind a 351M/400.
The information about part numbers, input splines, disc size, pressure plate depth, mechanical release, etc... might be very helpful.
HE certainly is!
Try posting in his thread.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-zf5-swap.html