Other than the zf5 or m5od as suitable mods for ol' veronica, arent there any other manual 5speeds out there that are mechanical and not hydraulic that could be installed behind a 300 powerplant?

I understand modifications would be needed and the transmissions mentioned earlier are hydraulic. Im looking for a mechanical alternative. Thanks for any input

 

No alternatives. There is nothing wrong with the hydraulic system except the occasional report of a cracked firewall, and that takes a long time to happen on a truck that has never had a clutch master on it before.

Some people with diesels or 460's have modified the external slave system to accept the mechanical clutch linkage.

 

I wasn't sure if it was possible to make a ZF5 run a mechanical clutch.

 

The small-block/300 six ZF5's have a built-in slave cylinder so it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to go mechanical with them. But, the big block and diesel ZF5's have external slaves and can be used with a mechanical linkage.

 

Is there anyway to modify the small block ZF to run the BB bellhousing setup? Love to have one but really prefer the external slave setup.

 

Sure, just need to be able to weld aluminum, do some machine work and adapt the BB/Diesel set up over to the SBF pattern trans. The bells are integral, so there is no swapping.

What is the big deal about swapping to a juice clutch? Some '83s and all '84s have a hydraulic set up that should swap right in.

Are you hauling and towing? Or is it just a driver? If just a driver, you can put a T5 in there, and use your existing bell with an adapter. Sound easier?

 

Sorry, that's not what I meant. I have a hydraulic clutch now and it works fine. I don't want to swap the bell housings what I was wondering is if there was a way to modify the SB bell so you could use the BB style external slave. Just like the idea of an external slave instead of the internal. A lot easier to change if it goes bad.

 

Cutting and welding and machine work. The bell is part of the trans. for these.

Is the T5 an option???

 

Yea, it might be. Just don't think it would be as strong or have as good gearing. Gonna have to see if I can pick up a junk M5OD or ZF and see if it can maybe be modified to mount to a standard bellhousing. See if the attached bell can be cut off and fab a mount to a regular bellhousing. Or maybe an inspection window of some kind so the slave can be swapped without pulling the trans. Just something to play around with.

 

There is also the nv4500 but an adapter would be needed ($$$). I will not be doing any towing/hauling with the truck, its strictly a daily driver. I dont have much experiance with transmissions other tban the cabled mustang. The main purpose behind this is find a viable alternative to the zf/m5 that could bolt to the 300 (300/302/351 has the same pattern according to other fte members) and be able to handle up to medium duty if the need arises. Tremec has transmissions that could fit my application, but I dont see myself slaming gears from light to light. Their Easy Shift 5/7 speed medium duty trans looked tempting to be honest, but I dont know alot about those. Either way, I would be open to both mech/hydraulic transmissions. I hope this helps clear things up lol

 

Great concept, but not possible. The "slave" is concentric, and fits over the input shaft. No way to change the slave without moving the trans back about 12". By the time it's that far back, might as well just drop it.

The reason these internal slaves got their bad reputation has to do with the factory part, and most replacements, being made of plastic. There are a few companies that offer a metal housing slave. Using one of these, and flushing the system every 2 years max, will typically make the slave outlive the clutch/PP 2-3 times over.

Plastic is cheaper than metal, so I can understand why the later models went to plastic slave/master. But, that doesn't mean these can't be swapped for a more durable setup when the time comes.

 

On the part of me being lazy at the moment, any idea of who these companies are?

Thanks!

 

Perfection/hy test is one (Advance auto). I'm too lazy to look for others right now......

 

OK, now I understand. Wasn't thinking internal slave as in throw out bearing, was picturing a regular slave cylinder. Yep I agree, if you have to pull the trans to get the throwout off just as well drop it and do the whole clutch. Thanks for clearing that up for me. Never worked with one of the M5OD or ZF's before. But guess after thinking about it, hydraulic throwout is about the only way to do an internal.

 

I am still a little confused. The zf will stand up to anything you want to do, what's wrong with it?