My 87 F-350 with a 460 and C6 could really use an overdrive and lockup converter. Ideas?

Did they put AODs behind 460s, could it be made to live? Any others that don't need a computer to run? Or there are aftermarket computers for? Need this to be low cost, sure it would drive better but milage is the real motivator, and don't work to spend a few grand to save a few hundred.

I could go manual tranny, in fact I think I'd prefer it. What's common, low cost and good? A granny and overdrive would be nice.

With both options think I'd prefer a 2wd version and just put in a divorced 205 transfer case. That will make tranny options cheaper and more common to find.

 

Is your truck 2 or 4wd now, that should decide what trans your want.

If you want a stick, get a zf5. Simple bolt in and you get overdrive

 

4wd of course, but as I said I'd likely use a 2wd tranny and a divorced transfer. The truck is a CC LB putting the transfer further back and seperate would be a good thing.

zf5 huh, pros and cons?

 

Can't think of any cons to a ZF5 other than the hassle of converting from auto to manual, which can't be that big of a deal.

And no they never put an AOD behind a 460, so none of them ever had the bolt pattern to bolt to the 460. If you decide to stick to an auto the E4OD has OD and a lockup converter. You can get stand alone controllers for them.

 

What did the ZF5 come stock in? Does it have a granny low? 2wd vs 4wd versions which is more common?

Often when I shop for big ticket parts I usually just shop for a beat down truck to buy cheap and get all the parts I need and can use out of and sell the rest. So what truck am I shopping for? I could use some other 92-96 parts so could be a good deal.

 

The ZF5 was the only 5 speed in the F250's and F350's from '88-97. The possible exception might be the trucks with 302s and 300's but you need a truck with a 460 anyway so that's moot. Good call on buying a whole parts truck. Weather or not it's a true granny low was a topic of much debate not long ago. The gas versions had a 5.72 1st gear, not as low as the older 4 speeds. Not sure which is more common.

 

Great well that makes shopping easy. A 5.72 1st is certainly a granny, this whole grannies can't be syncro thing is BS.

 

There is a wide ratio and a close ratio version. not sure how to tell the difference. Either one will work as well as the other, just depends on if you think one will work for you better than the other.

 

I believe all the gas ones have the same ratios. Sf42 diesels are all the same as are sf47 diesel.

 

The 460 zf5 came from 87-95 as a S42
it also came as a S47 from 96/97

The EASY way to tell when looking at a zf 5 what engine it is from is...
ALL zf5s have pto covers
ALL zf5s are aluminum case with integrated bell housing

Now, where they differ

460 zf5
5.72 1st and 5.24 reverse(this in on tag on driver side of trans) Both s42 and s47 had same ratios
Also the slave cylinder mount is on the OUTSIDE of the trans, drivers side

small block ZF
Same as above BUT slave cylinder is mounted INSIDE bell housing

diesel
Came in 2 different gear ratios
4.14 1st / 3.79 reverse(this in on tag on driver side of trans)S42
5.08 1st / 4.66 reverse(this in on tag on driver side of trans)S47
slave cylinder mounts on the OUTSIDE as well.



You will ONLY want a 460 ZF5, weather it is the S42 or S47 is up to you

I would find a 4wd one. That will make things MUCH simpler.
T-case will bolt on like stock, driveshafts will bolt on like stock.
You will NOT need 3 custom drive shaft and a custom t-case mount.

You can also use one from a 88-97 460 F-superdtuy(F450). It is the same trans as the 4wd, just has a drum parking brake bolt on where the t-case normally goes

 

Wow thanks that's fantistic

So your saying the zf5 4wd version is the same length as my c6 and has the same output and mounting? Wow that could make things a lot easier and cheaper.

The extrernal slave I assume just pushes on a rather typical clutch fork? So I could use something else besides the hydrolic slave if I prefered.

Just for kicks there any zf6's that would mount to a 460?

 

No ZF6 has the correct bolt patten

ZF5 is close to the length of the c6. But you may need drive shafts from donor truck.

As far as anything other than hydraulic , you could but would have to be inventive. But I dont know why you would want mechanical linkage that you have to constantly adjust

 

I can attest to the ZF5. It's about as bulletproof of a transmission as they come. Sweet granny low and overdrive 5th. I have one on my 89 460 and can't imagine the truck with anything else. Like others have said, the only automatic transmission the 460 ever came with for it's whole production run going back to the early 70s was the C6. The AOD just couldn't handle the torque.

The C6, while reliable and solid as a rock, is inherently inefficient and robs a lot of horsepower from the engine. If you switch over, You will probably save a ton in gas over the C6 with it's inherent inefficiencies and lack of overdrive. I talked to a guy the other day who has the virtually the same truck as mine, but with the C6. He said he gets 5.5 MPG city, and 9 Hwy. I get 7.5 MPG city and 12.5 Hwy with my ZF5.

An alternative is bolting on one of those gear vendors overdrive units. They are a bolt on install on a C6, and turn it into an automatic 6 speed with overdrive. They look pretty cool, but it's hard to justify spending like $3,000 on an old truck that's not driven much. It would take many, many years to justify the gas savings.

 

Actually the 460 was available with the E4od which is an automatic with OD.

 

Sounds like ZF5 is the way to go. Seams the s42 and s47 very only in there torque ratings. Anyone actually broke a s42 where an s47 might have lived?