Hopefully a quick question?
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New User
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Pacific Northwest
Hopefully a quick question?
Have an '85 2wd F150 regular cab longbed with a manual transmission (300/6 & NP435), and the opportunity to buy an '89 4wd F150 SuperCab shortbed, also with a manual transmission (5.0 & 5-speed)...
Should the complete 4wd powertrain from the '89 basically swap into the '85 without any major modifications? :-h
p.s. Having a driveshaft lengthened/shortened does not seem to me to be a "major" modification. Also leaves me with a choice re: which engine to use, doesn't it? The 300/6 gets pretty good gas mileage, BTW.
Should the complete 4wd powertrain from the '89 basically swap into the '85 without any major modifications? :-h
p.s. Having a driveshaft lengthened/shortened does not seem to me to be a "major" modification. Also leaves me with a choice re: which engine to use, doesn't it? The 300/6 gets pretty good gas mileage, BTW.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 11
From: Wausau, WI
The only problem I can see you having besides driveshafts is the shifter for the 4wd goes through the floor instead of the center plate above the trans. You could also cut out the piece from the '89 and use it as a template to cut the new hole in your floor.
Seeing you would be buying the whole truck, you would have everything to do the swap correctly. Is your '85 hydraulic clutch? I don't remember when they switched over.
I used the front axle out of an '87 in my old '83 and had no issues with alignment or parts fitting. Frames are basically the same.
Seeing you would be buying the whole truck, you would have everything to do the swap correctly. Is your '85 hydraulic clutch? I don't remember when they switched over.
I used the front axle out of an '87 in my old '83 and had no issues with alignment or parts fitting. Frames are basically the same.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,005
Likes: 2,750
From: Virginia
Should be an easy swap. There is a slight chance you may even be able to use your old driveshaft. I am guessing the extend cab truck probably has two driveshafts.
Keeping the 300 would be an easier swap. Messing with all the fuel injection wiring is not my idea of fun. Gas tanks are different also. You have everything to do it though.
Keeping the 300 would be an easier swap. Messing with all the fuel injection wiring is not my idea of fun. Gas tanks are different also. You have everything to do it though.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,560
Likes: 1
i would stick with the 300.
but depending on which 5 speed it is and what you do with the truck, i may or may not want it. there were two 5-speeds offered behind a 300. the zf which is bulletproof and mostly found in heavier trucks, and then there was the mazdog m5od, which is disliked for being generally light-duty as well as its excessively high ratio for reverse, which is killer when backing up with trailers or loads.
but depending on which 5 speed it is and what you do with the truck, i may or may not want it. there were two 5-speeds offered behind a 300. the zf which is bulletproof and mostly found in heavier trucks, and then there was the mazdog m5od, which is disliked for being generally light-duty as well as its excessively high ratio for reverse, which is killer when backing up with trailers or loads.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
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From: Northeast, OK
Reverse on my gas model is a nice ratio. Not quite as low as 1st, but a nice speed nonetheless. If that's not slow enough there's the t-case stick and dropping it into 4Lo makes everything SLOW.
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