Vehicle Application
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Peterstown
Vehicle Application
My 1979 Ford F150 short bed 4x4, had a 1978 351M engine in it and a C6 Automatic Tranny. Both needed to be rebuilt. Last week, I came across what I thought was a jewel of a find. I found a 1978 Ford Bronco with a 400 engine (which I know, is visually identical to the 351M), and it had the same Tranny, a C6 Automatic. And both engine and tranny had been rebuilt with 0 miles on them. I got the whole vehicle for $1000. My plan was to put that engine and tranny in my truck and crush the bronco. Crushing the bronco would pay me as much as I paid for it. So in other words, I got the drivetrain for free. The problem I found while removing it from the bronco is that the tail housing between the tranny and transfer case is 8 11/16 inches long. The tail shaft on my truck is 5 11/16 inches. Does anybody have any inexpensive insight on this matter, or am I in trouble with my wife? LOL! What do I need to do to the Bronco drivetrain to make it fit into my truck? The Ideas that I had were to either have new driveshafts made, or swap the tail shafts and tail shaft housings between the 2 transmissions.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,587
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From: Eagle River, AK
You might have me on this one...
Do they both use the same T-Case, or was one a NP205 and the other a NP203?
The part between the transmission and the t-case is just an adapter. Is the output shaft actually longer on the Bronco transmission, or is it just the adapter that is longer?
If the output shaft of the transmissions are the same, you "should" be able to use the F150 adapter and coupler to connect everything together.
With the parts you have, there has got to be a combination that'll work out.
I am hoping that someone with more knowledge on the 351M/400 engine/C-6/T-Case combo's chimes in soon......
Do they both use the same T-Case, or was one a NP205 and the other a NP203?
The part between the transmission and the t-case is just an adapter. Is the output shaft actually longer on the Bronco transmission, or is it just the adapter that is longer?
If the output shaft of the transmissions are the same, you "should" be able to use the F150 adapter and coupler to connect everything together.
With the parts you have, there has got to be a combination that'll work out.
I am hoping that someone with more knowledge on the 351M/400 engine/C-6/T-Case combo's chimes in soon......
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2012
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You need to swap the c6 output shaft's and adapter housings from the 150 to the bronco. It requires taking both apart and reassembling. Then your driveshaft's will fit. Is the Bronco body rusted out? If not someone would buy it.
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Peterstown
Thanks dually. That is the main idea that I had. I just hated to accept the fact. Was kind of hoping that there was a less complicated fix. Well, at least it isn't going to cost me anymore money. And to answer your question, no, there is absolutely no rust on the Bronco body. It has a dent in the right rear corner that can be pulled out. The frame has pitted rust on it, but no wholes in the frame. A little bit of sandblasting and some paint, and the frame would be fine. The only problem is, in my part of the country, people want to get something for nothing. At today's current metal prices, I can get $920 out of the Bronco. If I tried to sell it, I wouldn't get half of that. It truly is a sad situation. I don't have the time or the space to restore the Bronco. Plus I need the money from it to finish my truck. I do have enough experience to do the change, I guess I was just trying to find the easy way out.
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Peterstown
Well, I dissected both transmissions today and swapped output shafts. Wasn't nothing to it. I'm a mechanic by trade. I've got a college degree in it. Worked for Chrysler for about 5 years, and was a mechanic in the military. Although, I haven't done it as a profession for about 14 years, since I got my disability from the military. I still do a good bit of mechanic work as a hobby, but, it's getting harder for me every day. I ain't but 45, but, I just can't seem to handle the heavy stuff anymore. It really sucks the big one. I'm way to young to be in this shape. Anyway, through all these years of mechanic work, I've only rebuilt 5 transmissions. And I'm proud of them, because none of them were comebacks.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2012
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Good job man! I know how you feel. I got 10 on you and worked in a Ford garage for 20. My body say's no more, bad shoulder's and knee's. I have been out of it for 10 and still do all my own stuff. Keep after it, you will get her done. Oh yea thank you for your service. I also served a long time ago.
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Peterstown
Thanks AK, and thank you Dually. Thank you for your service and your support. I, like you, have bad knees. I injured both my knees and both my ankles during my 3rd tour of Iraq. Glad it's over, but not glad about it's outcome. Oh well. I guess that's life as we know it. As far as that Bronco having a new rebuilt engine, I have a good note on that too. The oil pan seals were leaking (I guess maybe they dry rotted over the last 5 years), and when I removed it, I found brand new pistons, and cylinder walls well preserved. They looked like they had just been honed today. As I mentioned in my original post, I should be able to get as much back out of the Bronco, as I paid for it. This has really turned out to be a win win situation. And, I owe it all to the Lord!
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