Okay, I know this swap has been covered before, but I can't find a definitive answer for my own setup. Just for reference my M5 is alright for me, this truck is just a daily driver, but on occasion I do use it to pull, and seeing that the M5 needs a little freshening up, I figured I'd spend a few extra bucks and get the ZF.

The truck in question is a '92 supercab shortbed F150 with a 302. I know I need to be looking for an F250 with the 300 or 351 (unless there were some LD 250's with 302's?), anyway I know there will be a driveshaft issue since they didn't make SC/SB 250's. I know supercabs have a two piece driveshaft, so if I got the front shaft from a SC 250 would it mate to the rear shaft on my 150? If not what should I do about this?

As always, I appreciate any tips you guys can give, and since small block ZF's are a bit rare in the yards here, is anyone close to KY willing to part with one? '88-'91 version preferably. Thanks in advance.

 

I was able to do what you said with the drive-shaft. I used an F250 front half, which bolted right to the frame where the original carier bearing mounted, then I had a driveshaft shop make the rear half the same length as the back half of my OEM driveshaft and it fit perfectly. I didn't want to mess with the OEM driveshaft in case something happened and I had to undo the swap.

 

I should have a fresh 4x4 ZF5 shortly after tax time, as I am planning a 460 swap.

BTW I hae heard of people on this forum using factory M5OD shafts when swapping to the ZF5 since they are so close in overall length.

 

That would be ideal, but weren't the outputs different? I thought the M5 used a yoke and the ZF had the u-joint directly on the transmission. If that were the case, I couldn't just use the ZF front half with the original rear?

 

I have no clue about the 2wd transmissions. I was just assuming the truck was a 4x4

 

on that truck I wouldn't trade the mazda trans for the zf. the mazda trans is geared well for the street, since first gear is good for some takeoff speed. if you swap to zf, you will rarely (if ever) use first and always start in 2nd, leaving only 3 gears to get you to od. the zf5 is a 3 speed with granny gear and overdrive, whereas the mazda trans is a 4 speed w/ od.

just something to think about. . .your 302 is not going to like the extra rpm drop between the gears of the zf, so if you don't need a zf i'd rebuild the mazda and drive on.

 

There's nothing wrong with a ZF-302 combination. The gear splits are better than the 4-speed that was originally in my truck.

If you (Ranger80) end up mixing and matching two-piece driveshafts, be sure to have the final product balanced as an assembly.

 

I agree that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the 302/ZF5. In fact I had no problems daily driving my F250 with an anemic 80s 302 and ZF5.

 

of course theres "nothing wrong with it". but the mazda gearing is much better for the street than the zf5, and the 302's awful torque production only amplifies this fact.

i ran the zf with my 302, and i sure missed the mazda trans when i used the truck on the street.

if youre not at risk of blowing up a mazda, it is a much more street friendly option. zf doable? of course. optimal? no.

if a zf6 mated to a 351, that's what id be running so i could have best of all worlds. a zf6 would virtually perform like the mazda trans on the street with the advantage of the granny when off.

 

If only they manufactured the ZF6 with the SBF bolt pattern.

 

They did make SCSB F250s.

Diesel and big block only and they ONLY came in 5 speed when 4wd

They were made in 95,96,97

As for not using 1st gear? I use mine EVERY time I start out and I have a big block

2.94 is WAY to high to start out (ZF5 2nd gear)

 

there are WAY more variables in the equation that are not addressed when you make a blanket statement akin to the one above

your truck prob weighs near 8000 lbs, his weighs <5. you have 35's, whats he running? stock(ish) size 2wd truck? what clutch are you running? a chattery ceramic?

I start mine in 2nd every time im driving unloaded on the street, with 4.10's and 37's. my truck also weights <5500 lbs with no take off chatter.

mazda
1st-->3.35
2nd-->1.93
3rd-->1.29
4th-->1.00
5th-->0.68

early zf
1st-->5.72
2nd-->2.94
3rd-->1.61
4th-->1.0
5th-->0.76

yea, the 2nd is a little taller in the zf. . . .but 1st is obsolete in most unloaded applications. my entire point, and the foundation for my advice to the OP, was to recognize that the zf basically does in 3 gears what the mazda trans does in 4. drivability is not going to be at all the same, and acceleration will be negatively effected with the swap.

 

I found an old article on-line (linked from an old thread here) about a couple of companies that made a new front piece for the ZF6 that would allow the ZF6 to be mounted to a separate bellhousing. Sadly, the two companies involved no longer offer this product. It looked like an elegant solution to a knotty problem.

 

My truck weighs about 6500, and has a Stock clutch

And yes, I have 35s but when it was stock(31" tires), I still started in 1st because 2nd was too high

I have hard time starting off in 2nd with my bronco(5000lbs) and 35s w 4.56 gears and the mazda 5. There again, 1st gear but looking to put in ZF5

 

well it sounds like you have a preference to start in 1st. and a stock clutch with a supercharged 460? . . . . . .does it run right?

I bet you have a hard time starting in 2nd with your mazda trans, but that's not even in question here. skipping 1st with the mazda trans is really into WAY too high territory.

the mazda 2nd is 52% taller than the zf 2nd gear. hardly the formula for takeoff.

the zf's 1st is 71% taller than the Mazda's 1st, making it a gigantic difference between the two (enough to argue that its obsolete). the zf's 2nd, however, is only 14% taller than the mazda trans 1st. whether or not you consider that "too much" is really your preference only, or dictated by your particular setup. I don't have any trouble starting in 2nd, and the numbers back it up: 14% difference is not that substantial for takeoff gear.