Are manual transmissions things of the past for Ford Trucks?
#316
#317
Also keep in mind that the 5 speed transmission Ford offered since the 90s until 2010 was very weak. The largest engine they offered it with was a 4.6. It was an economy option, not a heavy duty one. It was manufactured by Mazda and was also used in Rangers and the Mazda Ranger based trucks.
An F150 hasn't had a serious heavy duty manual for decades. Besides, hardly anyone knows how to drive one anymore. Much less drive one well.
When I bought my '13 Wrangler the insurance agent asked if it had an anti theft device. I said that it had the best one, a manual transmission and that I could leave the keys in it and never have to worry about it being stolen.
And I know some of y'all have alterior motives. No one will ask to borrow your truck if it has a stick shift!
An F150 hasn't had a serious heavy duty manual for decades. Besides, hardly anyone knows how to drive one anymore. Much less drive one well.
When I bought my '13 Wrangler the insurance agent asked if it had an anti theft device. I said that it had the best one, a manual transmission and that I could leave the keys in it and never have to worry about it being stolen.
And I know some of y'all have alterior motives. No one will ask to borrow your truck if it has a stick shift!
#318
Also keep in mind that the 5 speed transmission Ford offered since the 90s until 2010 was very weak. The largest engine they offered it with was a 4.6. It was an economy option, not a heavy duty one. It was manufactured by Mazda and was also used in Rangers and the Mazda Ranger based trucks.
An F150 hasn't had a serious heavy duty manual for decades. Besides, hardly anyone knows how to drive one anymore. Much less drive one well.
When I bought my '13 Wrangler the insurance agent asked if it had an anti theft device. I said that it had the best one, a manual transmission and that I could leave the keys in it and never have to worry about it being stolen.
And I know some of y'all have alterior motives. No one will ask to borrow your truck if it has a stick shift!
An F150 hasn't had a serious heavy duty manual for decades. Besides, hardly anyone knows how to drive one anymore. Much less drive one well.
When I bought my '13 Wrangler the insurance agent asked if it had an anti theft device. I said that it had the best one, a manual transmission and that I could leave the keys in it and never have to worry about it being stolen.
And I know some of y'all have alterior motives. No one will ask to borrow your truck if it has a stick shift!
The part about manuals is, they are more expensive to certify for automakers than autos and CVTs. While I don't fully agree that an auto or CVT gets any better mpg than a manual if it was designed better. Higher over drive and slightly easier for people to use (mostly beginners).
What I don't get is why Ford spent so much money on different manuals. Look at the ZF6, each one for the PowerStrokes and gas engines had their own transmission because of its single cast intergural bellhousing. You had one for the 7.3, 5.4/6.8, 6.0 and 6.4. They could have saved money if they had requested a transmission that could accept different bellhousings. Just my opinion. There's a small market for trucks with manuals just not large enough for it to make sense to spend the money for certification and making it an option. No if only there were companies willing to make conversion kits readily available, that would be nice.
#319
Also keep in mind that the 5 speed transmission Ford offered since the 90s until 2010 was very weak. The largest engine they offered it with was a 4.6. It was an economy option, not a heavy duty one. It was manufactured by Mazda and was also used in Rangers and the Mazda Ranger based trucks.
An F150 hasn't had a serious heavy duty manual for decades. Besides, hardly anyone knows how to drive one anymore. Much less drive one well.
When I bought my '13 Wrangler the insurance agent asked if it had an anti theft device. I said that it had the best one, a manual transmission and that I could leave the keys in it and never have to worry about it being stolen.
And I know some of y'all have alterior motives. No one will ask to borrow your truck if it has a stick shift!
An F150 hasn't had a serious heavy duty manual for decades. Besides, hardly anyone knows how to drive one anymore. Much less drive one well.
When I bought my '13 Wrangler the insurance agent asked if it had an anti theft device. I said that it had the best one, a manual transmission and that I could leave the keys in it and never have to worry about it being stolen.
And I know some of y'all have alterior motives. No one will ask to borrow your truck if it has a stick shift!
#320
#321
The most theft proof today would be the 71 F100 I had with the column shifted three speed
#323
#324
#325
#326
#327
Nice Chevy Russ! Do you get a chance to put the top down much up there in Alaska?
I have to admit that at almost 40, I've only ever driven one truck in my life that had the "3 in the tree". A good friend had a 1980 F-100 stepside for a brief period. He bought it cheap from his dad because the truck didn't run. We got it running and drove it around a little bit before his ol' man took it back! This almost 20 years ago and I remember it confused the he** outta me at the time. I think I was driving a 1986 Ranger then with the early Mazda TK-5. Never had the opportunity to drive another column shifted vehicle since then.
As for the Mazda M5-OD, I've never had a problem with them in any Ranger or my 2006 F-150. The R2 model in my '150 was surprisingly stout IMO. And in a Ranger, what more do you need, really?
I have to admit that at almost 40, I've only ever driven one truck in my life that had the "3 in the tree". A good friend had a 1980 F-100 stepside for a brief period. He bought it cheap from his dad because the truck didn't run. We got it running and drove it around a little bit before his ol' man took it back! This almost 20 years ago and I remember it confused the he** outta me at the time. I think I was driving a 1986 Ranger then with the early Mazda TK-5. Never had the opportunity to drive another column shifted vehicle since then.
As for the Mazda M5-OD, I've never had a problem with them in any Ranger or my 2006 F-150. The R2 model in my '150 was surprisingly stout IMO. And in a Ranger, what more do you need, really?
#328
My 63 F100 had a 3 on the tree. I actually liked it because there was no floor shifter in the way to slide in to the drivers seat from the passenger side.
I think all the "extra" gears in transmissions are overrated. You really only need 4; 3 forward gears and one for reverse. One to get going, one for passing, one for crusing and one to back up for what ever falls off the truck.
I think all the "extra" gears in transmissions are overrated. You really only need 4; 3 forward gears and one for reverse. One to get going, one for passing, one for crusing and one to back up for what ever falls off the truck.
#329
Also keep in mind that the 5 speed transmission Ford offered since the 90s until 2010 was very weak. The largest engine they offered it with was a 4.6. It was an economy option, not a heavy duty one. It was manufactured by Mazda and was also used in Rangers and the Mazda Ranger based trucks.
#330
AFAIK these transmissions weren't available on any 1/2 to trucks. The Mazda transmission was a light weight transmission and had no business being installed in a full sized truck used for any serious hauling or work. Maybe it was ok for a truck used like a car. The original transmission in my truck was the Mazda and it was making a lot of noise. The previous owner said it was rebuilt/replaced twice already. I found a low mileage ZF5 for mine and it was an easy swap. I feel confident the transmission will outlast the truck now.