I'm new to this forum though I've hung out on the Big Six list for years. Anyone know a source of production numbers on 1997+ trucks? Specifically, looking to see what numbers of 4.6/5.4s and most of all, numbers of stick vs. automatic trucks. I know the sticks were pretty rare. Two different Ford dealers told my brother they didn't put 5 speeds in ANY of them - until he showed them his 98 that has the M5OD behind a 4.6. That is the crux of my question, really. I'm looking for a reasonably priced 5 or 6-speed to fit a modular for a swap project. I'd prefer a ZF, but would take a Mazda tranny. I don't really want to go to a 'car' tranny, like a T5. The ZF would be best due to torque handling, durability and the 'granny' first gear. This is somewhat of a 'go fast toy' project, but will still be used as a 'real' truck sometimes. It seems pretty rare, but I know they exist and my limited budget dictates that I find one in a 'pull-a-part' type junkyard, but knowing what to look for will help. So far, it seems like my best bet will be a Super Duty, but any info good. Knowing what percentage of stick trucks they built would be a big help.

 

I know this is an old post but that is the first I've heard of a 4.6 truck with a manual behind it! I know they offered the M5OD behind the 4.2 V6 motor, because I have one in my 2006, and I have a co-worker that has a 97 truck with the V6/5-speed and 4x4. To be honest though I never was very knowledgeable about these 97-03 models. I've driven a few of them, but never owned one.
Did your brother buy his new? Did he have to order it to get it that way? I bought my 2006 new and had a hard time finding one. The dealer had to bring it in from out of state for me. I lucked out though as the salesman was able to find me exactly what I wanted. Almost 10 years on and I love it now as much as I did the day I brought it home! I will say that the Mazda trans is a pretty stout piece

 

I have a 97 with the 4.6 5 speed. its also an SCAB. Only one Ive seen.

 

So if they made this combination available on the 10th generation trucks, why couldn't they make it available on the 11th gen trucks? They could have at least done it on 2wd models. Must have been a sales thing. They didn't sell enough of them to make it worth it. But then I don't think they ever advertised it much in the first place for people to know it was even available.
Ford does stupid stuff like that. They stopped offering the 5-speed altogether in 2008 partly because it didn't sell, but they never advertised it beyond factory literature, and even most salesmen didn't know about it. If they brought it back now, they'd probably sell more of them than they think IF they would only advertise it. Most buyers are not going to waste their time to read the factory literature to know exactly what's available on what models. So you have to tell them, and then the dealers have to have these things available. Automakers don't seem to understand that anymore.
"Oh you mean we have to actually build these things if we want people to buy them?"

 

IMHO, People don't want the stick shift. ALOT of people don't know how and don't want to know. I can tell you from personal experience that a stick is much harder to sell as well.

 

I wont have anything but a manual in my mustang or street rod. But in I truck a manual is a pain in the a$$ when putting a boat in the water or parking on an incline with a load or trailer. Back in the day when manual was common in pickups I had to carry wheel chocks for that reason. To day I wouldn't have a manual in a truck.

 

lol........I had a manual when I had my boat, I would put it in 4 low.....(it was a 4 wheel drive). (Im driving trucks with automatics now)

 

You make a good point, brokenleg. I think especially among the younger generations, there's a lot of people not learning how to drive stick shifts. This is mostly because their parents never thought about teaching them. The older generations are getting too old to want to deal with it anymore. I'm 39 and I love driving my stick-shift F-150. The truck has a character all its own with the manual that automatics wouldn't have. I've had it almost 10 years now and every once in awhile I'll still get somebody offering to buy it from me. But now that I'm married to a woman who can't drive a stick, she's already told me that my next truck will be an automatic, RIGHT! Yes, dear...LOL But I don't want a new one yet if it means getting rid of my old one. I don't tow with it, because towing is just not a part of my needs for right now. Otherwise my 2006 does everything I need it to do and then some. At 104,000 the 4.2 still has a lot of life left in it considering how **** I am with the maintenance on it.
There's a lot of guys on FTE that say they would buy a manual if Ford brought it back, but we all know that saying it and doing are two different things. With that said however, I think there's a lot of guys in my age bracket that still like having a stick, and wish Ford would still build them in a pick-up. I learned how to drive on a 5-speed Ranger because my father wanted to make sure that both of his kids knew how to drive a stick-shift. He was very adamant about that. He said that he didn't care whether we liked it or not, but we were going to learn it. My older sister, not surprisingly doesn't care for them. I love 'em and I'm glad he made sure that I learned. IF I had kids, I can guarantee they would learn a stick.

 

I and my siblings had to learn to drive a stick if we wanted to drive. my sister has never had an automatic. I prefer a stick, but they are hard to find, and my situation was when I got my last 2 cars, they were automatics... I will pretty much drive anything.