Trans Swap
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From: East Tennessee
Trans Swap
I have an 83 F350 that I'm considering swapping transmissions in. It has the factory 4 speed bull dog in it now. I have a 4 speed with o.d. in an 88 f150 that I was thinking of swapping Into the 350. The 350 isn't gonna be used for hard towing just occasionally pulling my Jon boat and lawn mower trailer. I mainly want to swap it for the lower rpm on the highway and maybe better mpg. Will it be hard to convert over. I am gonna have to put a clutch in the 350 eventually and if the conversion isn't that bad I would like to swap the tranny. Any input will be appreciated. Thanks
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The 4 speed OD, is it an iron case? Or aluminum? How is it shifted? Top mount, side linkage or turret mounted behind the cover?
IMO these are semi miserable transmissions due to the wide 2nd to 3rd gap.
Aluminum versions are not very strong, and even the iron job isn't that strong compared to the box you have now.
The output on that F150 trans is probably different too.
You will have to find a clutch disc of the correct diameter with the correct spline also, as that is doubtless different than your current trans also.
A ZF would require a juice clutch. An NV4500 will bolt up with an adapter. Both are more money than what you are proposing, but those transmissions are up to the tasks associated with an F350.
IMO these are semi miserable transmissions due to the wide 2nd to 3rd gap.
Aluminum versions are not very strong, and even the iron job isn't that strong compared to the box you have now.
The output on that F150 trans is probably different too.
You will have to find a clutch disc of the correct diameter with the correct spline also, as that is doubtless different than your current trans also.
A ZF would require a juice clutch. An NV4500 will bolt up with an adapter. Both are more money than what you are proposing, but those transmissions are up to the tasks associated with an F350.
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From: East Tennessee
It is aluminium and I call it a top mount because it has a removable top section to look inside the tranny. I think I may be better off just putting a clutch in it (clutch still works fine for daily driving but it's getting weak) for now because I just spent all my money paying my tuition (I'm going to school to be an ASE certified tech) this semester. I didn't realize there was that much to change to get the 5 speed to work. I would really like to do the zf swap and since I will have to change over so much I might as well get what I want when I spend the money
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The ZF swap would require a juice clutch. You can get all the goodies for a hydrulic clutch from a later model F series truck.
As for when hydraulics were installed, this is a quote from Numberdummy, former parts man, guru, fountain of info, etc. I take it you do not have a 460?
Originally Posted by NumberDummy
Only 1983 F250/350's with 460's or 6.9L's have it (and Rangers).
Everything else got it in 1984, except Econolines with the Mazda 5 speed > 1986 was the first year.
As for when hydraulics were installed, this is a quote from Numberdummy, former parts man, guru, fountain of info, etc. I take it you do not have a 460?
Originally Posted by NumberDummy
Only 1983 F250/350's with 460's or 6.9L's have it (and Rangers).
Everything else got it in 1984, except Econolines with the Mazda 5 speed > 1986 was the first year.
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