I have head some people have successfully used the 460 gas S5-42 transmissions on the older 7.3 idi engines. They say 460 bolts are 7/16 inch and the 7.3 uses 1/2 inch bolts. So they modify the case and roll with it. But there's an issue with the dowels, which are supposed to precisely align the shaft centers. Not worried about torque unless you're running a turbo or a powerstroke.

I wonder how someone would get the transmission dead in line with the crankshaft without using a pretty nice machining center to do that.

Is this something folks are doing just because the S5-460 cases are easy to get compared to the diesel transmission cases? A way of "making do with what ya got"? I totally get the need for that.

Or is this something commonly done where the transmission runs another 100K/200K miles set up this way? I got somebody telling me this isn't a problem, but I am not quite buying it. I really use the truck and plan to have another 10 years. And I don't usually like fixing stuff twice. It's fun but it ain't THAT fun. This smells like getting what ya pay for??

Thoughts?

 

some people swear it is easy. my opinion is: i will never do it.
buy the proper trans and there will be no problems.

 

I've never done it personally, but a 460/zf6 build *is* on my bucket list.

The way to establish confidence in locating center would be to use the dust shields from each to get precise locations of the input. You could also do it with cardboard.

 

Right.It's just a way with making do,with what you have.
The diesel trans is geared in such a way,to match the low rpm grunt of the diesel.