I have a 2005 150 XLT with the 5.4 Triton. Which manual tranny did it have? the ZF-5?

 

A 5.4 or 4.6 V8 in the 04-08 F150 was not offered with a manual transmission.

There was a manual transmission option for the 4.2 V6 in 2wd, M5R2. *4.2 V6 was not available in the 2004 F150.

In the F250 and F350 models, a 5.4 was available with a ZF6 or ZF5 depending on the year.

 

The 4.6L V8 was available with the 5-speed manual in 2007 and probably some other years too. That is a swap I wouldn't mind making some day.

 

Damnit. Not gonna try to fabricate something. Welp.

 

If the 4.6 V8 had a manual option, the hardware is probably the same. The obvious remaining issue would be the electronics. The PCM would be expecting several feedbacks that it would not be receiving, but this may not create anything more than a flashing O/D off light. Thats the transmissions version of "check engine". I don't think it would create any problems on the engine side of the equation. The transmission strategies are dictated largely by inputs from the engine. RPM, load condition etc,. The PCM uses this info to tell the trans. what to do, but I don't think the trans has any effect on the engine. Basically the engine doesn't know or care what the trans. is doing. I think it's doable, but you may have a couple gremlins to live with afterward.

 

Maybe I spoke too soon. I just read on another site that the 4.2 has its own bell pattern.

 

I've spent some time researching the subject and always come back to using a zf5 or zf6 from the 5.4 and 6.8 engines found in the super duty trucks. The Mazda trans really isn't well suited for "truck" use and wouldn't last well behind a 5.4

All of the ford literature I've seen shows the 4.6 with a manual transmissions ended with the 2003 model year. Here's the tow ratings published in 2007/2008 showing only the 4.2 V6 with a manual trans.

 

Wow, it really knocks the **** out of the towing.

 

They discontinued the anemic 4.2L and the manual for many reasons. After living with one for nearly 11 years, I can tell you it is not a pleasure to drive. There is no substitute for 275+ horsepower and a good auto trans. My trans has always been notchy and shifting is difficult sometimes with a great deal of 'drag' on the stick between gears, especially in cold weather. As you may know, the fluid is ATF so it's not because of stiff gear oil. Combine that with the notorious slow throttle movement of the 4.2L and you can see that there is no way to be smooth and quick on your shifts. Even double-clutching doesn't always work because the engine doesn't spin up with a blip of the throttle between shifts because of the delayed throttle response. I'm sure if it had a mechanical throttle linkage it would be a lot better. With an automatic this would be a non-issue but with a manual its hell.