Howdy all--

My manual transmission is real shotty in my '83 F250 4x4

A shop wants anywhere between $1300-$2000 ... not worth it in my opinion.

I was thinking I would just buy a salvaged one, what are your thoughts on this?

If there aren't any issues with this, what exactly should I be looking to buy? In theory, I wont need anything other than the tranny itself.

Also -- I've tried looking everywhere, but I can't find what transmission matches my truck. Again, it's a 1983 F250 4x4 4sp (302cid but don't think that's important).

Thanks everyone!
mzavenm

 

If that is the removal, rebuild and reinstall with new clutch and resurfaced flywheel, with a warranty on parts and labor, you should make sure you have 3 bids from 3 shops with AA reputations and do it.

 

All the info on your truck is very important. You do not even know what trans you have do you? Does it have a very low granny gear 1st that you never use? Or does it have overdrive?

Anyway, what I would do is swap in a 5 speed from a newer truck. Much nicer transmisison. Here's a couple places in Michigan that say they have a later 5 speed.1991
Transmission Assembly
Ford Truck F1505SP,4.9L,8/907K0149$350Gene's Auto Parts-Traverse City USA-MI(Traverse-City) Request_Quote 1-888-228-9373 Request_Insurance_Quote

1995
Transmission Assembly
Ford Truck F1505.0,5 SP,4X4,FLOORA80203$350Phil's Auto Parts USA-MI(Southgate) Request_Quote 1-734-282-3466 / 1-888-228-0708 Request_Insurance_Quote


1996
Transmission Assembly
Ford Truck F1504.9L,5SPD-MAZDA,RWD,09/95189024$CallGlen's Car and Truck USA-MI(Taylor) Request_Quote 734-946-5050 Request_Insurance_Quote

 

Will his '83 have an existing hydraulic clutch? My '84 does, but I don't know when they were introduced. Can a hydraulic clutch be retrofitted into a truck without?

 

I currently have the stock 4sp with 1st being a creeper.

I'm fairly new to truck working (but you've gotta start somewhere!)

With swapping with a newer 5sp will I run into comparability issues? I don't imagine that it would be that easy to swap a '91 onto a '83 -- thought that's why I'm here.

 

Got a lot of information from this. Posting for others reference.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...questions.html

 

Welcome to the FTE mzavenm

I've had and currently own F-250's with the Creeper 4

I.M.O. they are indestructible, What will be your 90% of intended use for yours ?

If you have the $$$ anything is possible

 

I don't have the $$$ more like $. Again, just looking at buying a transmission is looking like $350 much better than my quoted $1300-2000. I do mostly in town hauling. Never tow. That's a big reason I've got the small block. Don't really foresee myself ever using the creeper -- but it's great for donuts I've discovered...

 

The only 1983's that have a hydraulic clutch are F250/350's with 6.9L diesel and 460.

Everything else have a hydraulic clutch beginning in 1984.

OP's 1983 F250 302 4WD could have a Warner T-18, Warner T-19 or New Process 435 4 speed.

TRANS code printed on the Certification Label, glued to the left door face below the latch:

A = New Process 435; F = Warner T-18; P = Warner T-19.

 

I need to straighten some things out I did not notice before.

1st, I missed you have a f250. You probably have a light duty f250 since you have a 302 engine. The reason I bring this up, the transmissions I linked to are found in f150's. Being you have the smaller engine, I do not think that will be a problem. I will search for a zf 5 speed, they are the heavier duty transmissions that came in f250's, though I still think it might be a little ridiculous to have such a large transmission on a 302 engine. In either case, these transmissions will give you overdrive which you do not have now, which is a wonderful thing and I think it will change the personality of your truck completely and make it much more enjoyable to drive on the interstate.

2nd. The clutch thing. See if your truck has a mechanical linkage or does it have a small master cylinder and a hydraulic line going down to the bellhousing. With the later 5 speeds, you must have a hydraulic clutch for them to work. If you do not have a hydraulic clutch, your truck can be converted to a hydraulic clutch, you will have to swap the pedal assembly, and drill some holes in the firewall to mount the clutch master. A little more work and a few more parts but definitely doable.

Here are some places in Michigan that have the heavier zf 5 speed. You can see since it's bigger, it can be a little more expensive.1988
Transmission Assembly
Ford Truck F250E9TA-7003-TA105,000A$500Rammes Auto Salvage USA-MI(Bessemer) RammesAutoSalvage@sbcglobal.net?subj...2C%24500%2C%20 906-663-6080 / 877-663-60801991
Transmission Assembly
Ford Truck F350$CallB & B Pickup Salvage USA-MI(Hope) Request_Quote 989-689-3966 Request_Insurance_Quote

 

The only 1983's that have a hydraulic clutch are F250/350's with 6.9L diesel & 460 (same info in post #9 and the gazillion prior posts I've typed on this topic since 11/2006).

Here are the applications for the 7A564 slave cylinder. The only F series listed for 1983 are these two trucks with these two engines.

 

I just finished installing a 1991 5spd in my 1984 302 (2 wheel drive, not 4)
I found the trans for sale locally for I believe $250, with supposedly 100k miles on it.

It was a relatively easy job on my truck, but then again I already had a hydraulic clutch.

It's a pretty common swap, so there's some good info out there on both the M5OD and the ZF5.

 

I checked. I'm running the T-18

 

Not to hijack the thread, but I'm looking at swapping my "84 NP 435 (behind a 351w) for a ZF. Nothing in local salvage yards so I've looked at the re-manufactured places on line ($$$). The ZF's there don't come with a shifter. I've found some EBay shifter pieces, but I have been told the small block ZF shifter is different than the big block ZF shifter and don't know how to distinguish between the two. Can anyone help with the specifics on what makes a ZF shifter fit the small block version vs the big block.

 

I am going to assume you have 4x4? I do not know the difference, but when I selected a 1989 zf 5 speed 4x4, I had to pick a 5.8 engine. They had all the different engines listed separately like the trans was different for each one. I do not know the differences. Here's a couple of places in NH that say they have one.Year
Part
ModelDescriptionMilesPart
GradeStock#US
PriceDealer Info1989
Transmission Assembly
Ford Truck F250M.T,5 SPD, ZF, 4X4, REAR MOUNT NG140,339A2L5631$450P and L Auto Parts, Inc. USA-NH(Berlin) Request_Quote 1-800-237-1040 Request_Insurance_Quote
1989
Transmission Assembly
Ford Truck F250GOOD FLUID,READY,1 REAR MNT NDS REPAIR-99K99,000AI09016$350Turnpike Auto Parts USA-NH(New-Ipswich) Request_Quote 1-603-878-1500 Request_Insurance_Quote