A manual transmission is definitely in my future. The rest of this??? I sure hope so. But as I said at the start, this is planning for a couple years out, and we all know how much plans can change in a couple years!

 

Holley Terminator X Max for a Fox Body 5.0L will make it sequential and has TCU controls. Terminator X if you don't need TCU

 

The NV-4500 is a bit stronger than a ZF5 but a little clunkier shifting

 

Odd, what I've usually heard is the opposite, that the ZF5 is stronger but the NV4500 shifts better.

I've never driven either a ZF5 or an NV4500. The only ZF / NV comparison I have personally is the two different M6ODs (aka ZF6) that were in my '08 F-250 and the NV5600 that a friend had in a Dodge pickup around that same time. The ZF6 was absolutely the worst shifting trans I've ever driven. And the replacement ZF6 that Ford put in it when I took it back to the dealership the fourth time or so wasn't any better (I eventually filed a lemon-law claim on the trans and Ford bought that truck back from me). In contrast, while the NV5600 certainly wasn't a sports car trans, it was easy to figure out how to shift it, and you never got stuck in neutral (which happened pretty frequently with the ZF6). So while I'm not ruling out a ZF5, I kind of lean toward an NV4500 based on my experience with two completely different transmissions (I know, apples and oranges).

And for what it's worth, I don't see strength being an issue as long as I'm not using a trans that was never put in 3/4 ton truck (like a Mazda M5OD or an NV3550). I'm looking at stock big block / mild build small block power for the most part. Any 3/4 ton trans ought to handle it.

 

Having driven both and my truck has a ZF5, the ZF5 shifts better to me. Either, or are good transmissions.

 

I haven't had any issues with my zf5, every once in a while it doesn't go into 3rd all the way but that's because I think my 3/4 ton is a mustang and I try to shift too fast 😂

 

The PiMPxs and PiMPxshift will do the same things including cruise control, self tuning, and far superior tuning support, all through the factory harness. We also support this forum/community which should be a positive as well.

 

OP wants good MPG, good power, and an engine that doesn't scream....but...doesn't want a Diesel? Diesel will give you all of that and more....slam a good Cummins 5.9 or a 7.3 PSD in there and you'll be passing GM LS's all day while getting MORE MPG..while I love the 351w, 460 and the v10 gas engines and have nothing against gas, my go to for towing will always be a Diesel..love my 6.7 PSD..even my old 87 6.9 IDI diesel tows better, with better MPG than the old 1990 F250/351w I used to own..

 

I had a 7.3L PowerStroke for about 5 years. There were aspects of it that I liked, but overall, not so much.

First off was the fuel cost. It was in the same ballpark as my 460. It only got about 13-15 mpg, and on significantly more expensive fuel, so the per mile fuel costs were about the same. OK, so people say that mileage isn't typical, that diesels should do better. For one thing, people say a lot. What I have to go on is my experience. And for another, so what mileage do people think a diesel should get? From what I hear a PowerStroke 7.3L "should" be high teens. Factor in the more expensive fuel and that's low teens for a gasser. I can do that with a small block. A Cummins 6BT? maybe about 20 mpg which is mid teens for a gasser. Getting close, but at what cost for the swap? And then there's...

I live in Minnesota and daily drive my truck in the winter. Starting that 7.3L when it was cold was a PAIN! It typically took about 5 minutes from the time I opened the door until I could pull out of my driveway. Compare that to about 15 seconds for any gasser I've owned.

I did love the power curve (although the shift points of the auto trans sure wasted it, probably part of the low fuel mileage problem). And if this truck was going to be used primarily for heavy towing I would weight things completely differently, and a turbo diesel with a manual trans would be at the top of the list. But what I really need is a half ton people mover that can carry a load of lumber or firewood and occasionally tow a 5000 lb trailer.

I've considered a turbo IDI. But realistically I'm looking at around 20 mpg at best there, and if I can get close to that with a gasser it will be better on a number of levels that I value, and no worse for me.

So no, a diesel isn't for me.

And to clarify my goals further, I'm not looking for "good power" and have no need to pass LSs. My stock 460 is great for what I want power-wise, but even the stock 351W in my '95 F-150 SCSB with E4OD, 3.55 gears and 33" tires was very acceptable to me, and that would be considered a dog the way most people talk here. I'm looking for good mileage in a gas engine that doesn't need to scream to keep the truck moving. I don't want an overly complicated engine (the Coyote probably shouldn't have been in the mix for that reason) or an overly complicated swap. And while I'm willing to spend money on the swap, cost is still an object.

 

If you want 20 MPG out of a 3/4 ton truck and still want reliability and plenty of power then a 12V Cummins is the way do go, and they do fine starting in the cold, your 7.3 probably had issues, mine will start in less than 30 seconds in 0 degree weather not plugged in. An LS swap won't get you 20 MPG, my company truck is a GM 2500 with a 6.0 LS and it gets 10-11 MPG.

 

whats the advantage though for him cost wise? diesel is 50 cents more a gallon. a 12 valve goes for 2k. he needs an adapter or do a trans swap. then has to change the fuel system over add mounts intercooler.....a stick isnt going to give him better mpg really either maybe a half a mpg. i made a post last night but i dont see it. the ly6 l96 trucks had vvt so they would do good with tourqe but no better mpg than your 460. as for a stick swap i mean unless its broke why. od ratio is pretty much the same so you arent going to get a huge increase there. less than a mpg at most. the thing is you throwing alot a money away you arent going to recoup. i own a cummins currently its as expensive to drive as a gas hd truck if not more. i mean i can go a 100 miles further on a tank and i dont downshift on hills thats about the only advantage i have on gas but the truck cost alot more in every way. it also sucks doing 80 on the interstate only having a 3200 rpm redline with the auto trans being its an 05 and doesnt have double od. if you want to be logical but still improve do mods to the 460. rv cam e fans headers exhaust timing maf swap probably would see a decent mpg increase. still a grand or two in stuff but you do get a performance boost too atleast. im all for engine swaps when they make sense but to me it seems alot of money and work for no to little gain.

 

Again, I'm not looking for "plenty of power." A stock 351W with 3.55 gears and 33" tires was fine for me.

And as nekkidhillbilly says, with diesel around $3 / gal and gas at $2.40 (pre-covid-19), 20 mpg with a diesel is the equivalent of 16 mpg with gas. If I needed the power, then yes, that's a great trade-off. But since I don't, a gasser saves me a few grand on the swap and avoids the other diesel downsides.

I do realize that 20 mpg out of a gasser in a 6400 lb truck might not be attainable. But also remember I was saying that's empty on a 60 mph highway trip. I know it'll be less than that in city driving, or at 80 mph, or towing. It still might be unrealistic, but I don't think it is too far from possible, at least as a goal.

 

I think the post you're talking about was put in the wrong thread. Here is the one I'm thinking you're talking about:
As to the manual vs auto trans, the main reason is that I don't like it when transmissions shift when I don't want them to, or don't shift when I do want them to. The only reason my truck currently has an auto was that I gave up on finding a crew cab with a gas engine and a manual trans after three years of looking for one. But also I think a manual should improve the mileage. Not a ton, I get that. But even 1 mpg can be significant at these low levels.

 

i dont think it would even 1 now looking at it versus the e4od the stock manual trucks prob got worse in some situations. the e40d had an overdrive ration of .71 the zf has a .76. so on highway driving you are going to see a bit worse. you would see improvements in mpg possible in stop and go traffic ever so slightly.

 

Manual trans doesn't have any slip and takes less power to turn (frictional losses and rotating mass differences) so that's normally where the MPG gains come from. With that said, it won't likely be a large gain (as has been stated). Normally it's in super low power econoboxes where the manual trans is significantly better simply because their tiny engines don't have enough hp/tq to make up for the losses associated with an auto trans.