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I found a used ZF5 for $100 locally. I’m wanting to do this swap (from a C6) into my 79 F250 4x4 with a 460 and I’ve read tons of threads so I think I’m good with what it takes.
My question is if I go look at this used trans is there any way to tell if it’s ok with it just sitting on the ground? I know there’s always a good possibility of something wrong internally but I didn’t know if there’s anything obvious I could check for before I buy it. Not really worried about the money but more worried about actually swapping it in and then finding a big problem. Guess I should just buy it and then figure out how to inspect it once I get it home. Thoughts?
a: make sure its a 460's zf the other versions wont work
b: make sure its a 4wd trans the tailshaft housing can be swapped but near impossible/ insanely expensive
3, check the mount for the frame area on the tailhousing, i didnt and so began me trying to get a replacement
4, check if theres any freeplay, other than that youd need to open it up, id but it for 100$ if it was 4wd and there was nothing wrong with the taiil housing, cheapest one i could find was 800$
I bought a zf that the crossmember mounting bolt holes were broke out on for my old 1999 sd, bought hole parts truck found it broken when i pulled it. I was able to weld mine up with a miller 252 mig welder with with pulse option and push pull aluminum gun. Nevwr had a problem after So even if that parts broke it might be able to be fixed.
Thanks guys. I’m going to try and look at it tomorrow. I’ll let you know how it goes.
I really liked the c6 to zf5 swap. I’m no mechanic but it was a fairly doable project for me. It made my truck way more driveable. It also set me up for the Cummins swap. I would really recommend doing this on a car lift. Maybe I’m old , but doing this project on your back would blow!
I really liked the c6 to zf5 swap. I’m no mechanic but it was a fairly doable project for me. It made my truck way more driveable. It also set me up for the Cummins swap. I would really recommend doing this on a car lift. Maybe I’m old , but doing this project on your back would blow!
Awesome! I’m glad to hear you are satisfied. I’m thinking having the OD for the interstate and getting rid of the converter slip is going to be worth it. Kind of excited to see what kind of grunt this thing really has without what feels like a rubber band between the 460 and the ground. I do a lot of highway and if I could creep up on double digit MPGs that would just be a bonus. Right now 7-8 MPGs depending on speed and wind.
A lift is on my short list but doubt I’ll have one before I get to this swap. I keep spending my time and money on projects and the lift keeps getting bypassed.
Awesome! I’m glad to hear you are satisfied. I’m thinking having the OD for the interstate and getting rid of the converter slip is going to be worth it. Kind of excited to see what kind of grunt this thing really has without what feels like a rubber band between the 460 and the ground. I do a lot of highway and if I could creep up on double digit MPGs that would just be a bonus. Right now 7-8 MPGs depending on speed and wind.
A lift is on my short list but doubt I’ll have one before I get to this swap. I keep spending my time and money on projects and the lift keeps getting bypassed.
I had the 460 before I did the Cummins swap. I believe the zf5 460 swap only got me just shy of 10 mpg. The zf5 did make it easier to have a conversation in the truck at freeway speeds much easier though.
Picked up the ZF5 today. One major concern is the actual housing is broke between the top two bolts. The guy said he drove it this way for years before he pulled trans and found it had been like that unknown to him. It cycles through the gears easily and spins freely so that’s good. I’m not worried about it mechanically. I got it for $100 so I’m not out that much if I decide not to use it. I see remans out there for $1200-1500 but I’m not sure if they’d take this one as a core or not. Also ordered a new pedal assembly for $100 today. Need to figure out the flywheel now. Looks like clutch and master/slave cylinders are available at local parts stores so that’s easy. Not sure I will nail down which flywheel I actually need without pulling the C6 out of mine which I don’t want to do till I have all the parts ready. Darned if I do and darned if I don’t!
[QUOTE=Deerhunter4;19683766]Picked up the ZF5 today. One major concern is the actual housing is broke between the top two bolts. The guy said he drove it this way for years before he pulled trans and found it had been like that unknown to him. It cycles through the gears easily and spins freely so that’s good. I’m not worried about it mechanically. I got it for $100 so I’m not out that much if I decide not to use it. I see remans out there for $1200-1500 but I’m not sure if they’d take this one as a core or not. Also ordered a new pedal assembly for $100 today. Need to figure out the flywheel now. Looks like clutch and master/slave cylinders are available at local parts stores so that’s easy. Not sure I will nail down which flywheel I actually need without pulling the C6 out of mine which I don’t want to do till I have all the parts ready. Darned if I do and darned if I don’t!
I wonder how the zf5 housing broke to begin with. I wonder if the previous owner hung his transfer case off the back of the zf5 without its support bracket. I know my np205 is a pig and would easily break down a zf5 if I didn’t mount it correctly.
I wonder how the zf5 housing broke to begin with. I wonder if the previous owner hung his transfer case off the back of the zf5 without its support bracket. I know my np205 is a pig and would easily break down a zf5 if I didn’t mount it correctly.
I have no idea but I can tell you that I looked at it again and decided I’m not taking the chance. Back to square one for me. Doubtful anyone will take it as a core but I’m going to ask a few reman places and maybe get lucky. I found a few remans online for $1200-$2000 but the core charges are really high.
Also considering just going NP 435 since those seem to be available for cheap. I think my RPMs on the highway will come down by 300 or so even without overdrive just by getting rid of the C6 converter slip.
Wow...I just went out to get more pics of the damage and thought to myself that the bolt pattern looks different/smaller than the old C6 that sits in the corner of my shop. Sure enough this ZF5 is not even for a big block. The guy flat lied. He told me he pulled it off a 460 but that’s impossible. I feel pretty dumb right now. I guess it’s my fault for not thinking twice about it when I went to pick it up. Buyer beware...Makes the decision not to use it easy! Guess I’ll keep going down the using it as a core route.
[QUOTE=.[/QUOTE] dammit that blows! I don’t know anything about the np435. The one thing with the zf5 460 variety is that it has the hydraulic slave cylinder bolted to the outside of the transmission, where the small block zf5 are internal (I believe) . I also know the diesel model will not bolt up to a 460 without some loving.
Well I did some checking and found a rebuilt ZF5 for $1450 and they were willing to give me $800 off of the $1000 core charge for the small block version even with the broken bell housing. My new ZF5 should be here next weekend. I’ll start a new thread to document my swap and results. Now to start stocking up on swap components.
Well I did some checking and found a rebuilt ZF5 for $1450 and they were willing to give me $800 off of the $1000 core charge for the small block version even with the broken bell housing. My new ZF5 should be here next weekend. I’ll start a new thread to document my swap and results. Now to start stocking up on swap components.
I have an actual big block ZF5 fully intact that I’m trying to swap for a small block to fit behind my 351W. What are the chances you’re anywhere near Southern California?
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