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I have a 1982 I6 300 2WD F-150 with a C6 that I plan on swapping a Mazda M50D into. This transmission is one I got for free from a buddy's 89 parts truck, it's fairly low mileage and the synchro's are in great shape. The benefits of overdrive and thus being at less than 3200RPM at highway speeds are very appealing.
I was wondering if anyone has ever done this swap before? Is there something I should know beforehand?
Does anyone know the length of the M5OD compared to the C6? I am assuming I will need to have a new driveline fabricated so that won't be a huge disappointment if so. Would it be possible to get one from a junkyard truck? Would there be any difference in the driveshaft between the one I would need and the one on the parts truck? (They are both single cab/long beds)
It has been done before by Cory on both a 302 power and 300 six power flare sides.
IIRC the 302 was a 3 on the tree and was a bolt in drive shaft and all.
The 300 I think did not have a drive train and also think it was a 4x4.
I would say get the drive shaft from the parts truck if not just for the front yoke as I think the rear axles are different between the 2 and that may throw off the drive shaft.
You are going to need pedals for a manual trans and I dont think the parts truck one will work and the dashes are different and will not bolt in.
You will need the trans hump that bolts in and cut the panel out of yours to bolt this hump in.
Dave ----
I have a Mazda trans but not sure if it will fit behind a 300 I6. I don’t know if it’s an R1 or will even mate up. I suspect it came out of a v6 truck. Where can I find out if it fit a 4.9/300? Here is a pic of the tag. TIA.
The way I understand it if the v6 has the SB (small block) bolt pattern it should fit the 300 six and the 302 / 351 SB motors.
I just dont know what bell bolt pattern the v6 has?
Dave ----
I just dont know what bell bolt pattern the v6 has?
Dave ----
Same. I had heard that as well. The thread that Franklin2 provided hints that I have a 2wd R2. Maybe a 97 or 98. Do want to find out specifically so i can grab a driveshaft and hyd pedal set up so I want to be sure. Others have recommended buying the Napa pre filled/bled MC/SC which I will likely do.
Same. I had heard that as well. The thread that Franklin2 provided hints that I have a 2wd R2. Maybe a 97 or 98. Do want to find out specifically so i can grab a driveshaft and hyd pedal set up so I want to be sure. Others have recommended buying the Napa pre filled/bled MC/SC which I will likely do.
Going in an 81 F100.
Thanks for your response.
On the pedals if you have a 80-83 truck, think 84 to 86 went hydrolic you have to use the 84-86 pedals as the 87> dash is different and will not bolt to the <86 trucks dash.
Cant help on the master as my 81 F100 uses good old linkage
Dave ----
Same. I had heard that as well. The thread that Franklin2 provided hints that I have a 2wd R2. Maybe a 97 or 98. Do want to find out specifically so i can grab a driveshaft and hyd pedal set up so I want to be sure. Others have recommended buying the Napa pre filled/bled MC/SC which I will likely do.
Going in an 81 F100.
Thanks for your response.
Measure between the top bellhousing bolts and see if they match your truck. Not all V6 engines were created equal.
The v6 used in the early f100's (around the early 80's) was the Essex v6 and it did have the same pattern as the 302. They also used this engine in the rear wheel drive configuration in the 1997-up trucks that came with a 4.2, which was the same engine with the small block Ford bellhousing pattern. Hopefully this is where your trans came from, since the 5 speed did not exist back in the early 80's.
But you also had the Cologne V6 found in the ranger pickups. Also in some v6 mustangs. This would be the 2.8, 2.9 and 4.0 v6's. Hopefully this is not the trans you have, but they made the Mazda for both the Cologne and the Essex. The Essex is the one you want if you have a v6 transmission. They did offer this trans behind the 302 trucks also, from around 87-thru 96.
The 93-up transmissions will not have a spot for the older speedometer cable in the older trucks. There are ways around that, but requires modifications/swapping parts.
Whatever it takes, the overdrive is worth all the trouble, especially how expensive fuel is now.
Measure between the top bellhousing bolts and see if they match your truck. Not all V6 engines were created equal.
I will do that. I do remember that when I got the trans that the guy said it came out of a 150. So that may be promising.
Originally Posted by Franklin2
The 93-up transmissions will not have a spot for the older speedometer cable in the older trucks. There are ways around that, but requires modifications/swapping parts.
I was planning on replacing the instrument cluster with an autometer dash/speedo as seen on summit. I believe I can run that right from the trans. That would eliminate the concern for swapping or modding parts to get the electrical cable of the Mazda trans to fit the mechanical speedo? I.e. or does that create other challenges?
Ok. If I measure the in truck auto 3 speed transmission from the bell mouth to the yoke and also the Mazda from the bell to the yoke and they match wouldn’t that mean that the ds that is in the truck would work?
If it doesn’t match I am reading that I should look for a 97- 98 f150 with the 5 speed in it?
Measuring from the bell to the yoke will only tell you if the driveshaft and the crossmember will need modification, which is not a deal breaker. In other words if both transmissions are the same length. Ford had lots of different driveshafts for different combinations from the factory, and you can get a shop to make it longer or shorter also. It's the bell pattern you need to worry about. You will also need a set of pedals and a hydraulic clutch setup if you have a auto. Do not get a set of pedals from a 87-up, they will not fit. You need a set from about 1983 thru 1986. You will have to drill some holes in the firewall for the clutch master, but many of the firewalls are already marked for this.
I will do that. I do remember that when I got the trans that the guy said it came out of a 150. So that may be promising.
I was planning on replacing the instrument cluster with an autometer dash/speedo as seen on summit. I believe I can run that right from the trans. That would eliminate the concern for swapping or modding parts to get the electrical cable of the Mazda trans to fit the mechanical speedo? I.e. or does that create other challenges?
Thanks.
Phil
The thing is the later transmissions dont have a hole in the case for the speedo cable to go in.
The later trucks used electronic speedo's that read off the rear axle tone gear to send a signal to the computer that then sent it to the electronic speedo.
Could go for a GPS driven speedo
I got one in a project car that i have been building, cant say how good it works as I have not driven the car yet.
Dave ----
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M5OD Swap
