1988 302 build
Thread Starter
|
5th Wheeling
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 40
Likes: 1
what manual transmission would yall recommend for this build? ive been trying to find a zf5 but having difficulties with that. would a tremec hold up as long as im not doing any towing with the truck or no?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 284
From: NT, See you in the
Thread Starter
|
5th Wheeling
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 40
Likes: 1
no its 2wd truck. and im looking for get up and go not crawling. i already have the m5od but from what i understand it can only handle about 300 lb of torque and my goal is to exceed that by 100 ft lbs
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 1,810
Likes: 390
Super coupe guys as well as some jeeps run close to 500 tq with the R2. Mine launches hard. I truly treat it like a red headed step child, with and without the trailer attached. Put 3.73s in the rear though.
Thread Starter
|
5th Wheeling
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 40
Likes: 1
thank you for the info!! after the past 3 months of working almost everyday im about to start having time to start figuring out what i need to buy and putting everything together. what rear end are you running in your rig?
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 284
From: NT, See you in the
I mean if you spend time on the diesel forums you'll find folks running 1000 ft lbs of torque through ZFs. Its all in the clutch. Through a good one in the M5 and you shouldn't have issues. Plus its already in the truck. You dont have much to lose throwing a good clutch in it and if it breaks, then look for a ZF.
Thread Starter
|
5th Wheeling
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 40
Likes: 1
I mean if you spend time on the diesel forums you'll find folks running 1000 ft lbs of torque through ZFs. Its all in the clutch. Through a good one in the M5 and you shouldn't have issues. Plus its already in the truck. You dont have much to lose throwing a good clutch in it and if it breaks, then look for a ZF.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 1,810
Likes: 390
If you decide to go with a ZF, MAKE sure you get the close ratio, not the wide. Even with close, I don’t think I would go more than 3.55s in the rear. If you’re wanting to haul $ss, 1st gear being 4.14:1 close range will have you shifting really quick. Wide ratio is like 5.72:1 would be great if you’re spinning 40” boggers or pulling your house.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,543
Likes: 2,034
From: North Texas
The ZF will take massive abuse, tis just not DD friendly at all...it is a total brute. As noted, clutch is key. My 7.3DI rocks one from Southbend, it is unpleasant to drive daily with my 205/30s
My ZF is new, one cannot shift fast 1-2, gearset just too heavy and all run single cone syncros. 3-4 one can whack quick
Mine has SMF and their organic/feramic (OFE). My fault as I wanted 238/100s. I chose smaller sticks and should have done the HD organic.
Go right to a 351W unless need some high RPM engine 302 is garbage in a truck
My ZF is new, one cannot shift fast 1-2, gearset just too heavy and all run single cone syncros. 3-4 one can whack quick
Mine has SMF and their organic/feramic (OFE). My fault as I wanted 238/100s. I chose smaller sticks and should have done the HD organic.
Go right to a 351W unless need some high RPM engine 302 is garbage in a truck
Last edited by Hit Man X; Jan 13, 2026 at 03:48 PM.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 183
Likes: 59
From: Kentucky
The ZF will take massive abuse, tis just not DD friendly at all...it is a total brute. As noted, clutch is key. My 7.3DI rocks one from Southbend, it is unpleasant to drive daily with my 205/30s
My ZF is new, one cannot shift fast 1-2, gearset just too heavy and all run single cone syncros. 3-4 one can whack quick
Mine has SMF and their organic/feramic (OFE). My fault as I wanted 238/100s. I chose smaller sticks and should have done the HD organic.
Go right to a 351W unless need some high RPM engine 302 is garbage in a truck
My ZF is new, one cannot shift fast 1-2, gearset just too heavy and all run single cone syncros. 3-4 one can whack quick
Mine has SMF and their organic/feramic (OFE). My fault as I wanted 238/100s. I chose smaller sticks and should have done the HD organic.
Go right to a 351W unless need some high RPM engine 302 is garbage in a truck