Trany swap
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Trany swap
I have a 1974 F350 with a 390 in it coupled to a C6 trany. Is it possible to replace the C6 with a 4 or 5 speed automatic or will the C6 be capable to mount up to a 302 if I decide to swap engines without too much troubles. Thanx.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: SW Michigan
auto-overdrive
RJ, sure you can have an auto and add overdrive. But with FE power it will cost a bit. You can add a GearVendors unit to the back of your C6, or you can buy a custom belhousing from Lentech and run the AOD tranny. Both setups are supposed to work well, but neither is cheap. How about a 5 spd manual ? DF, @ his Dad's house.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: USA
He'll have the same bellhousing bolt pattern problem of the 390 trying to use a ZF 5speed as he does now, as the ZF has an integral case/bellhousing and only comes in big block (351M, 400, 429, 460, diesel) or small block (late-289, 302, 351W, 300-I6). GearVendors (and US Gear too) cost about $3000 with driveline mods, but they are cool 
.
I wouldn't want a 302 in an F350, pretty much defeats the purpose of having a heavy duty truck (not enough power in the 302 for a truck that heavy). Even the 351W in my F350 has alot of trouble moving the weight, especially when towing. I had to swap to 4.56 gears to get enough power out of it to tow with. Best bet would be to swap to a 460/ZF 5speed combo, that way you get an engine that is plenty powerful to let the truck work like it was meant to and a durable transmission with both a 'granny' low first gear and an overdrive 5th gear without the electrical hassle of swapping to an E4OD auto or the need for heavy duty rebuild of an AOD auto behind a big block. Other than that, a 700R4 or Gear Vendors OD are about all the good choices.
.I wouldn't want a 302 in an F350, pretty much defeats the purpose of having a heavy duty truck (not enough power in the 302 for a truck that heavy). Even the 351W in my F350 has alot of trouble moving the weight, especially when towing. I had to swap to 4.56 gears to get enough power out of it to tow with. Best bet would be to swap to a 460/ZF 5speed combo, that way you get an engine that is plenty powerful to let the truck work like it was meant to and a durable transmission with both a 'granny' low first gear and an overdrive 5th gear without the electrical hassle of swapping to an E4OD auto or the need for heavy duty rebuild of an AOD auto behind a big block. Other than that, a 700R4 or Gear Vendors OD are about all the good choices.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: SW Michigan
tranny swapin'
SoCal, I would agree the 302 is going to have to work awfully hard in that truck. But when I asked if maybe he could use a 5 spd manual, I was thinking of the Clark 280 series, not the ZF. The Clark was available behind the FT for many years, so finding a complete setup to fit a 390 would not be difficult at all. DF
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