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Old Aug 11, 2005 | 11:03 AM
  #1  
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Transmission ID

Well, I finally got me a pickup.

93 F250, XLT, x-cab, 351W, 5 speed.

Trying to identify the transmission. CODE W on the b-pillar.

Is this the 5 speed HD, or the ZF? I believe it's the HD.
 
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Old Aug 11, 2005 | 11:56 AM
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There were two 5-speeds: the ZF and the M5OD. Since you have an F250, it's likely the ZF (the heavier-duty of the two). I'm not 100% on that, as they may have put the M5OD in the lighter-duty F250s, but if yours is the 8800 lb GVWR model, then you're definitely sitting on a ZF.

Jason
 
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Old Aug 11, 2005 | 12:07 PM
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The GVWR is 8800 lbs.
 
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Old Aug 11, 2005 | 10:45 PM
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From 95 manual W is 5 spd HD overdrive (M5OD-HD) (ZF).
 
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Old Aug 12, 2005 | 07:38 AM
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Sorry guys.............guess I'm a little thick.

So is the tranny a M50D HD? or a ZF? Or are they the same?
 
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Old Aug 12, 2005 | 08:06 AM
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95 Manual lists 3 manual transmissions
Code M Mazda M5OD This is light duty Mazda- under 8500 GVW 4.9 and 5.0
Code C Mazda close ratio (Z-F) F series with 7.3 Diesel over 8500 GVW
Code W Mazda HD 5 speed OD (M5OD-HD) (ZF) All F Series over 8500 GVW except Diesel.
ZF model designation is S5-42 ZF; Stands for sychronized, 5 speed and 420 ft# of torque input.
Your answer is yes and yes.
 
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Old Aug 12, 2005 | 09:50 AM
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I have never seen any literature with ZF attached to the Mazda name. I do not believe the ZF is associated with that brand.

The Mazda M5OD (also known as the M5R2) is a light duty F-150 trans. It was only in an F-250 behind the 302, which was a light duty F-250. The ZF is a heavy duty truck transmission with a low first gear ratio. The mazda does not have a low first gear ratio (aka granny gear) which makes it a poor choice for heavy work.

The Diesel simply had a ZF with different gear ratios and bell pattern. A diesel operates at different RPM which would require a transmission with different gear ratios.
 
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Old Aug 12, 2005 | 12:00 PM
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I've seen various bits of documentation that refer to the ZF as a M5OD-HD, but you're right in that the two companies and transmissions have NOTHING to do with one another. Some genius in the marketing department came up with it, is my guess.
 
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Old Aug 12, 2005 | 01:01 PM
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or it was a typo.
 
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Old Aug 12, 2005 | 03:43 PM
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My 95 Ford dealership manual makes no similarities to the two transmissions.
 
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Old Aug 12, 2005 | 08:18 PM
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I'm guessing the 'M' stands for 'Manual', not 'Mazda', just as in the AOD, the 'A' stands for 'automatic'. Therefore, the ZF 5-speed could still be called a M5OD (Manual 5-speed w/OverDrive), but gets the 'HD' clarifier. Still easier to call it a ZF.

Jason
 
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Old Aug 12, 2005 | 09:51 PM
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Agreed, the W code in 95 manual says "Manual - 5 speed H- D. Overdrive (M5OD-HD) (Z-F). The (Z-F) is in the same context area as (Mazda) which follows M5OD for code M in transmission listings.
Sorry - my assumption.
Possibly Z-F is symbol for manufacturer of that transmission - guess?? I notice tag for Z-F transmission has Ford logo along with ZF logo. FWIW.
 
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Old Aug 12, 2005 | 10:56 PM
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Google says ZF is a German company that makes many powertrain components, as well as many other products.
 
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Old Nov 2, 2005 | 01:19 AM
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Are the M5OD and the ZF interchangeable ??
 
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