I'll start by saying it's a 351W(393) connected to a ZF. After i did the 351W swap i didn't replace the slave, after driving it for a few months the clutch started acting up. Very difficult to shift and a little clash going to reverse. Any amount of bleeding just kept making it worse. I replaced the master with no help. I then replaced the slave with a brand new Ford unit, the newest revision they had. And i must say after I replaced it I NEVER driven anything so smooth. 4 months later, same deal. It has gotten difficult to shift and bleeding it only made it worse.

I don't get pleaseure in having to remove a NP205 and a ZF with floor jacks every 4 months to replace the slave cylinder. I love stick, but ever since I bought this truck I have had nothing but problems with manual trannies (MUCH MORE than what i just described) So, I decided I'm going to go Auto. Would like some feedback in to what I should be looking for, or what people reccomend.

I want to keep overdrive if i can, I've been looking at the AOD with the 4R70W upgrade. But they are rediculously expensive. Any input on the slave issue, or about swapping to an auto will be greatly appreciated.

 

They meaning the slave cyl. can be very difficult to bleed correctly. I highly doubt that the new one is already bad, very unlikely. They has to be something else going on but I can't think of it right now.

Maybe you need to replace the MC part of the system as well? If the MC is bad then bleeding it will never help.

Any auto you go with is going to cost some big bucks, as you've already found out. I would prefer the E40D over the AOD but you will need a stand alone computer to control the E4 tranny which can be bought. But for the right amount of money either tranny can be built to hold up to your motor.

I would try to stay with the ZF if you can.

 

everything is new, i replaced the master and they hyd line. I had the same symptoms the first time the slave went out. Which i tried bleeding for probably 3 hours straight to no avail. After swapping out the slave, i bled it for 15mins and it was perfect. Now that i have the symptoms again, i bled it probably for 30mins, and all it did was get worse.

 

Look into pressure bleeding it.

 

I just don't understand how it could go from good to bad, with the same symptoms as before.

 

I have thought about it as well and can not explain it and of course it's really hard to understand everything when one hasn't been through the problem from the start such as you have.
The pressure bleeding is all I can think of right now that may offer a chance at making it right.

 

yeah, i'm going to try pressure bleed, if no go, i dunno what i'm gonna do

 

I will try to run it by a buddy of mine that is a ford tech and see what he has to say. bare with me becuase you may not hear back from me until after the 20th. I am leaving for vacation.

 

it's alright, i'm not giving up just yet, the large price tag that will incur if i go to auto is making me think against it!

 

My ford buddy will be at the shop tomorrow to help me catch up on some work. Now I just need to remember to ask him about your problem.