ZF behind a 390
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ZF behind a 390
Hey All, I am new to the forum.
Just bought a 76 F-250 with a 390 4-spd (2 wheel drive). Looking to improve the milage and trying to decide betwee rear end gears and a 5-speed swap. Seems the ZF is the best bet, but trying to figure out if a 460 bolt pattern will bolt up to a FE.
I searched some forums, but I havent found any info on this. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Basher
Just bought a 76 F-250 with a 390 4-spd (2 wheel drive). Looking to improve the milage and trying to decide betwee rear end gears and a 5-speed swap. Seems the ZF is the best bet, but trying to figure out if a 460 bolt pattern will bolt up to a FE.
I searched some forums, but I havent found any info on this. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Basher
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: denver
you will probably have better luck finding an adapter for a trans from a the winsor motors. Also, I believe there is an adapter to mate a dodge NV4500 to a ford bellhousing, since the NV4500 does not have an integral bellhousing.
Good luck, and if you do it, post what you find!
Good luck, and if you do it, post what you find!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: where the deer and antelo
Check http://www.advanceadapters.com/ for NV4500 adapters. They make them for a whole bunch of applications. If you find what your looking for you can usually buy the part cheaper at one of the dealers that sell Advanced Adapters products
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My brother pulled the bell housing off a 7.3 liter power stroke, this bell housing fit the FE 390 engine.
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Posting Guru
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From: Dracut, Massachusetts
Originally Posted by 1975Ford
My brother pulled the bell housing off a 7.3 liter power stroke, this bell housing fit the FE 390 engine.
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From: denver
for sure! I would like to see pictures of this, I would put the FE/ZF combo in every one of my trucks if it works. But I was under the impression that the diesel bolt pattern is very similar to the 460/351M/400 bolt pattern, except the starter hole was different (the trans would bolt in place, but you would never be able to start it!!)
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mwbasher, welcome to FTE, have fun and enjoy this forum. Lots of good information on this site.
I saved the bell housing.
I'll post the bell housing casting numbers.
The bell housing was Aluminum and came off the earlier 7.3l IDI powerstorke.
I don't know of any NP 435 transmission with an aluminum bell housing.
I haven't really looked into this in detail, so I don't know much.
One thing I do remember is that AL bell fit the FE engine and have saved it for upgrading the transmission on my FE.
I'm not going to say it works or it doesn't, because I don't know.
I saved the bell housing.
I'll post the bell housing casting numbers.
The bell housing was Aluminum and came off the earlier 7.3l IDI powerstorke.
I don't know of any NP 435 transmission with an aluminum bell housing.
I haven't really looked into this in detail, so I don't know much.
One thing I do remember is that AL bell fit the FE engine and have saved it for upgrading the transmission on my FE.
I'm not going to say it works or it doesn't, because I don't know.
Last edited by 1975Ford; Jan 10, 2008 at 02:31 PM.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
if it is a bell housing, it was from a 4 speed truck. and the 7.3 did not come with a 4 speed, just the ZF 5 speed. the 6.9 came with the 4 speed. all diesel ZF transmissions are a one piece unit. the bell housing is part of the trans.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Dracut, Massachusetts
you could use that bell housing with an nv4500. also the 6.9 and the 7.3 have the same bell housing, so if the bell housing does work with an fe... you could use an nv4500, but why not just use your fe bell housing?
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From: Dracut, Massachusetts
Originally Posted by mwbasher
So it looks like the ZF is out and I can use a NV4500 with a $300 adapter from AA. Then a new clutch and maybe some driveline work and there it is.
Does that sound right?
Does that sound right?