Tranny Swap...
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,703
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From: Des Moines, Iowa
Tranny Swap...
Hey guys,
88' F250 4x4 with ZF
I have been looking for some advise on my transmission problems but on the last post we didn't know that my ZF was completely seized up! After pulling my ZF and looking inside I found the 3rd and 4th gears had welded themselves to the main shaft, the case is shot due to huge crack, and most gears have turned a blue hue due to the heat that it took from the last owner. Needless to say i need a new transmission!
What is my best option at this point?
I do medium hauling... Fishing boat, small speed boat, pop-up camper, haul rock in the bed, and construction supplies. I will also be doing some major re-landscaping around my house which was the purpose for the purchase. So I may be doing some heavy loads none the less. Oh and some off road mudding... Anyhow I am looking for the best bang for my buck! The ZF and Mazda trannys are about $400-$500 around the yards here in Iowa.
Should I stick with the ZF or go to a Mazda? Does one have better relaibility than the other? I just want to stick with whatever i choose and don't really want to break into tranny work again.
Thanks!
88' F250 4x4 with ZF
I have been looking for some advise on my transmission problems but on the last post we didn't know that my ZF was completely seized up! After pulling my ZF and looking inside I found the 3rd and 4th gears had welded themselves to the main shaft, the case is shot due to huge crack, and most gears have turned a blue hue due to the heat that it took from the last owner. Needless to say i need a new transmission!
What is my best option at this point?
I do medium hauling... Fishing boat, small speed boat, pop-up camper, haul rock in the bed, and construction supplies. I will also be doing some major re-landscaping around my house which was the purpose for the purchase. So I may be doing some heavy loads none the less. Oh and some off road mudding... Anyhow I am looking for the best bang for my buck! The ZF and Mazda trannys are about $400-$500 around the yards here in Iowa.
Should I stick with the ZF or go to a Mazda? Does one have better relaibility than the other? I just want to stick with whatever i choose and don't really want to break into tranny work again.
Thanks!
Thread Starter
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,703
Likes: 7
From: Des Moines, Iowa
I just found a ZF that was in the back of a old ford dealership that sold out for $100... However it was saved because a mechanic thought he was going to rebuild it after it was removed and swaped out on warrenty a long time ago. The parts are now loose in the case and the rebuild was never done. Should I be leary of buying this transmission since it was brought in on warrenty close to when the truck was new, and because the rebuild never happened? I really don't want a lemon! Did the ZF's have lots of factory defects off the get go that I should worry about in a situation like this?
Thanks!
Thanks!
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 578
Likes: 12
I'm not a fan of manual transmissions, since they can't pull a load an automatic can. Anyway if I had a truck that needed one. I would look for something out of a bigger truck, or even something like this. Transmission Technologies Corporation (TTC)
Especially if the light duty stock think is a junk design.
Gosh even something from the 60's or 70's medium tonnage truck would be better. They never broke.
Especially if the light duty stock think is a junk design.
Gosh even something from the 60's or 70's medium tonnage truck would be better. They never broke.
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
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Likes: 7
From: Des Moines, Iowa
yeah well the problem with TTC is that i don't have a lot of money to be doing a conversion or buying a new aftermarket tranny. I have like $400-$500 tops to fix the tranny. rebuild kits are only $200 if that's all I need for the $100 tranny i found. And from what i was hearing from a couple ford Mech's is that the ZF is a good tranny but people let things go, and then they fall apart... That's what happened on mine... The roller berings in 3 of the 4 u-joints had all fallen out and were super sloppy when i bought it. So I would assume that was the cause of the problem in the first place. Any one else have comments about that??? I guess i don't know what kind of problems can be caused by bad front and rear drive shaft u-joints?
And by my rule of thumb i usually go with manuals because if they are driven tough it is ususally just a clutch plate and a throw-out bearing. Automatics tend to have more problems when they are driven hard... at least from what i have seen... maybe I'm wrong. Comments anyone?
And by my rule of thumb i usually go with manuals because if they are driven tough it is ususally just a clutch plate and a throw-out bearing. Automatics tend to have more problems when they are driven hard... at least from what i have seen... maybe I'm wrong. Comments anyone?
Senior User
Joined: May 2007
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I dunno..put a manual up against an automatic and try to tow a load of something uphill for 10 miles. either that automatic has a NICE cooler, or it is going to be smokin hot by the time you reach the top. the only reason automatics tend to have higher "tow ratings" is because the standard manual trannys don't have a granny gear, so people would have to slip the clutch too much to get moving.
Now, in a ZF5 with a 6:1 1st gear, you dont even need the gas pedal to get moving.
Now, in a ZF5 with a 6:1 1st gear, you dont even need the gas pedal to get moving.
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More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2007
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You can't start a heavyload as good as with an automatic. The big trucks are always breaking things like Ujoints when starting a heavyload or slipping wheels on a grade. I know I have fixed many of them in the past. And manual transmissions are as much or more a pain to overhaul or rebuild. Especially when you are talking a roadranger with twin countershafts. Its a nasty thing for one guy to do with no help.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: The Vieux Ford, Kansas
I would stick with the ZF I bought a good one to replace the Mazda POS in my bronco. I gave $600 for mine and the yard I went to here in KS gave me $150 for my Mazda core because a they said the Mazda trannys usually fail catastophically and cores are tuff to find. I wouldn't buy the one in pieces the ZF is a very complicated animal and if small parts are missing I think it could nickel and dime you to death. I don't know much about big trucks but have been around this era of F-150 through F350 quite a bit and I would stick with the manual and not the automatic.
-Johnboy
-Johnboy
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Des Moines, Iowa
ok guys I know it been a long time but I went ahead with the $100 ZF due to the face that a buddy of mine knew the ford tranny guy and he rebuilt it for $130 including the parts he bought and installed. So I got the tranny in and working now and not a moment too soon as my other truck just died! It has been running great for 3 months now and didn't have a bit of a problem starting it or anything... A few little bugs later and I'm now the proud owner of a F-250 300 I6 4x4 for under $1200!!! Thanks Guys!
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
This just confirms to me that the PO did absolutely ZERO maintenance on this truck, probably never checked the fluids besides oil changes. Might be an idea to put fresh fluids in the diffs too. The front drive U-joints in these trucks were the sealed-for-life variety from the factory, and considering how seldom most people have the need for 4wd this usually means they are completely dry after the first 5 years. After that it doesn't take much use before all the bearings fall out, this is very common. Sounds like you got your tranny problem taken care of, it should be trouble free as long as you keep fluid in it.
