Your truck should already have the hydro clutch, so there won't be any mods necessary there

 

Why would you have to fab a crossmember? Your truck is directly related to the 91 model you are getting parts from. That thread in the link is about two totally different trucks, a 50's model and a 80's model. As long as you stay with 80-96 parts, you should be mostly ok, most everything fits or there is a factory solution to it in some form or fashion using factory parts.

 

Well, I don't know that I do...I was just assuming. I haven't found all that much info. The guy that posted earlier in this thread switched from a 4spd to a 5spd and he moved his existing cross member 6" back. Since mine is a 3 spd, I don't know if the existing cross member can be used or do I need a cross member from a 5spd truck, etc?

This is why I posted in this thread. I was hoping somebody had some info they could share.

 

You indeed may have to move the crossmember back. I did on my swap, but the holes were already there. I have a later truck though, you may have to drill your holes. There are so many combinations of drivetrains.

 

Hi 86"Stepside"
A ZF is a "plug and Play on the Speedo Cable.
BTW, if possible, please change your username from "86 Stepside"

to "86Flareside"A "Stepside" is a Chevy.........
Just say'n....

 

Hi Reamer....in the last 9 years since I posted in this thread, I'm aware of the in's and outs of the ZF swap as I did one on my old f150, and also after making my screen name here became aware of the difference in Stepside and flairside terms.

 

Good to know

 

I finally got around to checking this, and it looks like my cross-member will have to be moved 3" back. That's not the end of the world, assuming I can somehow get to the bolts in the top of the frame rails.

I thought of something else today though. I'll be replacing the clutch while I'm in there, and likely the flywheel. Since this 5 spd trans came out of a 1991, would I just order a flywheel for a 91 and install it in my 84? The reason I ask is, I've read that the 302 flywheel counterweight changed...at least once. From the little bit of reading I did, it looks like that change was in 1982. Does this mean that all of the 302 flywheels after 1982 are weighted the same?

 

I know years ago I put a 302 in a 72 f100 that originally had a 300 6. It all bolted right up to the flywheel, etc. Started truck and shook like crazy. I had to go to salvage yard and get a 302 flywheel, So balancing is definitely different there. I don't know if it is different for different years...

 

Yes sir, I'm sure that swap did shake. The 300/6 flywheel does not have a counterbalance weight on it, that much I have learned from reading. The 5spd I bought was on a 302, and my truck is a 302, and from what I've been reading they're all 50oz counterweight flywheels from 1982-up, so that's a non-issue at this point. Now I see the buggers have different teeth counts too!!

I have a Ford small block book here, and it says that if my flywheel is the 50oz version, then it is a 157 tooth. However, Rock Auto lists the flywheels for both my 1984 302 and the 1991 302 the trans came out of as 164 tooth flywheels. Dangnummit Ford!

Oh well, it gives me something to do I suppose....researching...lol.

 

I looked into putting a T5 in my '81 with a 300. A 302 is easier as they put them behind that engine from the factory, but yes, have to get the right flywheel. 28oz vs 50oz balance, but they are both available. And, if using the Mustang T5 bellhousing, then need to use 157 tooth ring gear.

My 300 is 0oz balance - or should I say it's balanced with no imbalance? Anyway, 157 t flywheels are available from Ford Motorsport and one other source I forget right now, but they're pricey @ $200+.

I don't know if the starters are different on 302s, but I'd compare and make sure.

 

Revisiting an old thread here. I ended up finding the correct cross-member for the M5OD transmission, so it should be all plug and play in the existing holes in the frame rails. I just got the part back from sand blasting today, and something I clearly didn't notice previously, is that the trans mount holes are offset slightly to the right hand side.

Is the engine and trans in these trucks offset slightly to the right hand side?

I'm not near the truck right now or I'd have a look.

 

Ok, to answer my own question, yes the drivetrain is offset to the right almost 2". I hadn't realized that before. I get zero points for attention to detail.

Good news is that the M5OD cross-member fits my '84 just fine. Bad news is that I thought the end brackets were the same, and they're not. Have to go back now and see if I can get a set of those.

 

another options is to weld on the extra weight needed to flywheel you got or drill it to remove the excess weight.