The input shaft distance that it inserts into the pilot bearing is on all 94's with the 42 trans. It's a known problem. The fix for it is swapping to a s47 trans with the longer input shaft. The 42 is garbage. It was meant for the gassers and IDI, which had different clutches and crankshafts and didn't have this problem. I've already been through 2 pilot bearings in the last year with mine.

Also with the 42 if the shaft that the throwout bearing slides on gets scored then you need a new case half. With the 47 it's replaceable. I was cheap lat time I had mine off and sleeved the piece of junk. THis summer I'm putting a 47 in along with gear vendors overdrive unit. I'm tired of messing with it.

There was a reason the zf 42 was only on one year of the powerstrokes. I can't even count how many clutches I did that year till Ford figured it out.

 

Thanks Jbrown, I'll look into that when the time comes.

 

Just got to hinking about this.
Would puting a S5-47 input shaft fit in to a S5-42 case to fix the issue?
Or are there more differences that casue the improper bearing in the pilot?

 

I am not intending to hijack this thread but it seems you all know these transmissions pretty well. I have a 96 150 with 6cyl 5 speed overdrive 4x4. I would like to have a transmission with a granny low gear like the onler 4 speed models. What transmission would fit this truck without modifications and give me the low first gear I desire? I have been told a ZF-5 but what model years trucks should I look for to find one? Thanks!

 

Since we're talking manual trans here, where can I find the ID tag on my trans, or how else can I verify which one I have? Since I have a 97 I should have the S47 but according to the build sheet for my truck I have the S42. I crawled under the truck and looked for an ID tag on the driver's side but didn't see one.

 

Chase, since the transmissions are visually different you can just match the picture on the zf transmission pdf, from earlier in the thread, with what is currently in your truck.

 

Good call. Looks like I have the S47.

 

ZF5 doesn't have a granny gear... as far as I know to get that you'd need to go to a 4-speed.

With a 300-6 you shouldn't need a granny gear, those things are torquey enough. I had a '87 F150 with the 300-6 and a 4-speed granny low transmission and I never used it. Just 2nd, 3rd, and 4th

 

Just curious, what did you sleeve it with and where can I purchase it? If I can't find a S47 to swap into mine I might need to go with the S42 I already have...

 

As far as I'm concerned 1st gear in the ZF5 is a granny gear.

 

You got that right chase.

 

So, found a local guy selling a ZF5 S47 from a '96 PSD with t-case for $500, supposed to be in good condition.

Is it worth it? Should I buy the S47 and sell my S42 from my '88?

 

Evan, I'd say scoop it up!

 

Do it!
Good deal.

 

Well, I called the guy, and it sounds kinda iffy...

He got it from a different guy who was parting out the truck, so he's never run it. Truck had about 230-250k miles on it. Says he bought the trans/t-case combo for $500 and was going to do a ZF5 swap in his truck (same as me) but decided not to. Trying to get his money back basically...

I'm kinda wary about it because of the high miles, not sure if it's in good shape, and that he changed his mind on his swap...
What do you guys think, still worth $500? I don't want to get stuck with a bad tranny.
Having a hard time convincing my wife that the S47 is going to be worth it instead of using the S42.