engine choices
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Elder User
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From: San Diego
engine choices
Went looking around the junk yard today looking for a suitable replacement tranny, didn't find a lot. There is what I think is a ZF5 behind a straight 6 in a 93 F250 couldn't figure out the tranny code using the tools on this site (the ones I've found at least.)
I looked in the older cars just for the hell of it and I found two nice looking engines a 5.0 HO in what I think is a lincoln town car, and a 351W in a mercury car. Given that they are both $250 (ea) untested, which would you guys rather go with? (Assuming they are rebuildable which is the only thing they will warranty since they are untested.)
My truck is just going to be used for getting around town hauling household stuff around, nothing really heavy duty. The guy that sold her to me said she had a 351W, but all of the emissions stuff says 302, and from what I can tell the tranny has never been off... I have to assume she has 160-260 thousand plus on her, he also said the heads have been redone but I wil beleive it when I see it.
I looked in the older cars just for the hell of it and I found two nice looking engines a 5.0 HO in what I think is a lincoln town car, and a 351W in a mercury car. Given that they are both $250 (ea) untested, which would you guys rather go with? (Assuming they are rebuildable which is the only thing they will warranty since they are untested.)
My truck is just going to be used for getting around town hauling household stuff around, nothing really heavy duty. The guy that sold her to me said she had a 351W, but all of the emissions stuff says 302, and from what I can tell the tranny has never been off... I have to assume she has 160-260 thousand plus on her, he also said the heads have been redone but I wil beleive it when I see it.
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the 5.0 engine is a good engine that can be built up for good power, but if all you want is just a reliable, easy swap, go with the 351. Although, considering it is in a merc, it's probably not the HO 351w that is found in our trucks.
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From: San Diego
I went to try and change out the lube in the tranny, thinking it just needed some fresh lube, and i pulled out the wrong bolt by mistake (the one for filling was obscured by quite a few years of mud/oil mix, in the process of doing this the linkage inside for reverse came off (i read another post after the fact, where a guy did the same thing)
1980 F150 302, 3sp w/od (total of four gears plus reverse) (I think its a SROD), standard cab, long bed.
I am trying to see the best way to get the whole thing working again (rebuilt tranny, or junk yard steal, or have a shop rebuild the one I've got...)
I am also playing around with the idea of getting another motor to fix up, while the one I have is still running (she has oil everywhere and could use a freshening i think.)
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From: Virginia
If your truck has a 351w, it's not original, since the only 351 engine they had in 80 was a 351m. The 302 tranny would have matched up to a 351w though, so it could have had a 351w swapped in. Here's how to tell what you have.
If you can find an old car like you were talking about, that you can drive and test out, you could pull the whole engine/tranny and sit it in your truck. If the tranny ends up being the same length, everything should fit up, though if you get a automatic, you will need to add a shifter for it. Watch out for car engines though, they will fit but the oil pan will have to be changed to a rear sump to fit in the truck.
If you find a later model truck that was possibly wrecked, you could also drop that whole assembly in place, and if it's a 93 or earlier, then you can use lots of other parts since these trucks were mostly the same, and all these years should have a speedo cable which you need.
If you can find an old car like you were talking about, that you can drive and test out, you could pull the whole engine/tranny and sit it in your truck. If the tranny ends up being the same length, everything should fit up, though if you get a automatic, you will need to add a shifter for it. Watch out for car engines though, they will fit but the oil pan will have to be changed to a rear sump to fit in the truck.
If you find a later model truck that was possibly wrecked, you could also drop that whole assembly in place, and if it's a 93 or earlier, then you can use lots of other parts since these trucks were mostly the same, and all these years should have a speedo cable which you need.
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From: San Diego
Thanks for the info Franklin, I am trying to make out where the heads start on my rig, there is plenty of grime on the poor thing, I tried cleaning her up, but the car wash place didn't have a whole lot of pressure...
So I found a code translation for the five speed I found in the junk yard. Looks like it is indeed a ZF5, are they made by Dana? I looked it up in the 87-93 forums. Talk about pulling my head out of my rear and trying to be more resourceful.
It is in a 93 F-250 and you were saying that 80-93 would fit right? Thing is the tranny is behind a straight 6 300, I am hoping that the bell housing and splines match up, the junk yard guy said I probably wouldn't be able to use the driveshaft because of how they move the vehicles around...
I'm gonna measure my transmission/bellhousing length and see if they match up...
I don't think I can beat $250 for a ZF5.
None of these cars are driveable, they are all drained and on the ground or on rims....
So I found a code translation for the five speed I found in the junk yard. Looks like it is indeed a ZF5, are they made by Dana? I looked it up in the 87-93 forums. Talk about pulling my head out of my rear and trying to be more resourceful.
It is in a 93 F-250 and you were saying that 80-93 would fit right? Thing is the tranny is behind a straight 6 300, I am hoping that the bell housing and splines match up, the junk yard guy said I probably wouldn't be able to use the driveshaft because of how they move the vehicles around...
I'm gonna measure my transmission/bellhousing length and see if they match up...
I don't think I can beat $250 for a ZF5.
None of these cars are driveable, they are all drained and on the ground or on rims....
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: San Diego
ZF .....and i have to write the rest of this sentece because it won't let me post less than 10 characters (is that enough now??)
I thought it was odd, but thanks for the answer. I'm going back today to check the tag on the transmission and to measure it and check out the output shaft and other such things.
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From: Virginia
When you go look at it again, make sure it has a speedo cable. Also check out the clutch linkage. The zf used a hydraulic clutch, I am not sure what your truck has. But that's ok, the stuff off the 93 should fit your older truck.
The 300 setup will fit the 302/351w engines, except you cannot use the 300 flywheel. You may end up buying a new flywheel if the zf uses a larger clutch that will not fit your flywheel.
Measure your driveshaft, and then measure the one in the truck. Also count the splines on the tranny shaft. You may be able to make something work, and or get a new driveshaft made if the one at the yard is bent. If you find the u-joints are larger on the f250, they make adapter u-joints you can get at Napa to make it all work.
The 300 setup will fit the 302/351w engines, except you cannot use the 300 flywheel. You may end up buying a new flywheel if the zf uses a larger clutch that will not fit your flywheel.
Measure your driveshaft, and then measure the one in the truck. Also count the splines on the tranny shaft. You may be able to make something work, and or get a new driveshaft made if the one at the yard is bent. If you find the u-joints are larger on the f250, they make adapter u-joints you can get at Napa to make it all work.
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Des Plaines, Illinois
Speedo cables stopped in 1992 when Ford switched to a PSOM speedo and a tone ring in the rear end.
You'd be safest looking no later than 91 if you want a whole assembly with transmission. Assuming you just want the engine and are willing to convert it from EFI to carb, you can go up to '96 in F150s.
You'd be safest looking no later than 91 if you want a whole assembly with transmission. Assuming you just want the engine and are willing to convert it from EFI to carb, you can go up to '96 in F150s.