I have a 1988 F-250 that came from the dealer as a light duty with a 5.0L. After about 280,000 miles the motor decided to take a giant dump, so I bought a used 5.8L with roughly 70,000 on the clock. The issue I am running into is that the Mazda R2 just doesn't seem to hold up to the 5.8L. Is there any trouble doing the swap? Do I need a shorter/longer drive shaft. Also, it is a 4WD, do I need a different transfer case? Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

A couple people have done the swap. I believe the driveshafts are the same length, the swap is pretty much a bolt-in. There are a couple threads in here about this swap.

 

mazda 5 speed to zf 5 speed is a direct bolt up...just make sure you get the right zf

since you have 4wd you need to find a 4wd zf, the 2wd version has a fixed output yoke and no mounting options for the t-case, they have a totaly different tail housing...but the 4wd zf will bolt up with your t-case, many of them came with your t-case

tranny x-member and mounts and drive shafts are all the same

you gotta watch out for the bellhousing pattern though, there are 2 or 3 different patterns on the zf (small blocks, diesels, and possibly one for big blocks too but they might be same as the diesels)...if you have the winsor you can use any zf thats behind a 300/302/351w

also the diesel zfs have a close ratio gassers have a wide ratio...i think thats the way that goes...but it doesnt matter cause a diesel zf wont bolt up to your 351 any way

good luck...i have been searcing for one to put in my 95 for months with no luck...

P.S. the tranny code on the door sticker is "2" for the tranny you want

 

Indeed it is a bolt in swap, I broke the Mazda trans in my 96 F150. I don't think the M5R2 will hold up to much more than a 2.3 can put out, I broke mine with a 300 six! I added mine as part of a 4wd conversion, it bolted right up... same clutch, slave cylinder, reverse light switch, trans mount, and the t-case bolts right up too. I didn't get so lucky on driveshafts, but that was because I going from a 2wd to a 4wd set up.

 

you say that like you are surprised...

the M5OD should never have been behind the 300, that engine puts out too much low RPM torque for that tranny and everyone i know with this setup tears that tranny apart, unless the truck never works and is a complete pavement pounder, which is rare for that setup...my 300 has killed its M5OD too, looking for a zf, 300 I6 and zf 5 speed is the only way to go!

 

I'm actually not surprised that I broke it with my 300. I am no stranger to the 300s low end torque and stubborn reliability. A number of people I talk to are surprised a 300 can break anything... I guess they never had one before! I have broken motor and tranny mounts, among other things with my 300, again not really surprising to me.
I absolutely love having a ZF behind the 300, you get the best of both worlds. A nice deep first gear for crawling, wheeling, and pulling, and a .76 overdrive gear for cruising down the highway; all in a nice tough package.

 

wow sweet reading this answered nearley every one of my questions lol what about drive shafts thoug will the factory 4x4 shafts work when swapping from a m5r2 to a zf?

 

I have a 95 F150 5.0l, 5 speed, 4x4. My M5R2 died on me and I was going to swap it out with a ZF S542. Will my slave cylinder, clutch, cross member, transfer case (bog warner1536),and drive shafts work with this swap. What kind of problems will I run into, and will this swap work with my truck?

 

ya the swap will work with all the componets you already have with the exception of the driveshafts im not sure on those

 

Cool thanks for answering that I talked to Jasper engines and a few mechanics and they were no help at all.

 

they normally arent because they want to work on the truck themselves so they can charge you a arm and leg for labor

 

am i the lucky one that the M5OD didnt blew up yet behind my 300 ftlbs 302 ???

 

naw i have a m50d in my daily driver behind a 5.8 but the truck isnt ever driven hard so i guess that really doesnt count

 

The driveshafts work just fine. Thanks again.

 

my 300 killed my M5OD on Friday. All the sudden the shifter went to mush, When its in gear the shifter moves around like its in nuetral, Its still drivable but make interesting noises if the shifter isnt in the right place, and i have this airy feeling that all the sudden there's going to be a loud "BANG" and pieces of aluminum, hardened steel and tranny fluid will be scattered about the roadway.

Good thing there is a ZF in the garage im getting prepared to swap in