tranny question
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New User
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tranny question
I have a 1978 350 ford. Currently it has a T-18 tranny with a 205 behind it. I would like to go with a 5spd. What would you suggest? I need to know if it has the same bolt pattern and hopefully an idea on the length if possible. please help
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Central Ohio
What motor? 400? If so you might be able to swap a 5 speed ZF found on the 80's and 90's 460 motors. However there will be some custom fabrication involved, there have been a couple folks that have done it on the forum that I have talked too but with there basic description there isnt much for me to go by and I dont really know tranny shops that would do custom work like that. I dont know if either of the two I know are still on the forums, its been a few years. If you have the 460 than the swap would be more straight forward. But just for the record the 351M/400 motors have the same bolt pattern as the 460, the issue is the clutch is in a different spot (I forget one is closer the other further from the block).
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New User
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We'll truth be know. The truck is a 1992 1 ton chevy pickup. I threw in a straight axle. on my conversion, i stole everything from a 78' 1 ton ford. I had a bellhousing made that would bolt up to the chevy block and connect the t-18 to it. So, it has the old 4 bolt pattern. Was always a play toy but decided to drive it again as a daiy driver and knock the spider webs off. The old 4 speed just wants to eat all of my fuel. I was interested in at least gaining 2-3 more mpg's by doing this. thank you again for responding.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,812
Likes: 15
From: Central Ohio
Well it was already a custom swap for the original motor even... with a chevy motor I aint got no clue! Your going to have to talk to someone with a whole lot more custom fabricating skills than me. I know what you mean about the mpg... my '78 351M last I checked was only good for about 8mpg. I have heard about a few here doing some mild builds and added an aftermarket fuel injection and are getting mid teens now and thats with 35-38" tires. I planned on doing the same, with the addition of the 5 speed ZF tranny and gaining the OD. However I dont know much about the 350. It is a good motor with a ton of aftermarket parts but dont discount the 351M/400. They have been found to be one of fords best kept secrets, and now have been winning the Engine Masters Challenge for a couple years now (pretty darn good for a motor known to be anything from a boat anchor to fords worse motor ever...) http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tec...ine/index.html Iknow you already went through the work to do your swap but just had to through that in there!
