96 engine trans swap
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 410
Likes: 1
From: West Virginia
96 engine trans swap
I have a line on a 96 Bronco I'm going to go look at Thursday, so I don't know much about it at this point. I do know there is one thing I don't like and one thing I hate about it.
So let's start with what I hate. It is an auto trans. I hate, despise, loath, etc auto trans. So what would be involved with changing it to a 5spd. Other then the trans, peddle, master cylinder, flywheel, clutch etc. Will the 5spd change the drive shaft length? What about electrical/computer issues? Will the trans mount on the 5spd work in the cross member of the auto? I'm looking for problems other than the in your face ones needed for a clutch setup. Also, and I'm guessing here, any truck 4X4 5spd 302 or 351 trans will work.
The other issue I don't like is the 302. At some point, down the road, in the future, I'd like to put a nice 351 in the truck. I've looked at some other posts and I think all I need is the 351 and the computer. No other problems come up with such a swap?
If it makes any difference for the above questions, it has a manual shift transfer case.
Thanks
So let's start with what I hate. It is an auto trans. I hate, despise, loath, etc auto trans. So what would be involved with changing it to a 5spd. Other then the trans, peddle, master cylinder, flywheel, clutch etc. Will the 5spd change the drive shaft length? What about electrical/computer issues? Will the trans mount on the 5spd work in the cross member of the auto? I'm looking for problems other than the in your face ones needed for a clutch setup. Also, and I'm guessing here, any truck 4X4 5spd 302 or 351 trans will work.
The other issue I don't like is the 302. At some point, down the road, in the future, I'd like to put a nice 351 in the truck. I've looked at some other posts and I think all I need is the 351 and the computer. No other problems come up with such a swap?
If it makes any difference for the above questions, it has a manual shift transfer case.
Thanks
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
It's a '96 which means it's OBD-2 and mass air, and those things make swapping in a 5.8 relatively easy because no wiring to computer changes are necessary. You would have to use a '96 5.8 however because there is a crank sensor with OBD-2 that did not exist on previous motors. Swapping in a manual will present some driveshaft length issues and you will also have to attach the MLPS sensor from the auto trans to the wiring harness and permanently set it in Drive or Neutral.
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: West Virginia
Ok... umm... this may sound dumb, but as I don't do autos, what is a MLPS sensor?
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Chicagoland
Manual Lever Position Sensor - it's the electrical widget that senses where the shift lever is and communicates that to the computer. It bolts to the side of the transmission (driver's side, IIRC). Sometimes you'll see it referred to as the neutral safety switch but it has more on its plate than just that.
FTE Legend
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
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So just leaving the MLPS attatched and in an appropriate position is all you need to prevent codes from being generated? Is this for OBD1 vehicles as well? I had never heard this before. Is the harness going to the MLPS the only one on the trans? I'm just wondering about codes relating to the TC.
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: West Virginia
Am I right is saying that the ZF did not come in the bronco? I looked online and only came up with a mazda trans. So from that I take it I need to look for a trans out of a F250/350 with a 302/351 4X4. I found drive shafts (Bronco Grave Yard) for a 5spd Bronco, will they work with the ZF?
As far as the engine goes, I would think that might be a little hard to find an OBD-2 351. 96/97 would be the only years made, right? After that Ford went with the Mod engines? With it being a mass air system it might be easier and cheaper to put some money into the 302 and get some more hp/tq.
As far as the engine goes, I would think that might be a little hard to find an OBD-2 351. 96/97 would be the only years made, right? After that Ford went with the Mod engines? With it being a mass air system it might be easier and cheaper to put some money into the 302 and get some more hp/tq.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 599
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From: VB. Virginia
The ZF was never installed behind a 302. Look for F250/350 4x4's with a 300 six, or a 351. But the ZF will bolt up to a 302. Stay away from the ZF's behind a diesel, the bellhousing confinguration is different. Kenny
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
So just leaving the MLPS attatched and in an appropriate position is all you need to prevent codes from being generated? Is this for OBD1 vehicles as well? I had never heard this before. Is the harness going to the MLPS the only one on the trans? I'm just wondering about codes relating to the TC.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
As far as the engine goes, I would think that might be a little hard to find an OBD-2 351. 96/97 would be the only years made, right? After that Ford went with the Mod engines? With it being a mass air system it might be easier and cheaper to put some money into the 302 and get some more hp/tq.
But you don't need a 5.8 EEC anyway the 5.0 version will handle a 5.8 no problem, and if it did need some tweaking you can recalibrate it with a handheld tuner since it is OBD-2, may even be able to eliminate the trans codes with it.
More HP from the 302 is easy, but there is no gettng more low rpm TQ from a 302.. at least not without making it a 347, and if you're going to do that it makes more sense to start with a 5.8.
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 410
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From: West Virginia
Well I would like to thank everyone for the input, and I hope this info may help someone else in the future (if they use the search).
Sadly I missed out on the Bronco. He sold it a few hours before I got there. Nothing like driving 4+hours to find out you just missed it.
It's just my luck, truck was in great shape. I could find no body rust at all and just a couple of spots underneath, interior was spotless as well. Have no idea how it ran and drove, but... Oh well life goes on.
Again thanks to everyone.
All though after looking at the Bronco, I do have another question. Why did the hub only have three bolts holding it in? All my 4X4's hubs have 5 or 6 bolts. Looked strange with only three bolts. Just wondering.
Sadly I missed out on the Bronco. He sold it a few hours before I got there. Nothing like driving 4+hours to find out you just missed it.
It's just my luck, truck was in great shape. I could find no body rust at all and just a couple of spots underneath, interior was spotless as well. Have no idea how it ran and drove, but... Oh well life goes on.
Again thanks to everyone.
All though after looking at the Bronco, I do have another question. Why did the hub only have three bolts holding it in? All my 4X4's hubs have 5 or 6 bolts. Looked strange with only three bolts. Just wondering.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 410
Likes: 1
From: West Virginia
Yes an OBD-2 5.8/manual EEC is going to be rare, all F150's got mod motors starting in '97 and as far as I know the HD trucks never did get OBD-2 with the old Windsor platform, and if it did exist it was only in California.
But you don't need a 5.8 EEC anyway the 5.0 version will handle a 5.8 no problem, and if it did need some tweaking you can recalibrate it with a handheld tuner since it is OBD-2, may even be able to eliminate the trans codes with it.
More HP from the 302 is easy, but there is no gettng more low rpm TQ from a 302.. at least not without making it a 347, and if you're going to do that it makes more sense to start with a 5.8.
But you don't need a 5.8 EEC anyway the 5.0 version will handle a 5.8 no problem, and if it did need some tweaking you can recalibrate it with a handheld tuner since it is OBD-2, may even be able to eliminate the trans codes with it.
More HP from the 302 is easy, but there is no gettng more low rpm TQ from a 302.. at least not without making it a 347, and if you're going to do that it makes more sense to start with a 5.8.