Just bought a burnt 89 F350 with D-60/460/zf 5spd, b-w1350? xcase, and sterling rear for $500. I am going to use the guts in a project and wondered if there are any drawbacks to any of the driveline stuff before I commit to using it.

Pros- You have a big motor, a D60, a great rear end, and a really good tranny.

Cons- You have to be friends with "Ford people" now.

Out here we dream of getting a drivetrain that solid for $500. Gear it, lock, stuff it in whatever you got and beat the hell out of it:smokin:

if it was in a fire, would one have to worry about the strength of the metal now (annealing or harded from sudden dose of water?)

Depends on the fire.... heat travels upwards. Drivetrain components usually come out okay.

If you put a ford 60 in your shit your penis grows 3 inches.

The heat from the truck went up. Totally burned the cab and hood to toast, didn't even cook the oil off the top of the tranny and t-case. pcv valve grommet still intact. I wasn't so much concerned with the d-60 and 460 as I was with the zf, bw1350, and sterling as they are all new to me. D-70's 14 bolts, sm465's and np205's now those I understand. Also, I wondered if the fuelie engine could be carbed as it burned all the FI poop.

the sterling rear is even with the 70 and 14 bolt for strength, simaliar ring gear size, same size shafts.
The T-case is tough as nails, the only thing that can really happen to them is the oil pump spins and the bearings can burn up.

the tranny is bulletbroof as well, fully syncronized granny 5 speed, with overdrive.

Throw it under something and run it, no more questions, go now!

What shape is the ZF 5 speed in?

If you don't like it, I'd be happy to take it off your hands. =)

Nice find! Hell, if you wanted you could just sell the ZF to somebody looking to do a ZF swap and get AT LEAST 500 if not 700-800 dollars out of a good working transmission, and the Sterling could bring you another 300 or so to somebody doing a 1-ton on a 92 and up F150 (VSS Sensor).

My thought with the rear is there is a limited amount of traction stuff for Sterlings. D70/14 Bolt all have much more. Plus, if you could score a 2-peice case D70/14bolt then you could detroit for cheap. Just something to think about.

Also, I wondered if the fuelie engine could be carbed as it burned all the FI poop.

If you swap the heads. No carb intakes for the FI heads.

My thought with the rear is there is a limited amount of traction stuff for Sterlings. D70/14 Bolt all have much more. Plus, if you could score a 2-peice case D70/14bolt then you could detroit for cheap. Just something to think about.
lunchbox, detroit, ARB are all available for the sterling. what more do you need?

lunchbox, detroit, ARB are all available for the sterling. what more do you need?

yeah, the sterling used to have way more aftermarket than the 14 bolt up until recently.. It was just recently that the 14 bolt even got a selectable locker.

you had to ask if that was good stuff? in that case, build whatever you're doing on an s-10 blazer chassis, complete with jeep dana 30 sas. :flipoff2:

You basically have the drivetrain to build a budget indestructable rig. The ZF is almost as stout as they come for syncronized transmissions. The 1350 is fairly strong and the Sterling rear is pretty damned hard to break in most instances. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it would be hard.

I just parted out an '89 F350 myself, had all the same parts. I'm keeping the axles for my buggy build, with a 5.8/C-6/something else combo. Should be pretty stout.
Joe

Man, thats like the dream truck i have been looking for forever....there are none around here tho for less than like $2500 for a rusted out pile of crap.

Just out of curiousity.....does anybody know how easy it is or if its really even possible to build up the 460s in those trucks like you can a carb'd one? Does the fuel injection system even really allow that? If it didn't cost an arm and a leg.....would it even be worth it? Or would it be better off to just put a carb on it and call it good?

Also, FWIW, the Dana 60s in the 86-91 F350s are considered to be as strong or even a little stronger than the ones from 78-79 F350s IIRC. I think the 86-91 D60s have a little bit thicker axletubes....plus they are a kingpin style....

Im so fawkin jealous.......so whats the drivetrain going into?

Zach

Just FYI, its a 1356 T-case, not a 1350. I have basically that exact drivetrain in my '88 F-250 except for the front D50, 460/ZF/1356/10.25FF, and if I ever wreck the thing or it catches fire all that drivetrain will be going under a big ass buggy.

And yes, zachis4wheeling, you can build-up an EFI 460 to produce some fairly ungodly power, it just takes more knowledge and $$$ than with thier carb'd counterparts. With bigger injectors and custom tuning (Tweecer or the like) you can make the factory speed density EFI do almost anything that you want it to.

If you put a ford 60 in your shit your penis grows 3 inches.

4 with aftermarket knuckles.

The heat from the truck went up. Totally burned the cab and hood to toast, didn't even cook the oil off the top of the tranny and t-case. pcv valve grommet still intact. I wasn't so much concerned with the d-60 and 460 as I was with the zf, bw1350, and sterling as they are all new to me. D-70's 14 bolts, sm465's and np205's now those I understand. Also, I wondered if the fuelie engine could be carbed as it burned all the FI poop.
you can get an adapter to put a carb on that manifold...

you can get an adapter to put a carb on that manifold...

Yes, but just because you can do something doesn't mean it will be right. The EFI heads, cam, and intake were specifically desinged for MPI, and they do not perform well with a carb on top of them. I knew a guy who tried that and it was a dog of a motor after the swap. Also, your timing is controled by the ECM, so you'll have to swap out the TFI distributor.

ZF's do not tolerate speed shifting too well. Syncros also wear out. Take it to a trans shop and have them inspect it. A rebuild should run you less than 1K.

Thanks for all the help. It is going in a M715 and I have been waiting on a cheap donor so I can build it. I can't believe I found it that cheap either. I was familiar with d-60 and 460 and know they are hella stout but the trans/ x-case, and Sterling I knew nothing about. Rest assured I will probably be asking some stupid questions before this is over.

BAck to the heat thing, for a fire to actually weaken the metal in the axles and what not it has to reach temperatures (sustained) of well above 727degrees and then quenched in order to change the metal's structure.

I doubt it got that hot. Valve cover grommet is intact as are the rubber smog tube hoses behind block. Fire seems to have been concentrated in the cab as it is a burnt shell. But even the t-case seals are ok.

Good running gear but ford motors are generally more expensive to build up!

Pro- 05 F350 pulls 24,000 lb trailer like it wasnt even there :smokin:

Con- 10 months old, 24,000 miles, just got its 3RD motor!!!:rolleyes:

Got any photos of your burnt rig?

I got my front D60 for ($100) :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2: from an 89 F-350. I also took the rear Sterling at the same time. Only thing bad about these year Sterling's are the short pinion shaft - prone to leaky seal ($70 Seal) other than that, its beef for sure - pull one of the axles and check it out.

As for as your 460, check out some JY's and or look for a donor rig for complete EFI. I would go this route for sure - FAWK carb's - antiquated crap. Go EFI and don't look back - I did, no more hick ups, stalls, or flooding when on its side. Smooth pedal response and very predictable and better fuel economy too boot.