This has probably been beat to death,but here we go.. 94' F-150, 300 I-6, M5OD, BW1356. POS Tranny finally gave up the ghost. Local shop wants $1100-1300 for their "heavy duty rebuild". I can't justify that for what I feel is still a piece of crap tranny. I'm Thinking of going with a junkyard ZF-5. So I have all the usual questions. If its out of a 4x4 will my T-case bolt up to the tranny.Will the tranny bolt to my engine...Etc. I woud really like to hear from someone who has done this swap. I know there has to be a few of you out there. Thanks in advance for any responses!

I asked about this not too long ago. You need to get a ZF originally out of a truck with a 4.9 or 5.0, and it will bolt up to your existing t-case. Unfortunately, this version of the ZF is the hardest to find, because most of the HD trucks got a 5.8, 7.5, or the diesel.

What did your tranny do on its way out? Big bang, or a slow downhill slide?

I could be wrong but I think the 5.8 virsion will fit also.

I could be wrong but I think the 5.8 virsion will fit also.

Yeah it just needs to be a SBF bellhousing pattern. T-case will bolt up. ................Paging toddacimer.................. paging toddacimer

1100-1300 for a rebuild..sounds better than the quote of 1500-2000 I got for mine..they are the STRONGEST manual tranny origonally put in a ford from the factory in those years...

good luck finding one that doesnt cost ya at least $900 and in unknown condition..your probably better off to buy a truck that has one in it thats wrecked or left for dead and get the tranny from it..

4.9 5.0 3.8 5.8 are all smallblock bolt patterns...yes it will fit..any other ZF's you find will be behind a 7.5gas or 7.2 diesel..

Thanks for your input..It was a SLOOOOWW downhill slide. 5th gear went out, Fluid pours from three poorly plugged holes(learned this is a common problem. Check yours if you have this tranny), one of the dowel pins that the shifter pivots on fell out somehow, Shifter just flops around..Etc...Thats my anti-theft device. If you don't know the secret moves to get in gear its not going anywhere.

Yeah it just needs to be a SBF bellhousing pattern. T-case will bolt up. ................Paging toddacimer.................. paging toddacimer

I started to p.m. you a couple of months ago to see if you might have a front clip laying around that you would ship to me really cheap. I accidently tore mine off on the only tree in a 400 acre pasture. What the hell is a "toddacimer"??

Just got a call back from a mechanic in a nearby town that said he found me a low mileage ZF-5 (50,XXX) for $800 bucks & if I will bring him my truck he can have me driving it out of his shop for $1100. Dosen't sound bad to me. What do you guys think??

I got one for sell for 500.00 with about a thousand miles.

I got one for sell for 500.00 with about a thousand miles.

bring it to me & I'll give you $800:D

The best place I've found for them is older work trucks.

My 88' F-250 had one, it was a strip model, light duty 6 cyl truck. I eventualy sold the whole truck to a buddy to put in his 94' Bronco, to replace the E4OD.
They are out there, and not toooo hard to find, so I still wouldn't pay to much for one.
I paid $275 for the whole truck, DD'd it for a year, and sold it for $500(for the tranny), and had a few people inline for it at that price.

AS far as the swap, its pretty straight forward, unbolt one, bolt the other in.

The best place I've found for them is older work trucks.

My 88' F-250 had one, it was a strip model, light duty 6 cyl truck. I eventualy sold the whole truck to a buddy to put in his 94' Bronco, to replace the E4OD.
AS far as the swap, its pretty straight forward, unbolt one, bolt the other in.

Tranny works good in my truck :flipoff2: I sold a couple hundred in parts off of the truck before I trashed it. Even at $500 for a ZF it's a good deal. Else I can make you a deal on a jank E4OD

1100-1300 for a rebuild..sounds better than the quote of 1500-2000 I got for mine..they are the STRONGEST manual tranny origonally put in a ford from the factory in those years...

good luck finding one that doesnt cost ya at least $900 and in unknown condition..your probably better off to buy a truck that has one in it thats wrecked or left for dead and get the tranny from it..

4.9 5.0 3.8 5.8 are all smallblock bolt patterns...yes it will fit..any other ZF's you find will be behind a 7.5gas or 7.2 diesel..

wanderer-RRORC;6570423,

Is there any way to bolt the Ford ZF 6 speed to a small block Ford?

Just got a call back from a mechanic in a nearby town that said he found me a low mileage ZF-5 (50,XXX) for $800 bucks & if I will bring him my truck he can have me driving it out of his shop for $1100. Dosen't sound bad to me. What do you guys think??

I'd take that deal! I paid $800 for a used one and have had many good years of use. It's a bolt-in swap which is why he can do it for that price, same length, same clutch and all. Best price, used, rebuilt, is on E-bay, but you got top have a core! Do it!:D

I'd take that deal! I paid $800 for a used one and have had many good years of use. It's a bolt-in swap which is why he can do it for that price, same length, same clutch and all. Best price, used, rebuilt, is on E-bay, but you got top have a core! Do it!:D

Think I'm going to. I've heard they are almost bulletproof. I've had nothing but trouble with the m5od. Thanks for everyones input.

Thanks for your input..It was a SLOOOOWW downhill slide. 5th gear went out, Fluid pours from three poorly plugged holes(learned this is a common problem. Check yours if you have this tranny), one of the dowel pins that the shifter pivots on fell out somehow, Shifter just flops around..Etc...Thats my anti-theft device. If you don't know the secret moves to get in gear its not going anywhere.

I've checked the plugs, mine werent leaking. I've sorta been keeping an eye on them. I like my truck ('96, same specs as yours) but its starting to piss me off.

The front hangers on the rear springs are almost rusted through, and I really don't want to make the Ford dealerships around here any richer. My dad already did the rear shackles when he owned the truck. They were rusted so badly they broke going over a moderate pothole on I76. I believe he was out $300 for all the parts from Ford. All the F150s in the junkyards had them rotted out too. :shaking: Fucking ODOT sure loves that goddamn salt.

Oh yeah, and the tranny. Its getting to the point where I pretty much have to double clutch it to get it in 2nd or 3rd gear, and I am not paying to rebuild this turd. Needs a new clutch too, so I'm keeping my eyes open for a ZF. Thought I found one not too long ago right down the street, but the guy was trying to pull a fast one on me.

I think the $1100 doesnt sound too bad at all to have someone else put it in. Good luck with it!

I've checked the plugs, mine werent leaking. I've sorta been keeping an eye on them. I like my truck ('96, same specs as yours) but its starting to piss me off.

The front hangers on the rear springs are almost rusted through, and I really don't want to make the Ford dealerships around here any richer. My dad already did the rear shackles when he owned the truck. They were rusted so badly they broke going over a moderate pothole on I76. I believe he was out $300 for all the parts from Ford. All the F150s in the junkyards had them rotted out too. :shaking: Fucking ODOT sure loves that goddamn salt.

Oh yeah, and the tranny. Its getting to the point where I pretty much have to double clutch it to get it in 2nd or 3rd gear, and I am not paying to rebuild this turd. Needs a new clutch too, so I'm keeping my eyes open for a ZF. Thought I found one not too long ago right down the street, but the guy was trying to pull a fast one on me.

I think the $1100 doesnt sound too bad at all to have someone else put it in. Good luck with it!

Thanks..I think I'm gonna go with it.

I've been thinking of this swap also since I have the exact same set up in my truck that Todd Osborne has. What are the gear ratio differences between the gears? First gear is lower on the ZF, right? Everything is bolt in then, no changing clutch or slave cylinder?