manual tranny options? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

2dub · 03-08-2006, 01:32 PM

Ok so i wanted to hear what people have to say about a good tranny for me to mate up to the HO 5.0 that i have. It is going into my ranger with a sas locked front and rear on 37's. I really wanna keep the stick but from the research i have done it isnt sounding like that is a very good idea.

My original plan was to get a t5 and just throw that in, but sombody on here told me that it was a bad plan. He also told me to look into a tremec 3550 because it is a much better tranny. The tremec seems to be a hard tranny to find though.

I was hoping to keep a quick shifting 5spd because i have a NP 435 in my eb and it is a bad ass tranny for crawling but it sucks to shift, both in the time it takes to shift and the size of the gear gap.

So let me know what you folks think about a good tranny.

mooktank · 03-08-2006, 02:42 PM

I told you to get a tremec. Get a tremec or a ZF. DAMMIT. No T5s and no Mazdas. Look on mustang boards for tremecs. There are gajillions. You'll need a divorced x case of course.

2dub · 03-08-2006, 02:48 PM

yeah i got it i was hoping to hear from other people too.

mooktank · 03-08-2006, 02:50 PM

Oh I get it; I'm not smart enough. Ok fine I'm unsubscribing now...

2dub · 03-08-2006, 02:51 PM

haha dont take it that way man i appriciate the info i just wanna hear other peoples opinions too.

jaysend5.0 · 03-08-2006, 03:13 PM

ZF is probably the best bet.
Using Advance Adapters you can use an NV3550, or NV4500.
I have a Ranger that is getting a new dtrain 5.0/NV3550/d44/9"

Divorced T-case is an option, but than you will have a pathetic first gear ratio.

wetnsloppy4x · 03-08-2006, 03:22 PM

A Tremec 3550 would be nice for slick shifting and close ratios but a ZF would be the stronger of the two options.

One of the problems I see with the 3550 isn't so much availability, but cost. Last time I looked (it's been awhile) 3550s were fairly spendy, new or used.

The ZF has a decent gear split and it shifts far better than any granny 4 speed. You'll never get it to shift like a 3550 but, IMO, the ZF would hold up better.

You'd blow 3rd gear out of a T5 in no time.

mooktank · 03-08-2006, 04:21 PM

you could always go with a TKO500 or 600. Theyre rated at 500 and 600 ftlbs of torque respectively. ZF is like 450 I think. I would go ZF but it will never shift like a car tranny.

mj · 03-08-2006, 04:27 PM

ZF is the way to go.
leave the car transmissions in a car

Blown · 03-08-2006, 07:05 PM

ZF 5 speed rated to 420 FTLbs, won't shift like a car tranny but is fully synchroeded, 5.72:1 granny gear plus overdrive. You'll love Granny!

2dub · 03-08-2006, 07:49 PM

sounds like most people say go with the ZF. So where do i find one of these? what kinds of trucks do they come out of?

jaysend5.0 · 03-09-2006, 08:39 AM

You want to look for an F250 with a 351. I think they are in some 351 powered 150s too. My local bone yard has several, they are all in early eightys 250's.

If you dont mind the price of advance adapters (fat chance) you can use New Venture 3550 (not tremec 3550) out of a late model jeep. It has good gearing, it is syncroed so it shifts well, and it can hold some decent power. Also You can shoehorn a Dodge NV4500 in there (again with aa adapters).

By the way what tcase are you going to use?

Blown · 03-09-2006, 09:10 AM

The ZF was a direct swap/bolt-in replacing the Mazda M5OD in my fullsize Bronco, even used the same clutch.

2dub · 03-09-2006, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysend5.0

You want to look for an F250 with a 351. I think they are in some 351 powered 150s too. My local bone yard has several, they are all in early eightys 250's.

If you dont mind the price of advance adapters (fat chance) you can use New Venture 3550 (not tremec 3550) out of a late model jeep. It has good gearing, it is syncroed so it shifts well, and it can hold some decent power. Also You can shoehorn a Dodge NV4500 in there (again with aa adapters).

By the way what tcase are you going to use?

Im not sure what tcase yet that all depends on the tranny i finaly decide on. I am sure the ranger one will not hold up so i might try to find a dana 20 if i use a ZF tranny. Or maby an atlas depending on how much money i am willing to spend. If i go with a tremec 3550 then i would probably try to do dual cases, maby 203 205 but i am not sure if that can be made to adapt up. i looked into the klune underdrive but had a hard time finding prices and just assumed that it would be way to expensive and gave up.

By the way if i do find a F250 with a 351 am i going to need an adapter to the 5.0 i know 302's and 351's are similar but i dont know if it is a direct swap.

53CJ3aFlattie · 03-09-2006, 11:08 AM

You will not need an adapter to go from the 351 to the 302. They have the same bolt pattern. I swapped in a ZF from a 302 behind my 351. I love the granny gear 5.7X-1 and od is real nice too. I plan on putting another ZF in my exploder with a 302. Plus there is not that huge of a demand for the ZF, I got mine for about $450.

Will

jaysend5.0 · 03-11-2006, 10:56 AM

http://www.advanceadapters.com/catalog/t18.html
You can use either of those.
Keep in mind that the ZF is huge.(for a ranger) the reason I am not running one is because even with a 3" body lift it is a shoehorn operation and the shifter wants to be in the same spot as the firewall. The NV3500 (not tremec) is almost the same dimensions as the mazda m5r1 in my ranger.

If you do go with the zf you can use the bw 1356 tcase from the same truck.

What year Ranger is this going in?

I am working on a similar project. I have a 2000. I found a 2000 Merc mount. 5.0 that I am using. I aslo picked up a donor 78 bronco for the axles. I would love to see pics of your rig.

2dub · 03-11-2006, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysend5.0

http://www.advanceadapters.com/catalog/t18.html
You can use either of those.
Keep in mind that the ZF is huge.(for a ranger) the reason I am not running one is because even with a 3" body lift it is a shoehorn operation and the shifter wants to be in the same spot as the firewall. The NV3500 (not tremec) is almost the same dimensions as the mazda m5r1 in my ranger.

If you do go with the zf you can use the bw 1356 tcase from the same truck.

What year Ranger is this going in?

I am working on a similar project. I have a 2000. I found a 2000 Merc mount. 5.0 that I am using. I aslo picked up a donor 78 bronco for the axles. I would love to see pics of your rig.

Yeah i will have to look into the dimensions of the tranny. as for the body lift i will not run one ill just cut the center out of the body and make a tunnel cover. that is what i did for my eb with the np435 conversion. I am hesitant to run the 1356 because it is a chain drive t-case. Some people say that is bad for a 4x4 others say they only break if not properly maintained. which is true i dont know.

My ranger is an 89 it has a eb dana 44 and a full floating disk break 9". right now it is sitting because i blew up the front axel. Both u-joints blew, messed up the yokes, and the short side shaft is broken in the houseing. When i start my new job in the next couple of weeks i will go chromo shafts and ctm's. I have only had it going for a short while but when the 5.0 goes in i will probably change a lot of the suspension (learning from my mistakes). any way here are some pics

some of these are posted in the pictures of your rigs thred and i would mix it up but i dont have a digital camera sorry.

FordFascist · 03-11-2006, 01:17 PM

Run the ZF. The Tremec 3550 and TKO will not fit in a Ranger as there is no one adapting them to transfercases. The ZF shifts far faster than the old T18s and NP435's so it's not too big of a deal. You will find the S5-42 in '88-93 F250s with 351W or 300 I-6s, the S5-47 came '94-97 F250s.

2dub · 03-11-2006, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FordFascist

Run the ZF. The Tremec 3550 and TKO will not fit in a Ranger as there is no one adapting them to transfercases. The ZF shifts far faster than the old T18s and NP435's so it's not too big of a deal. You will find the S5-42 in '88-93 F250s with 351W or 300 I-6s, the S5-47 came '94-97 F250s.

is there any difference between the S542 and S547? or did they just change the part#

u2slow · 03-11-2006, 10:16 PM

Difference is the torque rating. I thought the S5-47 was strictly a diesel application though

Another idea is a Ford T19 close-ratio. 4 nice driving gears instead of 3. Nice & short too. Compensate for crawl ratio with better t-case gearing.

wetnsloppy4x · 03-12-2006, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by u2slow

I thought the S5-47 was strictly a diesel application though

Nope, my ZF is a 47. It came behind a 460 in a 96' F-250.

mj · 03-12-2006, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by u2slow

Difference is the torque rating. I thought the S5-47 was strictly a diesel application though

Another idea is a Ford T19 close-ratio. 4 nice driving gears instead of 3. Nice & short too. Compensate for crawl ratio with better t-case gearing.

I want a couple of those t19s if you come across them.

nascarfreak88 · 03-13-2006, 08:14 AM

man i wish i could find a ZF for $450... everbody around here wants $900 for just the tranny...

Blown · 03-13-2006, 09:51 AM

I'll take like ten of those $450 ZF's for 4X4 Ford smallblock. Should be able to double my money easily.

2dub · 03-13-2006, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nascarfreak88

man i wish i could find a ZF for $450... everbody around here wants $900 for just the tranny...

haha yeah i have started looking for one and they are not cheep!

03-08-2006, 01:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
2dub Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Member # 68431 Location: Portland OR Posts: 55	manual tranny options? Ok so i wanted to hear what people have to say about a good tranny for me to mate up to the HO 5.0 that i have. It is going into my ranger with a sas locked front and rear on 37's. I really wanna keep the stick but from the research i have done it isnt sounding like that is a very good idea. My original plan was to get a t5 and just throw that in, but sombody on here told me that it was a bad plan. He also told me to look into a tremec 3550 because it is a much better tranny. The tremec seems to be a hard tranny to find though. I was hoping to keep a quick shifting 5spd because i have a NP 435 in my eb and it is a bad ass tranny for crawling but it sucks to shift, both in the time it takes to shift and the size of the gear gap. So let me know what you folks think about a good tranny.

03-08-2006, 02:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
mooktank Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Member # 63546 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 565	I told you to get a tremec. Get a tremec or a ZF. DAMMIT. No T5s and no Mazdas. Look on mustang boards for tremecs. There are gajillions. You'll need a divorced x case of course. __________________ mooktank.com -->Cummins B3.3 Explorer Blog

03-08-2006, 02:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
mooktank Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Member # 63546 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 565	Oh I get it; I'm not smart enough. Ok fine I'm unsubscribing now... __________________ mooktank.com -->Cummins B3.3 Explorer Blog

03-08-2006, 03:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
jaysend5.0 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Member # 11061 Location: Bay area CA Posts: 102	ZF is probably the best bet. Using Advance Adapters you can use an NV3550, or NV4500. I have a Ranger that is getting a new dtrain 5.0/NV3550/d44/9" Divorced T-case is an option, but than you will have a pathetic first gear ratio. __________________ I am a Bronco Nut! Current toy 74 Bronco

03-08-2006, 03:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
wetnsloppy4x Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Member # 24862 Location: Meridian, ID Posts: 323	A Tremec 3550 would be nice for slick shifting and close ratios but a ZF would be the stronger of the two options. One of the problems I see with the 3550 isn't so much availability, but cost. Last time I looked (it's been awhile) 3550s were fairly spendy, new or used. The ZF has a decent gear split and it shifts far better than any granny 4 speed. You'll never get it to shift like a 3550 but, IMO, the ZF would hold up better. You'd blow 3rd gear out of a T5 in no time. __________________ 77' F-150 SWB on one tons 06' F-250 Harley Davidson CC SB, tuned and stuff

03-08-2006, 02:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
2dub Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Member # 68431 Location: Portland OR Posts: 55	yeah i got it i was hoping to hear from other people too.

03-08-2006, 02:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
2dub Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Member # 68431 Location: Portland OR Posts: 55	haha dont take it that way man i appriciate the info i just wanna hear other peoples opinions too.

03-08-2006, 04:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
mooktank Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Member # 63546 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 565	you could always go with a TKO500 or 600. Theyre rated at 500 and 600 ftlbs of torque respectively. ZF is like 450 I think. I would go ZF but it will never shift like a car tranny. __________________ mooktank.com -->Cummins B3.3 Explorer Blog

03-08-2006, 04:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
mj Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Member # 1919 Location: BC Canada Posts: 7,547	ZF is the way to go. leave the car transmissions in a car

03-08-2006, 07:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
Blown Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Member # 27392 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 167	ZF 5 speed rated to 420 FTLbs, won't shift like a car tranny but is fully synchroeded, 5.72:1 granny gear plus overdrive. You'll love Granny! __________________ Swat.

03-08-2006, 07:49 PM	#11 (permalink)
2dub Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Member # 68431 Location: Portland OR Posts: 55	sounds like most people say go with the ZF. So where do i find one of these? what kinds of trucks do they come out of?

03-09-2006, 08:39 AM	#12 (permalink)
jaysend5.0 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Member # 11061 Location: Bay area CA Posts: 102	You want to look for an F250 with a 351. I think they are in some 351 powered 150s too. My local bone yard has several, they are all in early eightys 250's. If you dont mind the price of advance adapters (fat chance) you can use New Venture 3550 (not tremec 3550) out of a late model jeep. It has good gearing, it is syncroed so it shifts well, and it can hold some decent power. Also You can shoehorn a Dodge NV4500 in there (again with aa adapters). By the way what tcase are you going to use? __________________ I am a Bronco Nut! Current toy 74 Bronco

03-09-2006, 09:10 AM	#13 (permalink)
Blown Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Member # 27392 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 167	The ZF was a direct swap/bolt-in replacing the Mazda M5OD in my fullsize Bronco, even used the same clutch. __________________ Swat.

03-09-2006, 11:08 AM	#15 (permalink)
53CJ3aFlattie Wheeler Join Date: Oct 2002 Member # 14487 Location: Stockton Posts: 293	You will not need an adapter to go from the 351 to the 302. They have the same bolt pattern. I swapped in a ZF from a 302 behind my 351. I love the granny gear 5.7X-1 and od is real nice too. I plan on putting another ZF in my exploder with a 302. Plus there is not that huge of a demand for the ZF, I got mine for about $450. Will __________________ Besides there is no such thing as just boobies, they are all magical orbs of happiness! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm Boobies.

03-11-2006, 10:56 AM	#16 (permalink)
jaysend5.0 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Member # 11061 Location: Bay area CA Posts: 102	http://www.advanceadapters.com/catalog/t18.html You can use either of those. Keep in mind that the ZF is huge.(for a ranger) the reason I am not running one is because even with a 3" body lift it is a shoehorn operation and the shifter wants to be in the same spot as the firewall. The NV3500 (not tremec) is almost the same dimensions as the mazda m5r1 in my ranger. If you do go with the zf you can use the bw 1356 tcase from the same truck. What year Ranger is this going in? I am working on a similar project. I have a 2000. I found a 2000 Merc mount. 5.0 that I am using. I aslo picked up a donor 78 bronco for the axles. I would love to see pics of your rig. __________________ I am a Bronco Nut! Current toy 74 Bronco

03-11-2006, 10:16 PM	#20 (permalink)
u2slow Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Member # 4243 Location: Salt Spring Island, BC Posts: 3,068	Difference is the torque rating. I thought the S5-47 was strictly a diesel application though Another idea is a Ford T19 close-ratio. 4 nice driving gears instead of 3. Nice & short too. Compensate for crawl ratio with better t-case gearing. __________________ 90-93 CTD jalopies

03-13-2006, 08:14 AM	#23 (permalink)
nascarfreak88 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Member # 53678 Location: Vero Beach FLA Posts: 82	man i wish i could find a ZF for $450... everbody around here wants $900 for just the tranny...

03-13-2006, 09:51 AM	#24 (permalink)
Blown Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Member # 27392 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 167	I'll take like ten of those $450 ZF's for 4X4 Ford smallblock. Should be able to double my money easily. __________________ Swat.

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