First of all, many thanks to Ken Minow for his excellent how-to, found here:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/4...rans-swap.html

Not that I'd know where to start--I'm no mechanic I'm afraid. I just have a truck.

Hopefully Ken will be able to catch this thread and offer an opinion on whether a similar swap might be possible with what I'm working with.

Mine is the F250/351m/C6; I'd like to swap out the C6 and swap in the 5-speed. I love Ken's comment:

I'm green with envy :-)

My friend who I hope to con into doing the swap for me--yes that's you Rick!--tells me the 5-speed has a removable bell housing, thus easing the project. I don't know how to determine whether it's a ZF tranny or whether my transfer case is an NP205. I do know that there's no intermediate driveshaft between the C6 and the case. That's a 'married' setup, yes?

How doable is this going to be? What extra parts do I need to hunt down? A different bell housing?

This sure sounds interesting and I'd sure like to do it, if I can.

Thanks,
Jeff Bowman
Fairbanks, Alaska

 

After reviewing my post a little closer, I see I probably gave the wrong impression.

I'm hoping of course that Ken might chance to see this and chime in, but I wasn't limiting my question to only he.

Does anyone know whether my F250/4WD/351m will take the 5-speed from the F150/2WD/300? If I'm reading correctly it appears Ken got his 5-speed from a 460, so I don't know whether there's a difference between that and the 300 (as far as the tranny).

TIA for any assistance.

Thanks,
Jeff Bowman
Fairbanks, Alaska

 

Nope that won't work. You will need to find the 300 Zf trans. Not sure if the bell housing is separate on those engines. Might be able to use the trans and find a bell housing.

 

Hi Jon, thanks for your reply. I checked out your F150 restoration project with fascination. Good job :-)

I'm not sure I follow you here, though.

So you're saying the 5-speed I have isn't a ZF? Clearly it's a 300, since it's bolted up to a 300 straight six. Or am I misunderstanding you?


How would I determine whether the tranny is a ZF? I compared these two photos:

1. Yours
2. Ken's

Obviously each truck works. FWIW, the in-cab shift lever on my F150 parts truck looks more like yours than Ken's--does this mean anything as far as figuring out whether it's a ZF or not?



Do you mean my F250 (the good truck w/351m/C6) or the F150 (bad truck w/300/5sp)?



OK, I'll look into that. How about on the transfer case end of things? What do I need to look for for that?

Pardon please if I'm asking too many questions--I'm new enough at this that I'm not able to infer what I need to know from what you said so far.

I'm sure you're right--I just can't figure out how yet ;-)

Thanks,
Jeff Bowman
Fairbanks, Alaska

 

I think I confused you a little. The 300 Zf trans won't bolt up to the 351m. You will have to find a 460 bellhousing and trans if the bellhousing isn't separate for these.

 

Don't worry--I was that way before I got here :-)



But as far as I know, we're not sure whether mine is a ZF. I called my local driveline shop and was told that some F150s in that year range came with a 5-speed as stock. Why-oh-why didn't they put 'em on the F250s?

How does one identify a ZF?

(BTW, I Googled 'ZF Transmission' and learned that it's made by an entirely different mfr. I was thinking it was a subtype by Ford.)



Ah.

I'm starting to lean toward pulling the 300 and 5-speed in the F150 in any case. This way I hope to find out for sure what I've got and go from there. If nothing else I can always sell 'em for a few bux to cover my costs.

Thanks,
Jeff Bowman
Fairbanks, Alaska

 

I would just quick snap a pic of it from under the truck. Someone will be able to tell you what it is.

 

Good idea, will do.

Thanks,
Jeff Bowman
Fairbanks, Alaska

 

ZF bell housing is intergral with the body of the transmission, ie tranny must match your motor.
look here for pictures Manual / Standard Transmission Identification Parts and Diagrams

Most five speed that fit fords have integral bell housings, ie. not interchangeable between a 300 and a 351M. The 351M has the same bolt pattern as a 400 or 460 so you'll have to find 460 ZF to fit your 351M.


Frank

 

Hi Frank, thanks for having a look.

Mine must not be a ZF then, given the detachable bell housing. Per Jon's tip I crawled under and got a few photos, here. To my eye, they don't tell much, but then again...

Let me know if I need to go back for some better shots.




I don't see one there that looks like mine--none seem to have the smooth body. Or is that a cover of some sort on mine?




Mine must be an oddball then, would you say? I'm still holding onto a slim hope that I might be able to make this work.




What do you think the odds are of my finding a bell housing that'd bolt up between the two?

Thanks,
Jeff Bowman

 

OK, I'm giving up on this one. The tranny won't fit.

When I saw that detachable bell housing I got all excited, certain that I'd be able to find a housing that'd bolt between the tranny and my 351m.

In fact, that may still be a good lead. We may never know. It's the output shaft that's killed the deal.

The 5-speed is coming from a 2WD. Too many people now have told me that the shaft is too long to fit my married transfer case. I'd better listen to folks who know what they're talking about.

So now I'm going to start looking into 4WD ZF trannys for 351+, similar to Ken's project.

I appreciate all the tips! :-)

Thanks,
Jeff Bowman
Fairbanks, Alaska

 

Damn! This one just won't seem to let go of me.

Here's the latest: My neighbor (owner of a repair shop in town) just told me that it's easy to change out that output shaft.

So, assuming he's right, I guess the only remaining question is...

What are the odds of me finding a bell housing that'll fit between the two?

The F150 was given to me; I'd like to do this without putting down the bux on a new ZF if I can.

Thanks,
Jeff Bowman
Fairbanks, Alaska

 

The only 5 speed i've seen or heard of behind a 300 is the m5od... And its got an integral bell housing, so i'm a lil confused. From the sound of it though you need to find a better suited trans instead of reworking everything, if your after an overdrive but not dead set on a stick, you can check out an e4od off a 460 powered truck, you'll just have to get the little computer gizmo that controls it.

 

Unless you have a t5. Which would be way to small for your new motor.

 

OK, that does it. I'm finished on this idea.

You managed to put the final nail in the coffin and I appreciate you for it :-)

I'm going to hunt down a ZF S542:This I know can be done, 'cause Ken did it. Sure wish he'd show up ;-)

Anyway, I'm through trying to fit a round peg into a square hole. On to more productive pursuits.

Thanks,
Jeff Bowman
Fairbanks, Alaska