Has anyone done a zf6 swap on a 2nd gen?

 

2wd or 4wd ?

the 2 wd is easy .. 4wd .. a bit more involved ..

4 wheel drive is obvious .. shafts, cross member, possibly need to swap input on the T-case, .. t-c shifter location could be an issue

2wd .. a cross member and the drive shaft .. a few wires for Reverse .. Done !!

 

4wd. could you use the Ford t case?

 

Or... would a nv5600 be better in the truck

 

Zf6 is really weak and hard to get parts for. Just do a nv4500 or 5600

 

I don't see the appeal of the ZF6. it's not that it's weaker or stronger or whathaveyou, it's that the thing has no obvious advantage over the NV transmissions.

That said, the borgwarner T case would be something to look at. I always liked my BW cases.

 

Only reason I ask is I have access to my buddy's recently wrecked 01 7.3 and all the parts.

 

Anything can be done here .. its all about time and funds ..

I would say the only advantage between the zf and the nv is price, avaliability, and durability ..

the Nv is stronger .. easier to get parts for .. but is a bit more $$ because of those facts as well ..

the ZF will bolt up to a BW1356 t-case .. just need to find the right input on the T-case .. easy to find ..

 

sounds like alls you'd need is a bellhousing adapter, potentially some driveshaft work and a T case. That said, it maybe be cheaper to take the NP241 and get an adapter made to bolt it onto the ZF6, than it is to buy the BW T-case. there is that option as well.

I will say that with similar loads (right around that 12,000 pound mark), where my ZF-5 in my 94.5 powerstroke would get hot (like, hot enough to heat the footwell, I could feel it through the floor), my NV4500 does not. It'll get warm to the touch if you feel the actual gearbox while under the truck, but won't heat the truck on it's own like my ZF did. I blame this on using ATF as lubricant.

Dunno how the ZF6 stacks up. I believe the ZF6 is kinda like a ZF5 with another, lower first gear, much like the NV5600 is geared like an NV4500 with a gear between 3 and 4 (although the similarities end there).

that said, I am sure that just like the NV transmissions have beef up options the ZF5 and 6 do as well.

 

the ZF's are really not all that great .. kinda clunky .. the nv's have a smoother opperation just in general ( IMOH of course ) ...