I am looking at buying a 2005 zf6 out of a Ford to put behind my Cummins 24 valve; which currently has an NV4500.
The Cummins is in a HMMWV with a NP205 t-case in backwards as an overdrive. There is a 1,000 RPM drop between 4th and 5th. Hence, the need for a 6 speed tranny.
I am only looking at the ZF6 because the whole package of: tranny, T-case and chassis can be had for $500.

Two questions, is the ZF6 a good transmission ( better or as good as the G56) and is there anything I am overlooking in the installation?

I will use the transfer case that is bolted to the transmission ZF6, and run cooler lines for the transmission.
I know I will have to buy or make a bell housing adapter, and change the drive line lengths. I may have to modify the floorpan/landing and change the location of the hole for the shifter.
The input is larger, so will that require milling the input, or replacement of the fly wheel?

Thanks for the input.

 

There was an article a while back where a guy put a zf6 in his common rail pickup, so yes, it can/has been done.

 

A zf6 from what i'm gathering is at least as good as a g56 as far as longetivity. I never shifter a zf6 but they have a mid bearing support that the g doesn't. So when they twist, the gears don't separate and strip like the g tends to do. Hope this helps.

 

Yes, that does help. I guess the next step would be to talk to a transmission shop about the durability.

 

driving a '03 f-250 4x4 7.3 with a zf6.It has nearly 270k mi. on it,I have never done any thing but change the fluid. I farm for a living,so this truck is 60/40 dirt to blacktop.Verry good tranny.

 

Anyone else?

 

All the ZF6's i've owned shift like a chunk of ****. I'ts just the way they are built. The NV45 and NV56 are the best shifting manuals in my book. Once they are broken in, they shift like BUTTER!

I would keep the NV4500 you have and rebuild it for dirt cheap with a 5th gear fix. Or find a NV5600.

 

If you want the NV4500 I have, I'll sell it to you
That 1,000 RPM drop when in aux over drive between 3rd and 4th is too much.

 

, make more power and you wont notice the drop

 

The ZF6 is a aweet shifting tranny, it's a pickup tranny not a sports car tranny. Tight pattern, stronger ratings and a helluva bitchen growl. I say this with lots of miles on them in my past truck and everyone I know with the 6 loves theirs too.