Looking to swap 4-speed for 5-speed

[robwymer]

I'm looking to replace my granny low 4-speed (NP-435?) out and put in a 5-speed. I have 67 F-100 with a 300. Any advice?

[thunderroad]

I had an 89 F150 with the 300 and the Mazda built 5-speed....and hated it. Of course, gas was about 95 cents at the time. I might like it better now. The thing I hated most about it was the incredibly fast reverse gear. Backing up to a dock or trailer was nerve wracking, and backing uphill was almost impossible. Also, the little shifter slots would get out of line and you couldn't always get it in 5th. I got pretty good at removing the shifter boot and taking the lever out along side the road. I think Ford had a promotion of sorts that paired up the 300 with this tranny along about then. I'd think there would be some available in salvage yards.
Like I say...I didn't like it then, but these times call for drastic measures and maybe a little inconvenience.

[craftsman]

I'm to am looking for an overdrive tranny for my 68, but with all the reading i have done, there aren't any good ones out there. For one reason or another something wrong with the longgevity of them, or the od gear is to low, or first gear is to low, the t-5 puts the shifter to close to the seat and they even have problems. Let us know what you find.

[averagef250]

I had an 89 F150 with the 300 and the Mazda built 5-speed....and hated it. Of course, gas was about 95 cents at the time. I might like it better now. The thing I hated most about it was the incredibly fast reverse gear. Backing up to a dock or trailer was nerve wracking, and backing uphill was almost impossible. Also, the little shifter slots would get out of line and you couldn't always get it in 5th. I got pretty good at removing the shifter boot and taking the lever out along side the road. I think Ford had a promotion of sorts that paired up the 300 with this tranny along about then. I'd think there would be some available in salvage yards.
Like I say...I didn't like it then, but these times call for drastic measures and maybe a little inconvenience.

The Mazda built 5 speeds are great transmissions. They have a couple flaws, but are very easy to fix and make into a very tough unit. Picking the right gear ratio is key though. They are very much close ratio, so 300-350 gears are best with 31" tires.

The shift rails and stub never wear out in these things, what wears are the plastic seats in the shift receiver. These things take 10 minutes to change and cost less than $5. They last a good 100K.

The Mazda M5R2 is twice the transmission of a world class T-5. If you don't believe that look what Ford used behind the T-bird SC motors when they were blowing apart T-5's.

The shifter is in the perfect spot for our trucks. It moves back about 2.5" inches from stock, clears the seat fine.

If you don't like the tall reverse or close ratios of the M5R2 the small block/six ZF will also bolt in.

[taylor351]

So between the two 5 speeds mazda and the zf which would be the preferred choice.

Keith

[averagef250]

The ZF is heavier, slower shifting, has a granny and wide ratio 2-5th gears. It has a .75 OD

The M5R2 is light, quick shifting, close ratio and has a .8 OD.

The ZF is tougher, but much more expensive and harder to find. They didn't make a whole lot of small block/six 5 speed F-250 HD and F-350 trucks. The ZF's are also notorious for reverse failures.

If I knew I could drive 3 pedals responsibly and wasn't going to be doing redline clutch dumps everyday I'd go for the M5R2.

The Mazda's have a really good design and are fun to work on. They are super simple to take apart and put together. You cannot work on a ZF without special tools or the ability to make your own tools.

[68BigRed]

How tough would it be to put the M5R2 behind an FE (2WD)?.

[averagef250]

You can't put an integral bell tranny behind an FE.

[68BigRed]

Well, that shows how much I know about these newer trannys (I remember the good old days, when bellhousings BOLTED on; swaps were SO much easier!)

I guess I'll have to install my splitter, or step up a NV4500....

[robwymer]

Thanks for the advise. I'm thinking the Mazda designed M5OD/M5R2 is probably the way to go, though an overdrive unit like Gear Vendor would be nice if it wasn't so expensive! I'm not very transmission savvy, especially with manual trannys. What all will I need to swap out to go from a NP-435 to the M5R2?

[thunderroad]

I'm just guessing here...but I'll bet you have to add the hydraulic clutch assembly.