corey5988

I just picked up a new truck today. It's a '99 F-150. It seems like a bit of an oddity as it's SWB and has a 5.4 (only seen 5.4s in LWB trucks). It needs a hefty amount of work, but I think for $800 I should come out alright on it. The issues are the battery tipped over and spilled acid ruining vacuum lines. The 4wd won't actuate, which I think replacing the front axle hose will cure.

The other major issue is I'm sure the tranny is trashed. When moving the truck to get on the trailor, it has no reverse. When put in reverse, it actually goes forward. Also when driving forward I got a clicking noise. Then when I got it up on the trailor it pissed about 1/4-1/2 quart of ATF out of the bellhousing. I'm going to investigate a bit more, but with the symptoms I'm sure it's terminal. If so I would really like to do a 5-speed swap. I've actually already located a manual tranny about 20 minutes from home. I also have a flywheel from a 4.6 Windsor out of a mustang I swap out a while back, so that will work for the 8 bolt crank. I'm having troubles locating a pedal assembly. I'm hoping when I call about the tranny they'll also have them. If not does anyone know if an S197 pedal will work since they switched to a hydro setup in '05.

When I get it going good future plans are a pre-'79 SAS. I'd like to run a 315/75-16, if the stock alloys will hold it (which I doubt). If not I'm really liking a set of 18" Lightning wheels on a 325/65-18-ish tire. I'm also sure I'll have to regear it. It's got the 9.75" rear with LS and 3.73 gear.

SouthernSteel

Definitely sounds like an internal problem on the tranny. But sounds like a good project for the price. As far as your future plans, sounds awesome. But if your doin a SAS, you won't be using stock wheels or lightning wheels. Bolt patterns different.

corey5988

Wow, showed my ignorance there. I thought that Ford had kept the 5x5.5 till they started using 6 lug, but I now see its 5x135/5.3. I may keep IFS as bad as I hate IFS, since I'm "just" going to use 35s and it seems that isn't a problem with these trucks. Where are you at in WKY? I'm about an hour east of Bowling Green.

corey5988

Got some progress done. Got a new Deka battery in, replaced all the vacuum hoses, and changed the oil. I also did some trouble shooting on the tranny. It wasn't as bad as I initially thought. The oil was coming out the dipstick hole, not the bellhousing. The tube was pulled out of the tranny. I filled it up with fluid though and it still doesn't function as it should. Since its not as bad I may have it rebuilt. Going to call my tranny guy tomorrow.

SouthernSteel

Heck yeah. Rebuild shouldn't be to bad. If you do rebuild it, are you gonna just go stock, mild, or wild? Lol. Is the 4 wheel drive engaging now? I'm in Daviess County, just east of Owensboro btw.

corey5988

I haven't been able to test the 4wd yet. For a rebuild, if I go that route, it will basically be stock and I'll toss on an auxiliary cooler. The manual swap is still a possibility though, if I can find more info and the price is semi-close.

corey5988

Total rebuild will be $750 if I bring the tranny there or $1000 if they remove/reinstall it. That's if no extra parts are needed. Leaning that way, even though I really would like a manual.

corey5988

I've decided to do the swap. I located the parts and it looks like I can get everything to swap it over for right at $900. Then make a bit back selling the 4r70w as a core or scrap. Also that's using a ZF5 tranny from a F250/350, not the M5OD.

corey5988

Just got back from the junkyard. Grabbed a left mirror cover, right taillight, and a section of bed floor to use for filler plate (was a former border guard vehicle and has a large hole cut out for some sort of equipment). I also located a brake/clutch pedal assembly while there for $50, that they're going to pull tomorrow.

stangbang94

congrats on going for a manual swap. I have been eyeing up a zf6 swap but they are tough to find and pricey.