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5-speed to 460 questions

21K views 9 replies 8 participants last post by  fastfredie383 
#1 ·
I'm dead set on putting a 5-speed in my '97 w/460 car and would love any advice on this I can get. I want to run a Tremec of one type or another and I am wondering about bellhousing needs and possible alignment issues that I may run into. I've seen bellhousings online that will connect the trans/engine but I guess I'm looking for some heads-up on any issues that I need to deal with. Thanks!

Fred
 
#2 ·
Wow--cool question. I've wondered the same thing myself over the years, but have been out of the loop for a while now. Bummer no one here has the info. I'm at least a little ahead of you for a 5 speed 460 swap into a 1997 F150. I'm learning more about it as time goes, though L and L Products appears to not give two $%&*'s about answering e-mails, so I'm learning everything I can about the ZF tranny's and the mounting requirements from everywhere else.

Good luck on the swap. I personally dislike automatics, though the C6, imho, is the best auto-tranny ever made--at least to around the early '90's, anyway, I still prefer the control a manual provides.
 
#5 · (Edited)
i am running a TKO on my motor. After a ton of research i went with a Quicktime (RM-8010). This is one of the few bellhousings that will work with a tremec and a BBF. You also do not need to swap out the tranny input shaft for a shorter one like you do with the lakewoods/etc. This is a low profile housing so there is no trimming needed for ground clearance (i have an 1-1.5" left before it hangs below my canton oil pan...canton pan is the 7qt for a fox body to give you an idea)

Overall i am extremely happy with it, and the only "issue"' i can see depends on what type of clutch system you are going to use (cable/hyd). If its cable they housing doesn't have a provision for the cable end to mount to, supposedly they include it now but i would ask before purchasing. If going hydro depending on what type of system you use you may need to weld on a bung to mount the slave cylinder to (Forte's hydro setup, can even weld up the setup for you if you purchase the housing from him as well).

Other then that its a bad azz setup, not SFI approved though if that is a requirement.
 
#6 ·
Gearhead, I'm curious that you say a ZF won't hold up. I run a ZF5 behind the 460 in my '86 F-250 (~6000 lbs, 400HP/550tq according to DD). What breaks in these transmissions? I've got on it a handful of times, motor really rips from 3000 RPM on up, only shifted at about 5000 so far but should pull to around 6000. Done a few quick shifts (relatively, ZF5 shifts at its own pace) hard on the throttle and it's been fine. I did explode the needles in a solid 1310/1330 joint on my rear shaft last week pulling my boat, but trans seems fine so far.

In any event, I'm figuring on a TKO 600 when I convert ym car from C6 to manual...

HillOttFam, if you want more info on ZF5/460/L&L in a truck start another thread or link me to one you've already asked. I coverted my '86 Supercab F-250 from 351w/C6 to 351w/ZF5 and then t 460/ZF5 using L&L oil filter relocation and mounts.
 
#9 ·
Just be prepared.....if you end up buying all the parts new, you'll be near $5k for the conversion.

I'm actually over that....

I'm still in the building process so I can't give any driving impressions yet.
 
#10 ·
It is definetely a work-in-progress. I suspect the fuel injection system will be the biggest expense ($3,000+) aside from the 460 build but I'm set on doing this thing. Thats' the ONLY reason I am trying to sell my LX. I love the 5.0, but I want something quite different. Hopefully, I'll have it ready in a couple years. I was lucky to find a perfect roller, black leather no less. So it will be mostly mechanical, (except the hood!). I really appreciate the input! Thanks.
 
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