Input on a ranger torque splitter

[FordTruck]

I'm tossing around ideas in my head about saving some of my check every week to put one in my 69 highboy but I was wondering are they really worth the money? I do like the idea of not shifting from 3rd to 4th non stop in traffic and where we are about to move to is alot of highway driving to work and back and I would like to be able to drive the beast to work because right now with the gearing it'll do about 50mph and it sounds like the old 300 is screaming. The main question I have it will it work in a highboy??? or is there any other routes I could go with??

[averagef250]

I haven't met anyone who had a ranger either manual, air or electric shift that liked it for more than a few miles. They are a hassle to shift.

You have a 300 six which has several good OD transmission options that cost 1/10th what a ranger does and work much better.

[FordTruck]

I haven't met anyone who had a ranger either manual, air or electric shift that liked it for more than a few miles. They are a hassle to shift.

You have a 300 six which has several good OD transmission options that cost 1/10th what a ranger does and work much better.

What would be a good transmission to look for? I'd really like to keep with the manual if I can.

[averagef250]

M5R2 or ZF

[FordTruck]

M5R2 or ZF

Ok thanks what vechicles should I be keeping my eyes open for the get one out of?

[mlheppl]

Dustin, which of the 2 trannys would you consider to be stronger? While doing a little searching I saw that mljones has a married dana 205 transfer case mounted up to his ZF tranny. Is there an adapter available to bolt the mated 205 up to the ZF or M5R2 tranny?

[averagef250]

205 bolts directly to M5R2 or ZF 5 speed. The M5R2 does need small clearance pockets ground to clear the input retainer bolt heads on the 205 though. Neither has a strength advantage IMO. Choose one based on ratio. The small block/six ZF 5 speed is a granny tranny while the M5R2 is close ratio. The M5R2's are much easier to find.

[mlheppl]

FordTruck, sorry for hijacking your thread. Just seems easier to post here rather than start a new thread. There's a guy reasonably close to me selling a ZF 5speed out of a 97 F450. His add on craigslist states this about the tranny"1997 F-450 super duty with drive line brake, will fit 4 wheel drive models also with diesel or 460 gas engines" . I'm not familiar with the diesel bolt patterns, but I thought that the diesel (7.3L) and 460/400/351M bolt patterns were close but different bolt patterns. Is this guy full of it or is he correct in his claim?

[averagef250]

97 is the S5-47, nicer shifting tranny than the S5-42 made from 89-95. The 460 and diesel ZF's don't interchange unless you cut the bellhousing up. The diesel ZF's are close ratio, 460 ZF is wide ratio.

[70f350]

I new a guy that had one in a 73 1/2 ton 4x and he loved it. They are a little noisy in od though. So if you can't deal with a little transmission whine I would maybe take a second look.

I'm thinking on doing this exact install but there are other options also. i think i'll post another tread for more input.