i think you can get a ford od trans for that price

 

He's right, you can get a nice rebuilt AOD for that price. And the amount of modification, adapters, driveshaft changes, tranny mount changes and so on with the Chevy would cost way more and take way longer than just sticking with a Ford tranny.

 

.

 

You guys are missing something, he has a 78 Bronco. The 400m in his Bronco means he needs a transmission that originally came behind a big block. That rules out the AOD. Since you want overdrive, that leaves either a ZF5 manual transmission, or an E4OD with a stand alone controller.

yea i missed that. just went of of the the small block ford adaptor. but still stand behind using a ford trans with od

 

ZF5

 

i searched the zf5 and it doesnt seem any easier or cheaper. also it says it still doesnt fit my engine only the 351.


The ZF integral bell housing will bolt directly to your stock 8 cyl engine, but requires an adapter between the transmission and transfer case, replacing your 8 cylinder intermediate housing. A new spud shaft for the transfer case is also required and is part of most adapter kits.
Pros:
The super low first and overdrive 5th gear make this one of the few transmissions that has the best of both worlds. The combination allows you to have comfortable highway speeds and still be geared to handle the tough trails. The ZF originally came stock in ¾ ton and larger trucks making it a very heavy duty transmission. The fact that it's a fully synchronized newer transmission also means it's easier to find, shifts smoother and is more efficient.
Cons:
Installation is fairly complicated, requiring some custom fabrication and may be out of the range of some shade tree mechanics. Under dash air conditioning is very difficult because the shifter handle is so tight to the underside of the dash.
Cost: (Approximate)
Transmission: $800 used and $1000-1500 rebuilt Adapter (with spud shaft) $475-525 New drive shaft $150-200
Bell housing:
Standard Ford. Will bolt up to small block (289-302-351) engines.
Modifications needed:
The swap requires a custom fabricated cross member and transfer case shifter brackets. It also requires a hydraulic clutch due to the integral bell housing, although the stock Bronco clutch and flywheel are retained. The overall length is longer than stock requiring a shorter drive shaft. Because of the top shifter a hole needs to be cut in the top of the transmission tunnel.

 

i cant seem to find anything solid on what transmission i can use and how for my truck. its a 400ci motor to a c4 automatic trans. its a 78 and looks like its been used pretty good so wanting a rebuilt trans. i would love a transmission that i can pull my boat, take it out to slig mud and be able to drive to the coast in, hince the want for an overdrive gear. would like to keep it an automatic so when im out road hunting or in traffic im not clutching in and out constantly. planning to put oversized tires and a 4 or 6 inch lift later also. please anybody any advice would help and thanks to yall that have already replied. overdrive and auto not such a big issue if there is a cheap and strong built tranny at least.

 

Just take the engine out and put in a Chevy LS3 E-Rod and a 4L80E.

 

u could get an awesome built AOD for that price. google monster transmissions

 

He could, but he couldn't install it in his 1978 Bronco

351M is virtually the same as a 400M. If a trans fits a 351M, it will fit a 400m.

 

also, OP, you have a C6....not 4. or at least you shouldn't. a c6 is usually bulletproof.

 

i dont know why a zf would require an adapter for the transfer case. A 205 will bolt right to it after you notch for the shift rail.

 

You can buy a pretty badass C6 for around a thousand bucks as long as having overdrive is not very important.

For O/D an AOD is practically a C6 with overdrive and that damned TV cable setup. If your 400 is in relatively stock form, that AOD would handle it just fine....but you'd have to get an adaptor.

 

ZF5 swap. DO IT

 

i just bought the bronco, auto ill think ill keep it. so i can either go for a badass built c6 for cheap around 1000 bucks, or go with the AOD around 1000 bucks with the adapter around 500 bucks and modification?

 

pretty much, but I'd aim higher on the prices, If you aim to high, then you have more beer money. Main thing with that comparison is that you'd have a really nice built C6 versus a STOCK AOD, when a stock C6 is stronger than an stock AOD...

 

to get a manual transmission in an auto also requires a bit of modification also. but like said before i should of just waited for a manual. but anyways im thinking the rebuilt c6 from monstertrans its the quickest easies and strongest just bolt on no adapter right?

 

There is a company that builds E4OD's bulletproof. I cant seem to find the link. Which upsets me cause I want to use them someday. Come to find out their using E4OD's on some pretty large equipment.

 

http://www.levelten.com/default.asp

Seattle FSB's transmission.

 

Me personally I'd go with the C6.I have one behind my 400.Is the 400 a big block or small block?

 

i checked out the level 10 and its pricey!! im not doing anything real extreme so i might not have a need for it. monster transmission has an AOD convesion kit for 2k http://monstertrans.com/store/products/Ford-AOD-HD-Transmission-Master-Conversion-Package-2WD.html but it says its for a 2wd. im trying to figure out if it can still be hooked up for a 4wd. also yea no idea if these sites are considering the 400 a big or small block. i searched it and mostly what people say is thats its a small block but with a big block mount for the tranny.

 

I know they have the same bolt patterns for straight swap for the 429's and 460's.A buddy of mine told me mine was a big block but I have'nt found anything to tell me it is.

 

Big/small block is really more of a cheverolet term. Ford generally classifies their engines by family.

The FE series for example would be considered Big block by many, but CI displacement in this family go down to 332 (never seen one though--but have seen 352s). The small displacement can get confusing to say the least.

To answer your question the 400 (unless an early casting out of a car) will have the 385 series (429-460) bolt pattern. The 351M-400 engines are really in the 335 series engines. The 335 includes the "famous" 351 Cleavland and 351 Boss. Although these would share the "small block--Windsor" series bellhousing bolt pattern.

Isn't Ford fun? lol

hth
tim

 

:stupid

 

x3

"Ford never learned how to make the same part twice " -my Chevy buddies

There's a problem with just slapping a 460's ZF on a 351m/400, the input
shaft is too short. It's just long enough to make you think it'll work, and it
will-work right-up until it don't-work. Haven't read any horror stories tho.

And there's a fix for it, just can't remember what the fix is, off hand. :/

The older I get the dumber I get. :/

Alvin in AZ

 

Well I talked to the tech department at monster transmissions and they consider the ford 400 a small block just FYI

 

Well I talked to the tech department at monster transmissions and they
consider the ford 400 a small block just FYI

Well just FYI...
Those guys are not "Ford guys" and sound like "Chevy and/or Mopar guys".
No kidding.

-------------------

More information than you wanted to know, but just FYI...
I don't consider myself a "Ford guy", but for sure not a Chevy or Mopar guy.

But I do know enough to know that "Ford guys" don't use block sizes much,
if any. Usually it's just like this thread where Ford guys are trying to explain
to Chevy and/or Mopar guys and/or novices that -two size categories- won't
cut it when it comes to Ford's engine designs. Ok?

Ford went way past that, see?

If you insist on using sizes, then Ford made at least two "medium" engine
blocks that is commonly talked about here on FSB let alone a forum where
Bumps or older pickups are discussed...
351m/400
FE/FT (Ford Edsel/Ford Truck)
I own 2 FE's and one FT.

Are you here to learn or do you already know everything there is to know
about Fords and "Ford guys"? ...if it's the later, let me know and I'll shut the
f*** up. LOL

Alvin in AZ

 

not sure on cost but be worth looking into
http://www.gearvendors.com