Has anybody ever used a Ford ZF5 transmission and transfer case in a 40 series? Any problems? Will it fit? Is it possible to hook it up to a Chevy 350?
Ford ZF5 Transmission
- Thread starter Hilndr1701
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
One of my PO favorite saying was "If you have a hammer and a torch it has to fit." Seems like a lot of extra work to make a chevy fit a ford into a toyota. I think that's Chevota were so popular.
A chevy v8 with the NV4500 seems to have a good following.
I have a lc 4 speed and transfer case sitting on the front porch with the Advanced Adapter's to chevy attached. I lost my 283 that I wanted to build as a high rpm vette motor.
A chevy v8 with the NV4500 seems to have a good following.
I have a lc 4 speed and transfer case sitting on the front porch with the Advanced Adapter's to chevy attached. I lost my 283 that I wanted to build as a high rpm vette motor.
- Thread starter
- #3
That’s what I was originally looking for is an NV4500. They are practically impossible to find in my area and when you do find them they are around 2K to 3K.
Yea $2000 for a "remanufactured" and $1000 core charge. Easy to be 4k when you buy the extra parts and pay shipping.
I look at prices for the ford unit and see what 289 cost.
I look at prices for the ford unit and see what 289 cost.
I could be wrong, but I think the ford transfer cases are driver drop. So if your planning to use the stock axles the Ford xc wont jive.
On a side note, we had an f250 with this transmission (I believe). It was great other then second gear lost its synro. Nice granny and good spread on the upper gears.
On a side note, we had an f250 with this transmission (I believe). It was great other then second gear lost its synro. Nice granny and good spread on the upper gears.
POPO AGIE
SILVER Star
The 90 F250 I had with the 7.3 IDI had that transmission and my biggest complaint was 1st gear was not very low and in high range you could stall out. When we replaced the u-joints in the front drive shaft it was hard to get it up on the ramps.. My Father in law got a little worried when I had to use more rpms to get it on the ramps and he did not have much room.
- Thread starter
- #7
Thanks everybody. I think I’ll just continue to look for an NV4500.
POPO AGIE
SILVER Star
Have you thought about the H55F and split transfer case?
You are limited by the wheel base and the Toyota gear boxes fit well in the frame. If you already have the 4 speed the bell housing matches up.
driveshafts will need to be adjusted because of the added length. The floor will need to be adjusted because the shift tower is farther back and some do a twin stick conversion..
You are limited by the wheel base and the Toyota gear boxes fit well in the frame. If you already have the 4 speed the bell housing matches up.
driveshafts will need to be adjusted because of the added length. The floor will need to be adjusted because the shift tower is farther back and some do a twin stick conversion..
Last edited:
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
The H55F did come in the 40 series from the factory. Those the transmission shifter was in the same location as the H41/H42. The transfer shifter was about an inch further back. My understanding is reproduction 40 series top covers are available. Not sure the cost as I managed to acquire a few OEM top covers. If you move the hand brake to the rear axle no frame mods are required. Poser here on Mud did this to a 79 with disc hand brake mounted to the back of the split transfer case. Nice thing about the H55F is can be done using all OEM parts with no adapter needed that lengthens the drivetrain in a short wheel base. 1/79+ all 40 series have the torque tube in front of the fuel tank. Because of this a H55F was installed in any long wheel base 40 series. Hand brake remained on the transfer case making to long to fit. Interesting Toyota did install a hand on the axle in an incomplete built long wheel base in a few markets. But those did not an the H55F as an option.
Took maybe 5 minutes to find:
Nv4500 5 speed transmission 4x4 - auto parts - by owner - vehicle automotive sale - craigslist
Dodge nv4500 5 speed 4x4 transmission Out of a rolled 1998 dodge v8 gas 4x4 truck. Working condition garage kept. Selling because of change of plans on a 12v cummins truck build. I went with the...
But that top cover is NLA and you get the one used in the 60 and 70 series
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
Pretty sure these are being made aftermarket in Australia and being sold here thru at least one vendor. About half dozen made in Pakistan were sold in the US with the last couple years. I know of another project in Australia to make them. Within the last couple of months a used one was for sale on Mud. I acquired a pretty complete used H55F set up out of Australia. B engine input shaft but H41 input shaft from a F or H engine of the era will work in the H55F.
A member in Canada contacted me about buying one with a small group of parts.
I’ve got an OEM one I’d be willing to part with
POPO AGIE
SILVER Star
That is correct but FJ40s were not imported to the states with the H555F and the covers with the forward shift tower were rare and hard to find in the states and only recently have they become available in the states.
The parking brake will work on the split transfer case on a FJ40 but you have to move the torque tube farther back making it an option if you don't want to convert the rear axle to accommodate the parking brake. My split case has the parking brake because I chose to only have 1 drum brake to deal with not 2.
- Thread starter
- #15
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
US never had a H55F period. When they started 10/82 the few FJ40s imported hear were all H42s with 3.70:1 diffs. Same with the FJ60 until 8/87 when the FJ62 started in the US market. Diesel engines never made to the US in a Land cruiser. Canada the FJ40 was gone after 1981 but the BJ42 only shows a H55F from 10/82 on. Same with the FJ40 and BJ42 in Australia. Used these two markets aremost likely to be where used 40 series H55F top covers are coming from.
I remember going back to 2009 where the 40 H55F top covers were a subject on Mud and most likely earlier than that. Remember $600 mentioned as a price.
As for the hand brake I have had far less issues with gear oil on an axle compared to a T case. Because of the few FJ40s imported to the US from 8/80-9/83 those are hard to find but not impossible. Those are all semi floating. Want a full floater would have to come from another market. Some have used a FJ60 rear axle to get improved brakes. Rear axle brakes parts are pretty much standard across the 40/60/70 series during the 1980s making parts easier to access for full floaters from other markets.
POPO AGIE
SILVER Star
I only had it leak once in the time I have owned mine and have not plans to have d-rotors on the rear axle. If it aint broke don't fix it.
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2012
- Threads
- 583
- Messages
- 16,401
- Location
- Winter Park, Florida
- Website
- www.cruisermatts.com
I still want to know if you actually verified your axle gears and if your transfer case is in Hi range.
- Thread starter
- #19
Yes. The RPMs weren't as bad as I thought. I lifted and counted rotations and I have 5.29 gears in the axels. I'm not sure how many owners had it before but I'm guessing they were changed? I also made sure it was in high, so everything is cool there.
I'd swap to 3.70 gears. 5.29 makes for a tiny pinon-gear for the trail use, and will make it hard to spin on the highway.
