5 speed for a straight 6

[frank66]

I would like to put a 5 speed behind my 300. It seems like the two obvious choices would be a M5OD or ZF S5. Has anyone here used one of these? Is there another good option I should look at? I am leaning towards the ZF because it seems a little more heavy duty.

M5OD-R2 ratios
1 - 3.91
2 - 2.24
3 - 1.49
4 - 1.00
5 - 0.80
R - 3.39

ZF S5-42 ratios
1 - 5.72
2 - 2.94
3 - 1.61
4 - 1.00
5 - 0.76
R - 5.24

[Blackwaterforge]

I had a ZF in a 88 F-350 with a 300 6 cylinder.
250,000 miles I never had a issue.
Had a ZF in a 95 F-350 7.3.
400,000 miles never a issue with the transmission.
I had to replace the slave cylinder twice.

[Greg D]

Depends on what you use the truck for.
Driver/light towing up to around 3000 lbs - M5OD is more than sufficient.
These were used in gas F 250s also BTW.
I don't remember which is which but the R1 & R2 look similar - one is for Rangers.
If you have some huge 8000 lb 5 th wheel you wanna drag use the ZF.
But then if you are hauling that grab a diesel engine while you are at it.

[frank66]

I will be hauling / towing about 3500 pounds weekly. And I like to enjoy an occasional burn out. I would like the lower first and reverse gears of the ZF for manuvering my trailer around. After a quick search on craigslist, there seems to be more ZF's than M5's available and they are going for about the same price.

[64 f100]

Burn outs? With any modern transmission and aluminum housings, you may be asking for problems. Just remmember these are used transmissions your talking aobut.

Rich