driveshaft shenanigans

1mouse3

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Sorry if Im a bit hard headed, I should give the zf5 a chance if can be found for a reasonable price but unsure if would find one. A brownie would give a valid option in 2wd for not touching the front diff, it would leave me without much of a low 1st in 4wd tho. Did know of a junk yard that did have commercial trucks like f-supers but has stocking that type stuff, so unsure on those to get a zf5. So the hunt is on to see what yards can be found that would aid in my quest. On one the runs to my house found one with large trucks and what not tho, do need to get cash in hand first so am not window shoping. Do need to find another 6.9 to save the situation with the one I have, might find one with a sae bell.



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chillman88

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There is hope for cheap ZF5's... I've collected a couple because they were sub-$200. Certainly not priced at nv4500 levels.

Yeah I actually scored one for $75 a few months ago. Guy was cleaning out his shop.
 

subway

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u2slow

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Investigate both.

I've read the divorced kit for the 271/273 isn't super stable and should have an extra bearing for support.

The divorced 205's use the small input bearing.

Things to consider...
 

1mouse3

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Investigate both.

I've read the divorced kit for the 271/273 isn't super stable and should have an extra bearing for support.

The divorced 205's use the small input bearing.

Things to consider...


Will consider that it might not be strong, I am finding only one person that moded a t-case adding those parts and a few years pased with out report of issues. Do you know extent of the failer you found?

https://www.powerstrokenation.com/t...360-swap-2008-f450.347546/page-6#post-4505954


Did also find the the oem diagrams and parts list of that t-case.

https://www.wholesalegmpartsonline....9405&ukey_driveLine=6252&ukey_trimLevel=14500
https://www.wholesalegmpartsonline....9405&ukey_driveLine=6252&ukey_trimLevel=14500
https://www.wholesalegmpartsonline....odel=20306&modelYear=2007&ukey_category=19405
https://www.wholesalegmpartsonline....odel=20306&modelYear=2007&ukey_category=19396
 

u2slow

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No, do not have info of an actual failure - or at least can't find the info again at the moment.

Does the kodiak/topkick run the jackshaft level? I suspect it's a valid concern if you drop the tcase height and the jackshaft runs on an angle. More side-loading.

Edit: it wasn't a thread, but a conversation with my buddy who had contacted a well-known mfr that makes aftermarket tcase parts. They didn't want to simply copy the Kodiak input because they felt it was inadequate for the hardcore audience that would use it.
 
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1mouse3

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Does the kodiak/topkick run the jackshaft level? I suspect it's a valid concern if you drop the tcase height and the jackshaft runs on an angle. More side-loading.

That is a good question, would have to find one to see but dont see much chance in that. Digging for photos is not coming up with anything relevant to the subject and not sure this diagram is a accurat depicition of oriantation, so not sure on a awnser.

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They didn't want to simply copy the Kodiak input because they felt it was inadequate for the hardcore audience that would use it.


So if can find the oem stub shaft would have a chance of it staying together, the other parts needed are else where on the case and can be found at the junkyard.




Give the poor zf’s a chance!


I am trying to find reason to give the zf a chance but everthing has to be weighed scale, not sure where the f-supers are hidding right now to find one. Do see a fuller 5 or 6 could be found easyer and know where a big truck yard is, so could go for that and have a shifter that is equal to or stiffer than what I have. This the cost about that the fullers have been showing up on craigslist, if one is found less than this it would have a comptetive weight on the scale.

https://chambana.craigslist.org/hvo/d/marshall-eaton-fuller-speed-transmission/7323718911.html
 

subway

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small side note, you do not want the drive shaft at a completely straight angle. you want at least a degree of offset to give the needle bearings a chance to move around a little bit.
 

snicklas

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small side note, you do not want the drive shaft at a completely straight angle. you want at least a degree of offset to give the needle bearings a chance to move around a little bit.

You know… now that you say this, I wonder if that is what happened on my Infiniti……. At less than 130k all the driveshaft U-Joints have needed replaced. They were the factory sealed, non-grease able units… but it has 4 wheel independent suspension, so the diffs are bolted to the chassis on both ends and don’t move… the shafts seem flat in there, vs the F-150 that has more miles, but the shaft has a slant to it….

Sorry for the diversion…. Just made me wonder…..
 

1mouse3

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Thanks to @CBRF3 I have 3:55 gear and trac loc, he offered them for sale.


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This oem trac loc peaked my interest since has what looks like solid steel or iron disks. Since is like this, I can belive him that this would have a good lock up. The oem disks are out of stock from what I find and replacements look to be sintered iron/bronze discs. So if have to rebuild this in the future, not sure if would be the same.

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It was a bit dirty and tought to pull it apart for cleaning but found the packs had very good load on the siders, so left it as is and cleaned best could. Will run it a short while and change again so the oil can pick up whats left of debris.

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The bearings had a lot of play, so where do for replacement. Just cut cage and then the race, then there off.

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To install them, you have to get a bit creative. Get them started with wrenches till going on true, then can buzz them on the rest of the way. At this point I also have the 3:55 gear swaped over with new bolts, they where a hair longer but with in margin of error.

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So now its baged and taged, waiting to be installed

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In deliberation there is mean to get the zf5 to have more feed back from the shifter, so will give it a shot if one is found. I would be looking for the one off a 460 with the wide ratio spread. I would be open to grabing the nv4500 hd off a dodge v10 or cummins if is found first. The spread is about the same for both and is a range I like.

Code:
close t19, 35in and 3.55
rpm    1500    2200    2500
1      11      16      18
2      18      26      30
3      31      45      51
4      44      64      73

wide zf5, 35in and 3.55
rpm    1400    1825    2400
1       7       9      12
2       14     18      24
3       25     33      43
4       41     53      70
5       53     70      92

NV4500, 35in and 3.55
rpm   1400     1750    2400
1     7        9       12
2     13       17      23
3     24       30      42
4     41       51      70
5     56       70      95


A adaptor could be had to bolt the nv4500 to the bell I have and then need a nv271 with dodge input swaped over.

nv4500 adaptor
 
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u2slow

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I caution to not get too excited about the trac-lok. Mine was nice and grippy with the truck empty, maybe up to a half ton. Any heavier and it was ineffective. Switched to a Detroit once i got fed up with it.

The ZF5's have been cheap and easy for me to find. NV4500's have not... but i got lucky once. I'm not convinced its a much better trans. Its just easier to use when you have a cummins truck already.
 

1mouse3

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I caution to not get too excited about the trac-lok. Mine was nice and grippy with the truck empty, maybe up to a half ton. Any heavier and it was ineffective. Switched to a Detroit once i got fed up with it.


Yea will see but budget dose not give many options. I dont want a welded diff like my f100 has, power sliding a big truck would not be a good ideal. A lockright is a bit much to spend right now, a detroit would be better but is even more.
 

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