This stumped a Ford mechanic...

icanfixall

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Tow driver either didn't know or didn't care bout the trans.
sadly you will require a COMPLETE new trans. Not a chance in hell anything is salvageable. Even the case is shot because bearing have spun in the aluminum housing ruining it.IF.. The driver figured out he screwed up the trans and put the rig on a rear dolly then he knows he screwed it but good. This forum tries to warn members never to tow a rig with a ZF 5 speed by the front end. As already posted... Removing the driveshaft would have saved a costly repair. Sorry you have all this crap now to deal with. I kind of wonder what other damage has been done like maybe ruined rear tires cause the trans locked up or an over revved engine with no governor able to keep the rpm at a safe level. If the trans locked in 1st gear and was towed at say... 65 mph you bet there probably is engine damage now from over revving. If the trans locked up in reverse and the engine was turning backwards guess what... you engine is also ruined. Oil pumps do not pump oil thru the engine turning backwards...
 

BRShirk

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Well, it did start and run when he got it to my house. And I don't think I'll get a engine because the reason for the tow was blown head gaskets.

I'm trying not to get pissed that solves nothing, but I'm not a happy man right now. It went from a weekend or 2 project to fix the head gaskets with my son to this.

I'll keep y'all posted on what happens with AAA.
 

icanfixall

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A lot of times AAA sub contracts the tow to "other trucks". Please keep us in the loop.
 

BRShirk

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AAA said it'd take 5-10 business days to process my complaint. AAA gave me the tow companies number and said it might be faster to call them.

I talked to one of the owners and it sounds like they know their guy screwed up. They're sending a truck in the morning to get my truck and go back to TN, fix it and bring it back to SC. All I can hope for is to get it back the way it was before the tow, running and driving with blown head gaskets.

Is there a difference in the ZF5 for a gas and diesel?
 

Thewespaul

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Yes, the small block bell housings won’t fit our engines, but the big block housings will fit, but they have wider ratio gear spreads
 

towcat

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AAA said it'd take 5-10 business days to process my complaint. AAA gave me the tow companies number and said it might be faster to call them.

I talked to one of the owners and it sounds like they know their guy screwed up. They're sending a truck in the morning to get my truck and go back to TN, fix it and bring it back to SC. All I can hope for is to get it back the way it was before the tow, running and driving with blown head gaskets.

Is there a difference in the ZF5 for a gas and diesel?
gas vs. diesel trans cases and guts are completely different.
One more thing. I'd be very wary of "their guy" just "repairing" the trans. you can't just patch one of these together. as long as you retain control of your truck, you are good. once they take your truck to "repair" it, you are at their mercy. Agree to a set of ground rules ahead of time or face heartache down the road.
 

BRShirk

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I thought the guts would be different like the 700R4 and 4L80E I had to have rebuilt for the 6.2s i had.
 

Macrobb

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If you have to mess with it yourself, a 460 gasser trans will work with some drilling of new bolt holes. The different gears are OK; some people like them a lot(deeper first gear).

If they are fixing it, insist on the right part.
 

IDIoit

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if I were in this situation, I would go to several mechanic shops and get quotes.
atleast 3.
take those quotes and ask them to cash you out.
since you have bad headgaskets it sounds like a perfect time to pull the engine and do the gaskets on a stand.
 

chillman88

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The tow company sounds a little too familiar this time of year....
You must be registered for see images attach
 

jwalterus

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Personally, since it's their screw up, I wouldn't be turning the wrench, and they'd be paying.
It'd be a NEW transmission from the LOCAL shop of MY choice, they would also be paying for a teardown, inspection, and reassembly of the engine, and if it had any engine damage even possibly caused by the towing, guess what else they'd be paying for?


Edit: I base this off of the SOP under the law up here in ND, where a towing company is 100% responsible for any damages to a vehicle they tow. This is also the reason why up here your truck would be hauled on a flatbed.
 
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towcat

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ease up guys. let's not get too carried away here. this is not hitting a "home run" and if you try, I can certainly bet they will lawyer up.
the trans is the issue here. not the motor. the motor already has issues, hence the tow. the vehicle was also not towed "in gear". just that the probelm "in neutral" is not the solution. the solution is to pull the driveshaft. The truck is no spring chicken or is it close. at best guess, it's at least 20 years old. a used or rebuilt trans is fair. a new trans is not. a "reasonable" solution can be found. but thinking you are going to hit a home run due to a guy screwing up, is why this nation's character is in the toilet.
 

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