IDI Econoline van convert to standard trans.?

[IDIDieselJohn]

Anyone know if a ZF5 or T19 will fit in an 83 6.9 E250 van? I should be able to fab up a pedal assembly for it, since it's gonna be impossible to find one for these vans, very rare.

Any thaughts on this?

 

[DragRag]

I have heard of one running around. Check the junk yards for a three on the tree van, it will have the pedals in them. Yes a little hard to find, but not impossible.

 

[Devilish]

The annoying part of converting a van to manual will be the shifter. The floor opening will sit back behind the seats so you will have to fabricate a shifter handle that will be within reasonable reach. I drove a 67 gmc van that was converted to floor manual and 4x4. To be quite honest it sucked to shift it.

 

[Gary79F250]

I have contemplated this idea for a while, As for a ZF5 couldn't one flip the shifter 180'. I have seen a Mazda 5 speed in an E150 factory I just can't remember what the shifter looked like.

 

[RLDSL]

You are going to have to make a long shift lever to bolt on with some interesting bends in it and it's going to have some flex in it kind of like some old cabover semis with odd box combinations used to have with the shifter pointing forward It'll kind of feel like you're shifting a rubber band

 

[Gary79F250]

Yah kinda like a Mack MR Cabover with mystery shift from worn linkage

 

[Devilish]

You are going to have to make a long shift lever to bolt on with some interesting bends in it and it's going to have some flex in it kind of like some old cabover semis with odd box combinations used to have with the shifter pointing forward It'll kind of feel like you're shifting a rubber band

What you just said reminds my of a 57 gmc bus/motorhome conversion that I drove over Donner Summit during a snow storm. The shifter felt so loose and rubbery it was a miracle to get it into 3rd and 5th.

 

[IDIDieselJohn]

It's to bad you really need a diesel transmission for a diesel engine, I'd just find a factory 4 speed on the floor van, and use that transmission, or even better a 3 speed on the column.

3 on the tree IDI

The 4 speed shifter sits right beside the drivers seat with a bend forward, to make it almost like driving any F-series.

 

[The Warden]

IIRC the manuals used in the vans were light-duty trannies...even if it were possible to physically hook one up to a diesel, I have a feeling the engine would kill the tranny in short order. Also, I could be wrong (I'm going off memory after having been up 24 hours), but FWIW I think the floor-shift manuals were connected to the tranny by linkage as opposed to a direct connection....maybe it could be adapted to a ZF5, if you could find the linkage setup?

I think a manual conversion in a van can be done, and I'd love to see it happen, but I have yet to see someone pull it off on an IDI. If you've got the pedals figured out, making the gearshift lever something you can realistically control will be the big challenge, methinks...

 

[Diesel JD]

Tim is right about the shift linkages on the E-series, I found an 80-86 in a junkyard with the 4 on the floor shifter. It was a wimpy looking tranny next to a T18 or 19. This van was truly memorable cause it looked like a "*******' wagon" for all the condoms the dude left in the van. He probably was a perv and got locked up and the his mobile offie hauled off to the junkyard. Never have seen another legit manual full size Ford van. I had always wondered if "Chester" rigged it up himself or if it was a factory option.

 

[Fordman75]

There is an aftermarket shifter for swapping a NP435 4spd into and early Bronco. You cut off the stock shifter. The after market shifter bolts to the floor. The new shifter is connected to what's left of the stock shifter with a bar/rod. This setup also makes for quicker shifts because it shortens the throws.

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With some modifications this kind of setup might work in the van.

I've got a 96 E250 gasser that I want to swap a manual transmission into someday. I like the van but hate automatics. Especially for towing!! Once the E4OD craps out it's getting a NP435 or ZF 5spd.

 

[IDIDieselJohn]

I did go see a 82 E100 short van with a factory 4 speed. Went to see it a friday, called the guy on a sunday to go get it, sold it that saturday... man I was so pissed off!

There was another one for sale but to far away and abit expensive with a 4 speed, and before those 2, a 3 on the tree van for sell cheap, but also to far.

I'd like better to get an IDI van and converting it to a real 70's *******' Wagon! That be awesome!