OTR transmission options

[Dsl_Dog_Treat]

Got a customer who is looking at upgrading his ZF in his 95 450. The truck is a cab and chassis flatbed truck and he's aware this will be a project but is looking at it to be a daily driver when completed. Not sure what to do with the parking brake yet but is currently inoperative.
Any ideas on which trannies would work best?
Reasons for upgrade. Coolness, different final gear ratio and the dmf is bout to scatter.

 

[94f450sd]

one option is an allison if he wants an auto.i dont know if one will fit or not.a friend of mine has been trying to talk me into stuffing one into my 95.didnt do it cuz they are a pretty good sized tranny and i didnt want to cut up my floor,not sure if i would have to or not though.can get everything you need out of a school bus with a psd in it.

if he wants a manual id have to say you could pretty much use anything you want.you could use a spicer 6 speed out of an international with a psd in it.

as long as you have the correct bellhousing adapter for the psd and the correct flywheel you could use anything you want depending on how much fab work you want to do.the biggest problem i see is adapting the smaller 450 driveshaft to the bigger u-joint.most of the medium duty trucks have the ebrake on the tranny as well.and if they dont you can get everything you need to put the ebrake on the tranny easily.

 

[94f450sd]

if going with a manual another problem would be the clutch linkage.could probably use some pieces from an f650 or 750.my friends 2000 chevy 6500 uses a cable for the clutch,maybe you could make something like that work?

 

[towcat]

if this is a OTR vehicle, I'd leave it alone. It's already bad enough DOT will be shoving a microscope into places where the sun don't shine on both your buddy and his truck. put in a SMF if he's not the only driver, get a rebuilt parking brake and have him keep a log of all repairs.

 

[dyoung14]

if this is a OTR vehicle, I'd leave it alone. It's already bad enough DOT will be shoving a microscope into places where the sun don't shine on both your buddy and his truck. put in a SMF if he's not the only driver, get a rebuilt parking brake and have him keep a log of all repairs.

It must really suck were you live, i cant imagine haveing reguations and things like that? DOT around here dont do a damn thing

 

[towcat]

It must really suck were you live, i cant imagine haveing reguations and things like that? DOT around here dont do a damn thing

DOT has to justify for their fancy weigh and inpsection stations. State is broke and they are pulling out all the stops in revenue generation.

 

[94f450sd]

DOT has to justify for their fancy weigh and inpsection stations. State is broke and they are pulling out all the stops in revenue generation.

definately.i got stopped goin to NH man what a time i had them.never been bothered by DOT till now.no DOT numbers on the carrier that is for personal use and has not for hire on it.went to pick up a car for a friend.but because i got 30 bux for fuel i was conducting interstate commerce.if i knew that i woulda told them i was picking up my own car that i bought.cant even do a favor for a friend without getting porked by them ********.mainly thanks to the car trailer guys runnin with no name,no number,no nothing just a 1/2 ton pickup with a trailer and passenger plates really cant stand those trailer monkeys.make things difficult for those of us that buy a truck that is legal and built to do what we do with them.

 

[Dsl_Dog_Treat]

if this is a OTR vehicle, I'd leave it alone. It's already bad enough DOT will be shoving a microscope into places where the sun don't shine on both your buddy and his truck. put in a SMF if he's not the only driver, get a rebuilt parking brake and have him keep a log of all repairs.

That's my thought and concern. Ive already recomended a South Bend clutch smf kit and It having commercial plates makes it a bigger target for the dot guys.

 

[Mutley]

I don't understand why fooling around with a tranny has anything to do with the DOT. Do they screw you if you deviate from totally stock or something? Up here in the land of cdn bacon I know if you're commercial they're doing you pretty good inspection wise but if private it's still sort of the wild west so to speak.

 

[towcat]

I don't understand why fooling around with a tranny has anything to do with the DOT. Do they screw you if you deviate from totally stock or something? Up here in the land of cdn bacon I know if you're commercial they're doing you pretty good inspection wise but if private it's still sort of the wild west so to speak.

anything that doesn't look stock will invite closer inspection. longer inspections will lead to higher odds of getting O/S'd. Never underestimate the power of a truck with a plain boring paint job that has been washed and has air minders on the duals. In ten years, I got pulled into the bay four times. the rest of the time, I got my quarterly sticker on a paperwork check only.

 

[rebel_horseman]

If he wants more gears he can upgrade to the ZF 6-speed from the '99-up Super Duty trucks. They also have an external cooler with an internal pump. The gear splits on them are really nice. The one that I had in my '01 'Stroke was really sweet.

 

[94f450sd]

Never underestimate the power of a truck with a plain boring paint job that has been washed and has air minders on the duals.

yup.keep it clean.no wires/hoseshanging under it.beef up thesprings so when its loaded it dont look loaded.good tires,all lights working.tools,chains,straps,drag lights or other needed equipment in the tool boxes or trays in the bed not on the bed.my truck never had a dot annual inspection,never been stopped with it.always rolled right by dot stops.