ZF Tailhousing swap

[FordGuy100]

What is required. I found a guy saying he has a tailhousing for a 4x4 ZF that he is willing to let go dirt cheap. What all would I need to take a 2wd to a 4wd ZF so I dont just buy some of the parts and get myself nowhere.

 

[MUDKICKR]

you will also need the output shaft, which means you will have to completely disassemble the 2wd tranny to make it 4wd. your best bet is to either get a 4wd tranny or a divorced mount transfer case.

 

[FordGuy100]

Alrighty. It was $20 for the tailbousing piece so I thought I would ask. If he doesn't have the shaft I will decline. Thanks

 

[Diesel_brad]

I would buy the tail housing for $20. They are known to break the ears of at the trans mount

 

[oldblue05]

I would buy the tail housing for $20. They are known to break the ears of at the trans mount

4wd or 2wd? my 2wd is broken, I have a 4wd housing and output shaft and have been wondering for awhile now how hard it would be to pull apart and swap...

 

[MUDKICKR]

you have to press the gears off the 2wd output shaft and repress them on the 4wd output shaft, it can be done, but you will need the correct tools for the job. yes it can be done, but you might as well call it a complete rebuild, due to the labor involved. i have been in a few zf5s and they arent that bad to work on, but it would just be better to find a 4x4 tranny, or go with a divorced mount transfer case.

 

[Diesel_brad]

4wd or 2wd? my 2wd is broken, I have a 4wd housing and output shaft and have been wondering for awhile now how hard it would be to pull apart and swap...

Never worked on a 2wd, but i have personally seen bout 15-20 4wd w broken ears

 

[ROCK HARVEY]

I would definitely snag that 4x4 tailhousing if you can. I can testify that they do crack:

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Nero]

I have a zf with that same exact crack, and a tail housing ready to swap in. Crazy how its that common... Anything we can do to prevent it or strengthen it up?

 

[XOLATEM]

I have a zf with that same exact crack, and a tail housing ready to swap in. Crazy how its that common... Anything we can do to prevent it or strengthen it up?

Short answer is yes. You would have to fab up a support for the heavy end.

The same thing happens to a Dodge 4X4 when the front driveshaft CV joint goes bad...the vibrations will crack the extension housing on the trans.

The aftermarket has come up with a bolt-in support for the Dodges...I am certain given enough time, vision, materials, and ingenuity one can be fabbed up for the Ford/ZF combo.

03-07 Dodge Ram 48RE 4WD Transfer Case Support Bracket

Get this kit to solve the problem of the Dodge Ram 48RE transmission cracking due to the lack of support of the heavy transfer case.

www.genosgarage.com

If I had a 4X4 to work with I would make one...

HTH

 

[Nero]

Hmmm.... Interesting....

Wonder if we could convince @IDIoit to fab n sell one like he does all his other neat stuff....

 

[rreegg]

Only on oil burners can a presumed bot resurrect a near 15 year old thread - while inviting current and relevant discussion. Gotta check my zf5 for this at some point…

Don’t click the link for “fitte-naken-hd-foto” lol - went to report and it’s already gone

 

[ROCK HARVEY]

Haha I saw the bot posts but not the age of the posts before it. I think it’s safe to assume that tailhousing is no longer for sale!

One of these days I’ll fab up a support for the transfer case to take the weight off the tailhousing. For now I just make sure to replace the transmission mount with a new one any time I take it off. I hung on to my old cracked one as an excuse to someday buy a TIG welder

 

[IDIoit]

Hmmm.... Interesting....

Wonder if we could convince @IDIoit to fab n sell one like he does all his other neat stuff....

ZF5 Ford Manual Transmission Support Bracket Brace | eBay

Two of them bolt to the ZF5 transfer case flange and the large plate goes between the transmission tail housing and the transmission mount. as well as keeping the transmission ears from breaking (shown broken on the transmission case in the photos that is not included).

www.ebay.com

 

[The_Josh_Bear]

Only on oil burners can a presumed bot resurrect a near 15 year old thread - while inviting current and relevant discussion. Gotta check my zf5 for this at some point…

Don’t click the link for “fitte-naken-hd-foto” lol - went to report and it’s already gone

Lol I never saw the bot post, so I thought you were calling @ROCK HARVEY a bot, trying to stir up controversy