Any Ford V10/ZF5 guys in here?

[YotaAtieToo]

I found a clean F350 with the 6.8/5 speed combo south of here. Well taken care of, and the price is right. Anyone have good/bad/ugly regarding either the engine or transmission? So far all I've heard is OD popping out, and that the V10 is thirsty. Thanks.

OD popping out? Never heard that issues on the ZF5 behind the 7.3, is it specific to the V10 version?

If the trans has any shifting issue, drain it and put in snycromesh. I was told it would help, and didn't believe it until I did it. When I bought my 97 7.3/ZF5 it could not be shifted from 1st to 2nd, I figured, whatever, I'll start in 2nd anyway and rebuild it later. Snycromesh completely fixed it. 12 years and 150k miles later and it shifts perfect.

As far as real end gearing, ID think 3.73s would be fine with the 5 speed. The OD is way shorter than the 4r100 and the granny low will get you moving.

 

[KenV]

It's only anecdotal from the web, but when I searched the only issues I could find were with OD. Every case could have been from abuse.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

Even better than the coils, 05+ gets the 5R110 trans, 3V motor and bigger brakes.

Even the V8 would be fine unless youre often pulling heavy in the mountains.

If I wanted a dirt cheap beater tow rig, it would be an 05+ gas superduty and regear to 5.13 or 5.38s

5.38s would be like shutting of OD on the highway with 3.73s. Which people do all the time.

 

[Thatg9659]

I feel like it was in my '02 Excursion?

Doing some reading '08 for trucks is common but Excursions were different and had it earlier.

The excursion was special.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

Till you get into 1.5 and 2 ton.

My 5500 diesel, lucky to get 12mpg. Spins at 2300+ rpm doing 65.

F450 v10 I have has 4.88 gears i think.

Some of them came with 5.38s

 

[DMG]

Even the V8 would be fine unless youre often pulling heavy in the mountains.

If I wanted a dirt cheap beater tow rig, it would be an 05+ gas superduty and regear to 5.13 or 5.38s

5.38s would be like shutting of OD on the highway with 3.73s. Which people do all the time.

Many of them have 4.10s. Turn off 5th and you are good. Dirt cheap+ regearing a 60/sterling don’t go together that well.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

Many of them have 4.10s. Turn off 5th and you are good. Dirt cheap+ regearing a 60/sterling don’t go together that well.

Just depends on the use, someone mentioned farm use. I'd think the extra gearing would be a huge improvement for around the farm, town, hills, ect.

 

[DMG]

Just depends on the use, someone mentioned farm use. I'd think the extra gearing would be a huge improvement for around the farm, town, hills, ect.

Gearing ain’t cheap and the newer 5/6 speeds make up the difference nicely. My 06 V10 truck with 4.10s and 285s never struggled. It had a 5 star tune which was a pretty major improvement, though. The people i sold it to tow a large gooseneck livestock trailer in the WV mountains.

 

[GGRR 4555]

I had a 2000 F350 dually with V10, ZF5 and 4.30's. It was a rad truck besides a horrible vibration sound I never figured out (sounded like a heat shield rubbing on the floor). I had a lance camper and towed my TJ on various occasions. The truck is still out driving regularly with the next owner.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

Gearing ain’t cheap and the newer 5/6 speeds make up the difference nicely. My 06 V10 truck with 4.10s and 285s never struggled. It had a 5 star tune which was a pretty major improvement, though. The people is old it to tow a large gooseneck livestock trailer in the WV mountains.

Yes, obviously it would be up to the owner to weigh the cost vs benefits. But either way 3.73 to 5.xx would be a massive upgrade for towing in the mountains, no matter the trans. I pulled a 7k skid steer on a tilt deck in the mountains with a 2018 6.2/6spd and it was in 1st and 2nd a lot which sucked with the big split.

I was mostly thinking like a sub $3k truck, so $1500 (or half if 2wd) or even less if you can do your own. to help get heavy loads moving and keep the trans alive might be worth it.