ZF 6 speed

Im looking for a ZF 6 speed for my 97 powerstroke.

Anybody know where I may find one?

Quite a few on Ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=zf+6+speed+transmission

Well, yea I found those but I'm looking for one at a yard sale kinda price.

Thought someone on here might know of a wreck or something and parting out.

2WD or 4WD? I have been doing them same, looking for a 6 spd for my '00 7.3 4WD. Can also try car-part.com.

4x4, hard to find............

Put a ZF-5 in it, no external cooler to leak and pump the tranny dry......And they are easier to find. The ZF-6 isn't worth the hassle.

IDT-572 wrote:4x4, hard to find............

I know what you're saying, looking for a 6spd to replace mine in my '00 F250 7.3 4x4 w/ 303K(getting a slight input bearing whine, probably not slight if I can hear it above the "regular" diesel noise), best I found was a rebuild for $1800. I have found a dozen used 2WD models but only a few 4WD 6 spds(on Craigslist from FL to N. Carolina to E. Texas). I will keep an eye out, what are you looking at spending(if you don't mind me asking), total with shipping of course. What is happening to yours to make you want to replace it?

aquartlow wrote:

IDT-572 wrote:4x4, hard to find............

I know what you're saying, looking for a 6spd to replace mine in my '00 F250 7.3 4x4 w/ 303K(getting a slight input bearing whine, probably not slight if I can hear it above the "regular" diesel noise), best I found was a rebuild for $1800. I have found a dozen used 2WD models but only a few 4WD 6 spds(on Craigslist from FL to N. Carolina to E. Texas). I will keep an eye out, what are you looking at spending(if you don't mind me asking), total with shipping of course. What is happening to yours to make you want to replace it?

I have 3.55 gears in mine and a 4.14:1 ration first gear ZF in mine. It has bad rollover noise below 1500 rpm. It had 300,000+ miles on it when I got it used to replace the trans in the truck when I bout It. It had a Jasper rebuild in it and it was run with out oil and completely destroyed.

The one I bought for it came out of a DI early 7.3 I think. Any way I have put another 130,000 more mile on it.

With the 4.14 first gear and 3.55 rears (which I pit in for interstate running with my 28 ft car trailer, it's great, but I just cant take off in first in the high side with a big load on it.

The ZF 6 speed will kelp with the 5.6''' something first gear and split the rest up till 4th which is 1:1.

I have found them for 1600-1800 on line, I'm just looking for something for less money.

The gear roll-over noise is typical in a ZF trans, had the same noise in my ZF5 spd behind an EFI 460. When I changed my factory clutch(pressure plate, flywheel, TO bearing, actuating arm(the stock ones sometimes crack) and block to a South Bend CON-OFE set-up, it came with a Kevlar input shaft bushing, the noise was gone....for a while. The end of the input shaft was chewed up(fairly typical on these manuals) a bit due to the factory pilot bearing failing. The SB clutch only lasted 80K, I figured for a $1000 clutch it should have lasted longer than the supposedly POS factory clutch that lasted 175K. I have since installed a cheaper CARQUEST clutch and re-installed factory flywheel along with an input shaft repair kit. When first installed the roll-over noise was once again a bit quieter, but ultimately came back. I then removed the thin auto trans fluid and now use 5w-40 Mobil 1(roughly the same low temp viscosity but much higher vis. when hot as compared to ATF) with a 1/2 quart of 75-140 synthetic gear oil, this REALLY quieted down the trans and has been in there for 47K miles(the bearing whine was there before I changed the fluid). I put small rare magnets on the drain/fill plugs and have checked and no bearing or gear debris at all. The trans shifts fine due to the low vis. 5w-40, a higher vis oil or more 75w-140 would or could cause low temp shift issues. Hope this helps.

You just answered my next question about the oil. I'm going to add Schaeffer 5/40 to it then and see if that helps.

It shifts great and I have a Southbend clutch in mine also. and it didn't have the noise with the dual mass factory clutch in it.

It is quiet over 1500 rpm , no bearing noise at all. Just that dang roll over noise when you get below 1500.

I'm still going to look for a late model wreck and maybe get the ZF 6 and a dana 60 front and sell the rest.

Thanks for the help.

Glad to help if possible.
I can tell you the first gear or L on my ZF S6-650 6 spd is almost too low(kinda hard to shift from L to first gear due to the large "gap" between the gear ratios), I only use it when pulling our tandem axle trailer when loaded near or over 20K. This info may give you an option and possibly be cheaper and/or easier to find.
http://www.dieselhub.com/trans/zf-5-speed.html
A wide ratio S5-47 or a better option(IMO) is a close ratio S5-47 will give a lower first gear without being a "granny' low or for the most part, useless 1st gear for traffic driving. I have actually run mine in 4WD low in town(less than 35mph)when towing heavy while not locking in the manual front hubs (got rid of the vacuum actuated hub crap), really helps with get-up and go but the shifting goes fast.
Here are some specs for the ZF S6-650.
http://www.dieselhub.com/trans/zf-6-speed.html
Hope this also helps. Good luck with your search.

I agree, I would only use the ZF6 low gear for when I have my Backhoe or something over 15000 lb. Just to get rolling. With the Swamps stage ones, 4 inch exhaust and TS chip, it has plenty of power to pull it, But getting rolling is a biotch........

I don't want to lose my 3.55 gears. And I hate the rpm drop on a wide ratio 5 speed. Maybe the one you suggested may be good enough.

I will put a calculator to it.

Thanks

Blake , any performance clutch in these transmission pound the gear sets and bearings ,( in other words no cushion ) so it makes that sound called roll over . With these type transmissions they were common to have that noise and the clutch finds all of the slack . Loose bearings , end play , and gear wear.  This is one reason it makes a difference in the type , weight and brand oil that is used in them. The oil acts as a cushion as well as noise sepresent and lubrication. Cooling too!

On another note for a compromise and a cheaper alternative you might think of changing out the 3.55 to 3.73 . That also will give you better take off power and interstate driving. Just a thought !

Good luck and I will be on the look out for you a transmission.

P.s. Here is what I was trying to explain in a better way.

http://www.globaltransmissionsupply.com/pdf/transmissions/zf-transmission-zf-s5-47-troubleshooting-guide.pdf