Here is a guide to manual transmissions in Ford F-Series trucks

 

Truck Years Type Description
F-100 1956-1973 Borg Warner T-18 Top loaded heavy-duty 4-speed transmission with cast iron case and shift cover. Case casting number is 1301. Synchronized in 2nd,3rd, and 4th, with 1st and reverse non-synchronized. Available in 2 and 4wd drive versions. Easily confused with earlier BW T98 and T98A models. Care should be used when ordering parts to make positive ID of unit. Used in Ford trucks 1956-73
F-100/F-150 1963-1985 New Process 435 Top loaded heavy-duty 4-speed transmission with cast iron case and extension housing and aluminum shift tower. 2nd through 4th gears are synchronized with 1st and reverse using non synchronized sliding gear. Found in 1963-85 Dodge trucks, 1964085 Ford pickup trucks and stripped chassis, 1964 to 72 GM trucks, and International Harvester and Navistar trucks from 1964-85. produced in both 2 and 4 wheel drive versions
F-Series 1974-1984 Borg Warner T-19 Top loaded heavy-duty 4-speed transmission with cast iron case and shift cover. Case casting number is 1309. Easily confused with T18, but the T19 is synchronized in all forward speeds. The T19 has a single step reverse idler gear while the T18 has a 2 step reverse idler. Available in 2 and 4 WD models. Used in Ford trucks 1974-85
F-100/F-150 1978-1984 T170F (Code-RUG) Side mounted Overdrive (SMOD). Synchronized in all forward gears, with top loaded cast iron case. Used in 1978-84 Ford light duty pickups and vans. Similar in appearance to the Ford top loader transmission but has overdrive 4th gear. Three shift rails mounted to the left side of case. This unit was produced for cars also but with lighter duty bearings and gear train. Produced in 2 and 4 wheel drive versions.
F-100/F-150 1980-1983 T170FS (Code-RUG) Also known as Single Rail Overdrive (SROD). Has an aluminum case with shifter turret mounted on extension housing. Synchronized in all forward speeds with 4th being overdrive. Used in Ford light duty pickup trucks 1980-83. There is also a passenger car version of this unit with lighter duty bearings and gear ratios. Produced in 2 and 4 wheel drive versions.
F-150/F-250 1984-1985 T170FT (Code-RTS) Top loaded 4 speed with 4th being overdrive. Aluminum case and shift tower. Found in Ford F100-250 light duty trucks from 1984-85, also known as a TOD (top shift overdrive) Produced in 2 and 4 wheel drive versions.
F-150 1988-Up M5R2 Mazda built 5 speed fully synchronized transmission found in 1988 to present Ford F150 series trucks and full size Broncos. Aluminum case, extension housing, and shift cover, with integral bell housing. Very similar in design to M5R1, but larger with shift lever located in center of shift cover. Available in 2 and 4WD versions. 1995 and later models have top cover reverse light switch moved to forward corner of shift cover. In 1996 case is changed to accommodate modular motor (4.6L), with starter bolt pattern being triangular. In 1999 the case was changed for 4.2L 4wd drive vehicles. The case is very similar to earlier style units with case length shorter on 4.6L and 4.2L models.
F250, F30, F450, and Super Duty 1987-1994 ZF S542 The S 542 Heavy duty 5 speed fully synchronized transmission with aluminum case and extension housing. The bell housing is integral to the case. Shifter is mounted to small shift cover on top of unit. Built in 2 and 4WD versions. This unit is used in Ford F250, F30, F450, and Super duty trucks from 1987-94. The Super duty model has a mechanical park brake assembly mounted to the extension housing. The S542 is found behind 300, 302, 351, 460, and diesel power plants. Great care should be taken to properly identify the unit you are working on as both the S542 and S547 appear to be the same and with the great variety of ratios available, it is easy to order the wrong parts.
F250, F30, F450, and Super Duty 1995-Up ZF S547 The S547 unit is used behind the same engines from 1995 to present. Both units have PTO covers on each side of case. On the left side of the case is mounted and ID tag, which gives the Ford Part number, the ZF part number and the unit serial number. Great care should be taken to properly identify the unit you are working on as both the S542 and S547 appear to be the same and with the great variety of ratios available, it is easy to order the wrong parts.
Super Duty 1998-Up ZF S560 An extremely heavy-duty unit with 6 forward speed. All gears are synchronized. This unit has an aluminum case with integral bell housing, a center support, and rear case. This unit is built in both 2 and 4WD versions. The S650 is found behind diesel engines of 1998 and up Ford Super duty and stripped chassis up to a gross combined weight of 26,000 lbs. The unit weighs in at 230 lbs. A unique feature of this unit is an internal oil pump driven off the front of the countershaft that circulates the lube to a trans cooler. An easy way to identify this unit is by the cooling lines mounted to the case as found in automatic transmissions. Id tags are mounted on the left side of the main case.

 

Specifications:

 

T-18 NP 435 T-19 T-170
Ratio:

1st 6.32
2nd 3.09
3rd 1.69
4th 1.0
Reverse 7.44
Close Ratio:

1st 4.78
2nd 2.39
3rd 1.37
4th 1.00
Reverse ?

Wide Ratio:

1st 6.69:1
2nd 3.34:1
3rd 1.66:1
4th 1:1
Reverse  8.02

 

 (1968-1982):

1st 4.02
2nd 2.41
3rd 1.41
4th 1.1
Reverse 6.96

(1983-1984):

1st 5.10
2nd 3.03
3rd 1.79
4th 1.1
Reverse 6.96

(1983-1986 F-250 460 4wd):

1st 6.32
2nd 3.09
3rd 1.68
4th 1.1
Reverse 6.96

The 1983-1986 460 2wd & Diesel has a 4.02 1st gear ratio.

 Close Ratio:

1st 2.78
2nd  1.93
3rd 1.36
4th  1.00

Wide Ratio:

1st 2.32
2nd  1.69
3rd 1.29
4th 1.00

 
M5R2 ZF S542 ZF S547 ZF S560
Ratio:

1st 3.75
2nd 2.32
3rd 1.43
4th 1.00
5th 0.75

 

 Close Ratio:

1st 4.14
2nd 2.37
3rd 1.42
4th 1.00
5th 0.77
Reverse 3.79

Wide Ratio:

1st  5.72
2nd 2.94
3rd 1.61
4th 1.00
5th 0.76
Reverse 5.24
Close Ratio – 7.3L Diesel:

1st 5.08
2nd 2.60
3rd  1.53
4th 1.00
5th 0.77
Rev 4.66

Wide Ratio:

1st 5.72
2nd 2.94
3rd 1.61
4th 1.00
5th  0.76
Reverse 5.24
Ratio:

1st 5.79
2nd 3.31
3rd 2.10
4th 1.31
5th 1.00
6th 0.72
Reverse 5.23

 

(This photo shows the difference between the T-18 and T-19)

The above picture shows the difference between the T-18 and T-19 manual transmissions. The T-18 has a PTO port on the passenger side of the case. The T-19 has two PTO covers — one on each side.

Photos:

 

New Process 435 (4-Speed)
New Process 435 New Process 435 New Process 435
New Process 435
Mazda M5R2 (5-Speed)
M5R2 M5R2 M5R2
M5R2 M5R2 (5-Speed)
Borg Warner T-18 & T-19
Borg Warner T-18 Borg Warner T-18 Borg Warner T-18 (4-Speed)
Borg Warner T-18 (4-Speed) Borg Warner T-18 Borg Warner T-19

Tremec T170 (4-Speed)
T170 T170 T170
T170
ZF S542 / ZF S547 / ZF S560
ZF S542 (5-Speed) ZF S542 (5-Speed) ZF S547 (5-Speed)
ZF S560 (6-Speed)