Learn me some Ford V10 Info

Ron Earp

Admin
Well, you can't build a new Ford diesel 2wd 2 door manual shift truck. Just don't do it. Close as you can get is a 4wd diesel 2 door manual shift.

But you can build a Ford V10 2wd 2 door manual shift truck.


  • Anyone here owned a Ford V10? How was it for pulling, hauling? How was the fun factor? Fuel economy?
  • V10 is a mod motor. Anyone know if the flywheel, pressure plate, and transmission would bolt up to a 5.4L SOHC Lightning motor? I think they will and can probably find the answer to this on the Lightning forums.
A V10 gasser might not be so bad. But, I might rather have the diesel though, or my truck coverted to a manual.
 
Ron,
You would have to change or add trans cross member and mount. Shorten prop shaft. Add grasshopper or pedal assembly in the dash above the mast jacket and change the mast jacket to add the clutch pedal assembly and clutch clylinder. Not to mention the flywheel and clutch assembly. Plumb the clutch. Neutral saftey switch, safety switch harness on clutch pedal assembly. Cut the floor for the shifter assembly and consol and boot. Wire speedo hookup. Then reprogram. I would shop around the wreckers and get all the parts. You would be better off doing a fresh truck, I take it you use yours all the time.
Dave
 

Ron Earp

Admin
Ron,
You would have to change or add trans cross member and mount. Shorten prop shaft. Add grasshopper or pedal assembly in the dash above the mast jacket and change the mast jacket to add the clutch pedal assembly and clutch clylinder. Not to mention the flywheel and clutch assembly. Plumb the clutch. Neutral saftey switch, safety switch harness on clutch pedal assembly. Cut the floor for the shifter assembly and consol and boot. Wire speedo hookup. Then reprogram. I would shop around the wreckers and get all the parts. You would be better off doing a fresh truck, I take it you use yours all the time.
Dave

Yep, I would have to do that. But, all the parts exist from Ford as new or from yards. It has been done a few times in Lightning, but typically with a "sports car" transmission like a TKO, not the ZF V10 truck job, which I think would be a better fit.

I do use mine all the time but if I have something else to drive, and I do, I think it could be done after November.
 

Brian Hamilton

I'm on the verge of touching myself inappropriatel
Yeah, I believe the transmissions and everything will bolt up. Be sure to get the clutch pedal assembly from a manual transmission V6 truck so you have all the mounting hardware and everything you need. The holes required should already be there. Be sure to take pictures and everything when you're removing the clutch pedal assembly from the junkyard truck. (We did a manual conversion on my friend's '87 Monte Carlo SS and took the clutch assembly from a 1992 Firebird. Nowhere near the same, but the pictures did help.)

As for the V10's towing, hauling, fuel economy, well... It sucks. Everyone I've ever talked to with those engines say they suck. They drink gas like crazy and don't tow nearly as well as the diesel. They all say that if they had it to do over again, they would get the diesel. I personally don't have much experience with them, but this is based on about 20 guys who came to our shop begging us to give them more power for their "anemic" V10 trucks.

Hope this helps!!

Brian
 

Rick Muck- Mark IV

GT40s Sponsor
Supporter
Ron,

Actually you can no longer get ANY manual trans F Series, no 150s, or now with the 2001s, Super Duties (F250/500). Also the 6.8L V10 is gone as well as the 5.4 in the Super Duty. Replaced by the new 6.2 V8 (OHC, two valve).

The demise of the manual was the shrinking sales and certification costs. Yes, you want a regular cab diesel six-speed manual but not a lot do and the cerification (EPA) costs are the same for one you build 1000 of as the ones you sell 100K of. Simple economics.

All 2011 Super Duties get the six speed auto Torqshift trans with tow/haul control.

And the V10 was not a bad engine, tough on fuel unless "tweaked" with headers, etc. but lots of smooth torque.
 
Well I owned an F250 V10 and it was a decent truck if you don't count the motor. First of all they are prone to go "BOOM" after 100K miles which is what happened to mine (mad me a believer in FORD= Found On Road Dead). Started to have problems around 80K. The gas milage was just over 10 mpg while pulling anything and I was luckey if I got 15-18 mpg with no load (and a cap on). The ride was OK as far as trucks that size go (had the extended cab 4door).

Now I will say that I never had any issue with the trans regardless of what I threw at it and the four wheel drive system worked well although you had to go outside and turn the front hubs in order to engage. The diff never had any issue. Now that I think about it I really didn't have any electrical issues either. SO in short the truck was OK but the blown motor experience has turned me off to anything in the truck dept. offered by Ford. I will stick with the bow tie when I get my next mule.
 
Ditto on grenading. Excursion with the V-10 lost all oil pressure. Pulled over fast and killed it. Towed it to a dealership where they started it and everything was fine. Did an oil flush/change/filters and all seemed well. Got a bad feeling after the oil pressure started fluctuating under a constant load and traded it in to the dealership I had it towed too. Customer had the motor lock up on a test drive about a week later. ymmv
 
See now older Rovers were amazing. Pulled all you wanted and once you changed out the crappy air ride suspension it was all but bullit proof. The newer ones are well ..... PRETTY
 
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