I have an '86 F150 4x4 that I bought from a "friend" with the intention of fixing it up and making it my hobby truck. It has a 4.9l in-line 6 with a NP 435 transmission. I rebuilt the engine which had been terribly butchered by the previous owner. From the looks of it the engine had been removed before. A new header had been installed and much of the smog system had been disconnected but not completely removed from service.

My main problems have been with the transmission. It won't up shift from first to second or down shift from third to second with out some serious grinding. I had the transmission rebuilt thinking this would solve the problem. It didn't. So I thought it might be a clutch problem; that it might not be disengaging all the way. I replaced the clutch. Then I replaced the clutch master and slave cylinders. None of these things hve had any effect on the truck's ability (or lack thereof) to shift gears.

I had heard somewhere (and unfortunately now I can't remember where) that on the f-150 in the mid-80's Ford had to shim the transmission at the bell housing to get it to line up properly with the engine. I don't know if this is true or not but I'm willing to try anything at this point. I really like the truck and would like to get it back in prime condition but I have to get over this hurdle first.

Any idea's?

Thanks,

86bomb

 

If it were any other problem it would happen in all gears. It sounds like the second gear synchro (slider) is worn.

 

I'd be wonderin about the rebuild...

Adrianspeeder

 

i had a similiar problem with my 87f150 man. tran. bushings around the floor shift had worn and their was to much play, so things didn't line up