Sourcing used parts

Does anyone have a go-to process for sourcing used parts?  I've browsed car-part.com, craiglist, FB marketplace, and LKQ and I'm having a hell of a time finding what I want.

More specifically, I'm looking for a 4x4 ZF-5 or ZF-6 with a Ford Modular bellhousing bolt pattern.  Also looking for other associated parts to do a manual swap in a V-10 F250, but if I can't come up with the transmission for a reasonable price, I obviously won't need the rest of the parts.

You already covered all the places I typically look. The only other thing I'd add is to check vehicle-specific forums, and maybe post a WTB ad there. Good luck.

I was just going to say vehicle specific forum/FB groups. That's where I find most of my harder to find parts. 

What did that come out  of? An enthusiast forum might be usefull.

I have had luck using the row52 app to search the local u-pull-it yards. You can't search by part though, only by vehicle.

ZF-5 with the proper bolt pattern was available in 1999 - 2004 Super Duties with either gas engine.

ZF-6 with the proper bolt pattern was available in 2005 - 2010? Super Duties with either gas engine.

The diesel trans will not work.  2WD trans will not work.  ZF-5 from the OBS Fords will not work.  If I was willing to spend way more money, this would be a done deal, but here we are.  I have avoided vehicle specific forums because they are terrible in my experience.  This place is better in every way.  I'll keep it in mind as a last resort.

Might be worth a look on eBay.  I've seen plenty of junkyard listings on there. 

In reply to bigeyedfish :

Near me, when I put in the FB Marketplace search term of "Super Duty Parts" I get returns for Super Duty dismanlers like these:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/964765571125043/?ref=search&referral_code=marketplace_search&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3A797aaac7-0d97-4df5-b055-1136e0b288f5

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/902273856995533/?ref=search&referral_code=marketplace_search&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3A797aaac7-0d97-4df5-b055-1136e0b288f5

In reply to bmw88rider :

Good point on the Facebook groups. That's where a lot of the action is these days vs. enthusiast forums. Of course, if you don't like the enthusiast forums, Facebook groups are a lower circle of hell. But they are a means to an end and usually effective for quickly buying or selling parts.

What's your budget? Last I checked, you could get a new reman for something like $1200 plus the core charge. 

Good luck finding one. I had a hell of a time finding one for my 7.3 when I converted from an auto. I ended up driving 7 hours to grab one from a yard I found on car-part. 

Looks like Midway Auto parts in St Louis has a ZF6 for $1350 on car-part. I would call to see if they require a core on top of that. I paid $1100 for my diesel ZF5 and didn't need to pay an additional core. $1350 is not a steal but very reasonable in my experience. 

Tom Suddard said:

What's your budget? Last I checked, you could get a new reman for something like $1200 plus the core charge. 

I could happily pay $1200 for a reman depending on shipping.  Trouble is I'm swapping from auto to manual, so I don't have a core.

Do you remember where you were seeing those prices?  I haven't found anything even close to that price.

In reply to WillG80 :

I saw that one  The same truck is shown at multiple locations, so I hadn't called yet.  I'll talk to them and see what the deal is.  I sent emails to a couple yards over the weekend.  I'm sure something will turn up.

I just talked to a local transmission shop that said they'll diagnose the current automatic for free no strings attached.  I'll do that first, but I'm expecting an estimate north of $3k, which points me toward buying a reman auto and doing the work myself, which points me toward putting in the manual transmission that I actually want (assuming I can find parts).

In reply to John Welsh :

Any chance you can send me contact info for the first guy?  I don't have a FB account, so I can search but can't actually get in touch with anyone.

bigeyedfish said:

In reply to John Welsh :

Any chance you can send me contact info for the first guy?  I don't have a FB account, so I can search but can't actually get in touch with anyone.

I sent a message to the seller, with a link to this thread and asked him to reach out to you directly.  I provided him with your gmail address.  

EDIT: the same place has this CL ad and that has a phone number too:  https://cleveland.craigslist.org/ptd/d/lorain-used-ford-super-duty-parts/7426818212.html

http://www.americanautowrecking.us/parts-vehicles.html

In reply to John Welsh :

Awesome.  Thanks.

bigeyedfish said:

Tom Suddard said:

What's your budget? Last I checked, you could get a new reman for something like $1200 plus the core charge. 

I could happily pay $1200 for a reman depending on shipping.  Trouble is I'm swapping from auto to manual, so I don't have a core.

Do you remember where you were seeing those prices?  I haven't found anything even close to that price.

Here's one result from Google: 

https://spprecision.com/products/zf-5-speed-transmission-sale.html

I shopped around a bunch and that seemed like the going rate. Ultimately, though, I just had my local shop rebuild the trans I already had, so I'm not much help as far as a recommendation goes. 

In reply to bigeyedfish :

Thinking back, the yard I bought mine from was happy to take my E4OD as a core. Any rebuilds I looked at wanted a $1000+ core fee

In reply to WillG80 :

Man I wish that was the case for me.  There is a very low mileage transmission at a local yard for $1250, but they want $750 for a core charge and won't accept my automatic as a core.

A local transmission shop is going to take a look and diagnose it for free.  If the repair is cheap enough, I'll just go that route and keep the auto for now.  If it's high, I'll have to decide whether I should get a reman auto and do the work myself, or if I should keep hunting for parts to do this manual swap.

Wow. Now I feel lucky. The autotragic in my f350 cracked its case and a junkyard an hour or so down i5 had a zf5 (had two of them actually) and rear driveshaft ready for me for something like $700ish. But mine was diesel, and OBS.

bigeyedfish said:

In reply to WillG80 :

Man I wish that was the case for me.  There is a very low mileage transmission at a local yard for $1250, but they want $750 for a core charge and won't accept my automatic as a core.

Weird. What do they care? Both transmissions are a hundred or two pounds of dirty aluminum and steel. Same scrap value. That outrageous core charge and dumb policy is a good way to make sure their parts sit on the shelf forever.

Diagnosis from the transmission shop.  The 4R100 in my truck lost 2nd gear completely.  They gave me more details, but I don't really remember what they said.  Automatics are all black magic to me.  The important part though... $2600 to do a pretty thorough rebuild and new torque convertor.  Pretty steep, but not really a surprise.

I kept hunting for a manual transmission, and after a few near misses, Craigslist came through again.  I got a transmission, transfer case, and a pile of other parts for $500.  I spent half a day in the truck to go pick it all up, but I'm hopeful that I can sell the parts I don't need and get through this swap pretty cheap.  

I guess I got lucky that the local yard didn't want to deal with me.