hey guys i am new to fordmods and have been browsing through the forums looking for a similar topic to this one with no success so here goes.
Wondering what needs to be done to swap out the old BA 4 speed to the zf 6 speed will the housing fit into a BA? does it need any special sort of computer to run? will the computer recognize 6 gears in cruise control? and any other general problems? love to hear back

I am interested in the same conversion. I have read on the forum somewhere that for some reason the conversion is not (a)easy and (b)economical. it was said that if you wanted a manual instead of an auto...then sell the auto and buy a manual. I don't know about you Coreys0, but i don't want to sell a great car just to get a manual one. Needless to say if you here of how the conversion is done please PM me.

he isnt asking about a auto-manual conversion
hes wondering about 4 speed auto to 6 speed auto from a later model

I only know of it being done once.

FTG Salvage in Melb, put a full BF F6 driveline into a BA wagon. Heard it wasn't easy (required trans tunnel changes).

Yea i had an idea it wouldnt be easy.. Oh well ill start looking around see what prices i could get the bits of the driveline for thanks for your help data

Whoops - my bad...

if you can get it to fit, will also need the BF's 6 speed ECU , wiring , shifter , tailshaft , diff centre.

I reckon it'd probably be cheaper to trade in your BA on a higher model BF.

a fair few people have done it.. pretty much need the entire electronics out of a bf and then the gbox, tailshaft diff etc etc. Best way to do it would be buy a smashed bf from the auctions, sell all the bits you dont need and do the swap.
i wouldn't mind doing it one day too.

a very important note to take.
the zf gearbox is linked in a special way to the computer (pcm) it came with.
if you get the box without this it will require someone from ford or someone who knows how to reset the zf and pair it with the new pcm. the problem is that the software that ford uses to do this is updated on a monthly basis and few of the staff actually know what to do when it comes to pairing a zf with a different pcm, because this isnt really taught to many people at ford (not common protocall). but it can be done...
my advice is if you buy a zf 6spd make sure you get the pcm that its paired to aswell, it would definately be the easier option.

i had to find out the hard way

hope that helps anyone looking to do this conversion..

cheers Jesse

I was told all you would need is a new dash loom and engine loom, according to a seller on eBay. I'm interested to see if that's true.

I was told all you would need is a new dash loom and engine loom, according to a seller on eBay. I'm interested to see if that's true.

You would need to change the dash loom, the H looms under the seats to suit the 6 speed shifter wiring so SSS works, the airbag module would need changing to suit the dash loom as a few of the power pins were different setup. PCM/ECU (whatever you want to call it) will need changing to siut the ZF Box, Engine bay looms would need changing to suit the PCM as a few wires were different locations, the loom on the engine would need changing to add the 2nd knock sensor the BF used and have all the required wires going down to the box ABS unit would need to be changed to suit the BF pcm some of the Brake lines would need changing or Massaging to make fit exhaust would need the 2nd O2 sensor added.
I may have missed something that needs changing been awhile since i investigated the idea of doing this.
The only original modules left in your car would be the ICC and BCM. Even the Cluster needs changing to suit the rest of the BF gear because of a firmware change

Then as stated above you would need the tailshaft to suit the ZF, you would need the BA style center bearing put onto it as BF had a narrower tunnel, so the bearing mount was smaller.

Lots of work
Seller on Ebay is wrong you need to change just about every loom in the car the only originals you would be left with is the looms in the Roof doors and boot.

F**k...

The 4 speed H loom can be modified for the 6 speed shifter my brother had a BF XR8 with a ZF 6 speed there was a fire under the car (idiot left car running parked on a pile of leaves) the H loom needed to be swapped out they used a BA Fairmont loom for a donor re using 6 speeds original connector. one thing to watch the power feed is taken from the power window power feed (As original in BF) there are two of these running thru H loom so be careful to use the one feeding the passenger door and not the rear doors as the isolation shift will cut power to T - Bar as well as rear windows.

The ZF transmissions controller is located in the transmission I am not sure how much of the engine bay loom you will need. The hand thing with BA/BF you should be able to replace the engine loom with out gutting the entire wiring loom. This was a pain in earlier models.