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New ZF 8spd automatic in 2020.

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Jeep Scrambler

Lobster Boat Racing

That is interesting. The ex's GC ED (which I still maintain) has the ZF 8HP70. I can't speak to longevity, but the shift logic is great. It is torqued to death though. I have feeling it would be expensive to work on. The pan is plastic and has built in filter, so the whole pan is changed with a filter change. I think is really stupid. Also, if you change the oil by the book, it is 2 day process. Something about getting to operating temp to open cooler valve, drain, overfill, back to operating temp, recheck level (no dip stick), cool down, blah blah. Really stupid. And the recommended fluid is other worldly expensive.
 
As a current 6.4 owner, the new 7.0 with a transmission that actually(hopefully)works with it, instead of against it, should be a great combo.
 
my personal experience with ZF ( gotta love Germans and their abbreviations aka ZF means ZahnRadFabrik Friedrichshafen) wasn't all that good, I prefer crude American built to their stuff.
they are typical overbuilt German stuff that is great until it starts to wear out and then it costs a fortune to repair, if it can be repaired.
worked on their Ecomat HP590 trannies and their steering gearboxes...
for uinstance the Ecomat auto transmission was machined so well that if you forgot a gasket the metal surfaces would still seal..
but the internals were also machined so well that any sort of wear meant they would fail soon
and in many cases if the case was worn you couldn't rebuild them.
nothing like having to use a mic on a clutch pack and shims to get it just perfect compared to say an Allison where you could just throw the stuff in there and it will work. the German stuff won't.

Steering boxes were the same story. You can't substitute anything but genuine German made SF parts ( even the O rings are unique) or it won't work correctly.

so be careful what you wish for.
 
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