302+M5OD+4406=21MPG and :)!

[DieselHilux]

Just got done swapping a 4406 and a M5OD into my 97 mountaineer and the results are incredible!! I got 21 MPG on my last fillip and the steering has a much lighter feel to it along with much faster acceleration!

[Turdle]

Oh, that is cool!. Mind if I ask questions later?

[DieselHilux]

Ask away!!

[merbs]

What were you getting before?16?You wonder how much the trans changed it and how much was 4406,most threads I've read say they got around 21 from just the 4406,
BUT THAT`S KILLER ANYWAY!THAT ROCKS DUDE!PS hows they old lady with a stick?
They don`t tend to take constructive critism...well,constructively.A 5.0 too right? WOW!

[DieselHilux]

I was getting about 15 to 16 miles per gallon, I actually did the manual swap first, aside from quicker exceleration the mileage did not change, that piece of shit all wheel drive transfer case was sucking the life out of the engine, not to mention its lack of a real low range!! This thing will now rip stumps out of the ground in low 4!

It all basically bolted right up, the only thing I had to modify was the gas tank bracket and cut a hole in the floor for the 4 wheel drive shifter.

But you can really feel the difference, I cannot believe how much power that all wheel drive case robs from the engine

The shifter boot for the 4 wheel drive shifter is off of an f 150, and you cant see it in the picture but I also installed the inner boot from the same f 150.

[FIND]

WOW. That is what mine gets at it's best. I should do the same. Did you use an explorer clutch pedal and master assembly then? The 4406 swap was basically the same as a standard 4406 swap I take it?

[ExDude]

Nice!

[DieselHilux]

I used an f 150 clutch assembly, and an f 150 flywheel. The entire drive train is basically an f 150 drive train now. I used a ford ranger clutch pedal assembly, it bolted right in as if it was meant to be there! The clutch master fits perfectly where the shift cable for the auto goes through the firewall!!

The hole for the 4 wheel drive shifter was just measure 3 times cut once and even then I had to cut 3 more times lol!

[DieselHilux]

I forgot to mention I am getting 21 miles per gallon with, 31X10.50X15 BFG KO's and 3.73's

[FIND]

Holy crap! You would be getting 24 on stock wheels and tires! What did you do about the ECU and wiring? Just jumper it to make the ECU think the transmission is in neutral?

[DieselHilux]

No I had the stock ecu reprogrammed by henson performance out of alabama. I also had him to delete the emissions functions.

[DieselHilux]

I suppose it would be bad to also say I hollowed out all 4 of my cats then………

[FIND]

Well, I like it. After pricing everything out, a person should be able to do this for under $1500 with a new clutch, flywheel, master, slave and bearings. You are saving over $500 bucks a year in gas, have 4 low and got rid of the slushbox. Wins all around. I'm definitely doing this with mine as soon as I can dig up parts and find the time.

edit: maybe not, that OD sucks for stock tire sizes.

[jturkey69]

AWESOME!!!! When can we expect a write-up?? THIS is on my long term to-do list! 4406 is first, then strongly considering 4.56's a manual would nix the 4.56 gear swap though...I cannot stand an auto except for old school 3spd autos with driveshaft twisting shift kits.

[merbs]

Jturkey69 you do realize the 4r70w is a great trans,right?I love standards too,but the
4r70w is the modern wide ratio variant of the aod,which itself is a continuation of the ford fmx tranny from the 60s,with electronic controls and overdrive!Go to usshift.com and check out what you can do with these transmissions.AMAZING!I have Baumman controls in my vehicles and with a shift kit by transgo you can do whatever you want to!
Change shift points,electronic speedo,check trans fluid temp,change fluid pressure, pretty much make your auto do whatever the hell you feel like doing including tire roasting shifts!And the little woman can still drive the kiddys to sunday school like it was an unmolested auto.Put in a 4406 and save some gas even.OR JUST DO DONUTS IN THE PARKING LOT LIKE THIS GUY GETS TO DO NOW!!!

[merbs]

OH AND NOT ONLY DOES THE 4R70W HAVE OVERDRIVE,IT ALSO HAS A LOWER FIRST GEAR!IT`S A GREAT TRANS AND WITH A TRANSGO KIT YOU CAN SHIFT TO ANY GEAR AT ANY TIME!NO MORE WAITING FOR FIRST!AND WITH MORE PRESSURE TO THE CLUTCHES ROASTING TIRES IS NOTHING!IT`S LIKE PUTTING A COMPUTER CONTROLLED 700R4 IN YOUR CUTLASS!YOU COULD RUN LOWER REAR GEARS,AND STILL HAVE THE SAME RPM IN TOP GEAR!700R4s ARE GREAT BUT LACK COMPUTERS SO WHAT YOU GOT IS WHAT YOU GET,SET FOR PERFORMANCE THEY ALWAYS CHIRP `EM.FINE WHEN US GUYS DRIVING BUT MOMMA DON`T LIKE!I EVEN HAVE AN E4OD F250 TRANS IN MY GALAXIE WITH USSHIFT AND IT`S AMAZING!DOES WHATEVER I TELL IT TO.PRETTY MUCH UNBREAKABLE(KNOCKING ON WOOD) TO BOOT!ODS ROCK!!!

[colintrax]

^ You left caps lock on......

[IAmTodd]

This is great. The 4R70W is about the only auto I have liked. Regardless I would have done this with my 5.0 if I still had it. Much more in depth than doing this to a gen 1 but still just as satisfying.

[FIND]

Yeah, the 4r70w is a great transmission, but it is not as efficient at delivering the power to the ground as a 5 speed is, and a manual transmission is still much cheaper in the long term. This is especially something to consider since we all have vehicles that are at least 11 years old. They are getting up there in the miles, and no matter how good of a transmission the 4r70w is, it still wears out.

Plus, being in control of your car is always better than letting something else control your car. If someone wants a lower first gear, a ZF is a direct swap with an M5OD. Either way, M5OD 1st gear 3.91:1 whereas a 4r70w is 2.84:1. Overdrive is where someone should be concerned, M5OD is a 0.8:1 where 4R70W gets 0.7:1... But in the case of a truck with oversized tires, that lower ratio is fine...

[jturkey69]

I honestly had no idea about USshift, and with 723XX on the truck currently, the 4406 is the next move, but I always see Expo's (in my area at least)with trans failures with the 5.0, and the 4406, and 4.56 was put on the list to help save the trans for some more longevity as I would hate to have to drop 800+ on a rebuilt trans. As has been said also..and being able to control your vehicle (at least the shifting) is paramount for alot of manual drivers. Plus I cannot stand the fact domestics shied away from manuals for whatever reason. I love a manual..lol. The usshift controller would definitely solve alot of my personal complaints with the current shifting of the truck, and either getting into od when I dont want, or not able to downshift enough, or etc..
I wont lie...the controller does intrigue me, and has been bookmarked, but the lure of a manual is pretty dam great..lol. at any rate, thanks all!! I need to get back to sourcing some parts for a 4406 swap next.

OP...any way you could post a vid of some normal driving, and a lil spirited driving??

merbs... my dad had a 65 Galaxie 390 3 deuces with 4spd...tri-power was a headache...def one of my faves