Drewmcg
Elite Explorer
- Joined
- August 27, 2015
- Messages
- 735
- Reaction score
- 99
- Location
- Michigan
- City, State
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2010 XLT 4WD
2002 XLS 2WD
I have two 2002 Ford Explorers built in June 2002--a 4wd XLT (doner vehicle, 116k miles) and rwd (restored XLS, 177k miles). I pulled the (good) engine from the doner truck, replaced all timing chains/cassettes/guides/tensioners; and am about to install in the 2wd XLS. Both vehicles have the 5R55S (not W), confirmed with door tag and VIN lookup.
I drove the XLS about 60 total miles on a prior (unsuccessful) engine rebuild, and the transmission seemed fine. I drove the donner (XLT) a total of a few hundred feet (to reposition for engine pull on my yard; no brakes!), and the trans seemed fine, but I don't believe I ever got out of first gear. I hooked a decent OBDII tool (Bosch 1350) to the donor car and there were no engine or tranny codes.
Neither transmission has been worked on insofar as I can tell, or from either Carfax report. I bought the restored (XLS) Explorer from the original owner, who did not report any trans service.
I had hoped to pull the donor trans and hang onto it to replace the XLS trans if it goes bad, but have since learned that this won't work without a complete transmission disassembly (beyond my comfort zone).
Questions: (i) I understand that torque converters do fail on the 5R55S. I can easily pull the torque converter from the bell housings with the engines out without removing either trans. Should I swap the 177k miles XLS tc with the 116k miles one to have the lower-miles unit in the restored truck?
(ii) I can also access the pump from the engine compartment side of the bell housing without dropping the transmissions. Is it worth swapping pumps? I understand that there is an upgraded flow control valve (Transgo?) and have watched a couple of videos on installing it. I could probably handle that upgrade with the pump out of the vehicle, on a bench.
Thoughts? TIA, Drew.
I drove the XLS about 60 total miles on a prior (unsuccessful) engine rebuild, and the transmission seemed fine. I drove the donner (XLT) a total of a few hundred feet (to reposition for engine pull on my yard; no brakes!), and the trans seemed fine, but I don't believe I ever got out of first gear. I hooked a decent OBDII tool (Bosch 1350) to the donor car and there were no engine or tranny codes.
Neither transmission has been worked on insofar as I can tell, or from either Carfax report. I bought the restored (XLS) Explorer from the original owner, who did not report any trans service.
I had hoped to pull the donor trans and hang onto it to replace the XLS trans if it goes bad, but have since learned that this won't work without a complete transmission disassembly (beyond my comfort zone).
Questions: (i) I understand that torque converters do fail on the 5R55S. I can easily pull the torque converter from the bell housings with the engines out without removing either trans. Should I swap the 177k miles XLS tc with the 116k miles one to have the lower-miles unit in the restored truck?
(ii) I can also access the pump from the engine compartment side of the bell housing without dropping the transmissions. Is it worth swapping pumps? I understand that there is an upgraded flow control valve (Transgo?) and have watched a couple of videos on installing it. I could probably handle that upgrade with the pump out of the vehicle, on a bench.
Thoughts? TIA, Drew.