1986 Aerostar with 78K miles. I have a manual transmission issue.

[Slipslop44]

Hey y'all, new member here,

I just got this one-of-a-kind 1986 Aerostar 5spd with the little 2.3L engine. Its a gem of a car, but while trying to drive it back from Georgia to NY the transmission went out. I'm not the most mechanically inclined but have been obsessed with Aerostars since I was a kid and decided I couldn't pass this one up. Its totally clean inside and only 78K miles. Plus the 5spd trans of course.

My buddy who races in the chump car series is taking a look at it soon and he is optimistic that it could only be the clutch. But aside from that my big question is whether different transmissions from rangers, etc, would fit. I guess it depends on whether the bellhousing fits, but if anyone knows anything about this I'd be very appreciative to get your insight.

Great to see other folks out there who appreciate the unique spaceship that is the Aerostar.

Thanks!


I think those may not be working, try this link:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/k2pyl5xqykaksj9/LKmZWPuDfd

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! How did you find such as old Aerostar with 78K miles? Did you consider rebuilding the transmission yourself? Did the person that sold it to you tell you that it had a transmission problem?

 

[colintrax]

Look on the ranger station for a little more info on stick shifts. I'm guessing it's either the mazda M5ODR1 or the Mitsubishi trans. FR-41 or something like that.

What do you mean by it went out? Kinda hard to just completely kill a manual.

 

[rv4fun]

Those are VERY NICE looking Aerostar pictures? It's sure had some good care. Well worth saving!

 

[Slipslop44]

hey thanks for the welcome and responding.

Well it just started whining in 5th, then slipped out of gear, i brought it to a stop and tried to get it going again, made it as far as second and then couldn't get into third and then tried to limp off the highway, and it was just grinding. We're gonna take a look at it tomorrow to try and figure out exactly what the issue is I was just see in if anybody knew any models off-hand that had a similar tranny, so sorry if i jumped the gun on that.

The previous owner didn't tell me anything but he was an older gentleman who didn't drive the car too much, and probably not on long stretches of highway across state lines. We test drove it before we got 'er and drove her back from alabama to savannah with no problem, 6 hours. After that we got fresh gear oil in it and it was driving just fine before i left to head north.

I think it indeed might be that Mazda transmission. Is there some database where I can cross reference that and see vehicles made with the same transmission?

Its such a beautiful van, he even had cardboard on all the carpets, kept it in immaculate shape, thats why i had to get it and why i don't think he was trying to just pawn if off, he seemed to really care for it. I'm pretty committed to doing whatever it takes to get her up and running, I'll keep y'all updated and take some more pictures.

thanks again for all your comments.

 

[BrooklynBay]

According to this link, they had two different options for a manual transmission: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Aerostar The bottom of the article says that it's a Mazda TK5. The later models had the M5OD.

 

[Slipslop44]

Good News, looks like a relatively cheap transmission rebuild could be in the works, even found a japanese/mazda specialist in savannah who might be able to do it. Thanks again for all the help I'll upload some more pics once she's nursed back to health.

 

[BrooklynBay]

I was looking forward to a manual transmission rebuild thread. Do you want to try it?

 

[don-ohio]

That does sound like you lost a bearing inside the trans. Hope there's not too much damage,but you can probably find a used one somewhere.BEAUTIFUL van,though. don-ohio

 

[Slipslop44]

Hey all,

just an update, looks like we're going with the entire transmission. Like I said I'm a novice in this department but my buddy, who initially thought it was just a clutch or perhaps a bearing, and was hoping so himself for his sake, is telling me there's not much to salvage. Thanks for all the replies. Can't wait to post more pics of this one-of-a-kind 'Star when she's back in business!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Post pictures of the repairs. I'm sure that it would make a nice how to thread. We don't have anything on the manual transmission yet.