91-94 Manual Tranny

[xtopher]

I recently got my hands on a 92 sport and fell in love with the truck. Loads of fun to drive around, and LOTS more room than my old Honda.

Now she sits on the side of the road because my tranny has started going out. 4th gear is completely gone. Ive spent some time looking for a good priced rebuilt and while doing so i found a lot of sites about how Fords transmissions arnt any good. Is this true? If so where can i get a good after market tranny? Any other Ford myths i should ignore?

Im new to all things Ford so bare with me. Im doing all the research i can as fast as i can.

 

[unclemeat]

The manual tranny is ok. The sycronisers will wear out, but they do that on any gear box.

 

[Glen4X4]

Yeah, I was going to say manual tranny's are alot better than the automatics but my 94 the synchronizers started going out in 2nd gear around 126k miles. I think the manual's are fairly strong but to an extent of course. So yeah ignore that myth for the manual tranny anyway

 

[CodePoet]

While the stock auto and the manual are alittle weak for the explorer, you can swap in a c4 or c6 using mostly stock peices (from other trucks). A 700r4 from a chevy blazer (advanced adapter$$$), and 4xfab has an adapter to put a full sized truck tranny in our explorers (quite abit less than aa i beleive). Do some searching, you'll figure it out

 

[xtopher]

No way id go with an auto trans. I cant even remember how to drive one lol. Thanks much for the leads on what to look for. Having actual things to search for is making this much easier.

 

[xtopher]

Im looking into 4xfab's adapters. 475 is much easier on the pocket. The guy i got the truck from said he had replaced the engine with a new version. Over the 4.0L area im assuming. At work right now so i cant check. Shouldnt a stock manual trans be able to handle the extra power?

 

[Glen4X4]

New version? you mean out of a 95-01? As far as i know the only thing diff bout the motors out of them is all of them had a 160 horse motor in both manual and auto explorers as to 91-94 explorers with a manual tranny had i think 130 horse motor, guys correct me if im wrong and 92-94 autos had the 160 horse motor. I believe a stock tranny should be fine with a 160 horse motor if thats what you mean. But if your motor is out of a 2nd generation explorer I'm not sure if the gear ratios might be a little higher with having a more powerful motor.

 

[xtopher]

Im assuming it would be out of a 95-01 then. But like i said im at work and dont have any exact details right now. Ill take a look tonight to see what i really have. Either way, thanks for the info.

 

[Glen4X4]

No problem we all try to help each other around here. I guess your new to the forum sorry I didn't greet ya didn't notice, WELCOME TO THE FORUM.

 

[costman13]

YES WELCOME! im pretty new here as well, my brother has been around awhile so i get most of my info through him. but any who, i have a 92 sport as well, same M50D (manual tranny) as you. i bought it with about 79,000 original miles, but it had already had a blown tranny. turned out the rubber plugs on the rear of the trans, (where the shift rails are) shrank anr leaked. i picked up a used but rebuilt tranny from a local guy in sacramento for $350 AND NOW MY T CASE IS MESSED UP!!! but what can you do. i have been told by numerouse shops that these transmissions are solid if you keep fluid in them. they have been known to be a little louder, but i guess thats normal?? you may here to put a regular gear oil (75-90) instead of running ATF like ford recomends, i did this, didn't bennifit me at all so i went to a synthedic ATF, this was much better. dont be too quick to give up on these tranny's just gotta be careful with um good luck!

 

[Glen4X4]

Since you brough up gear oil, do you know how often that should be checked?

 

[costman13]

im not too sure how often, i check mine all the time, im still a bit skeptikal of the rebuilt trans, so i make sure about every month all is okay. i have a buddy at jiffy lube who hooks us up with fluid. just keep a good eye on it

 

[unclemeat]

If you are having transmission issues, the first thin you should do is to change the the fluid. Save it and check it for metal shavings, water contaminatin ect. The refil with ATF. You should check the gear box fluid if you see signs of leakage, drive through deep water or have been about 25,000 mile since you last checked it. Also, when you check the gear box you should also check the transfer case and differentials.

 

[Glen4X4]

Ok, I know there is a plug on the side of the tranny to check it I've just never done it, the tranny seems fine but I rathere be safe then sorry I dont know bout checkin the transfer case right now im going to have to check in my manual an see. And I'd say if you got a rebuilt tranny from a professional tranmission specialist like AAMCO like if you had them rebuild one I'm sure it'd work good because thats all they specialize in is transmissions and they more than likely will come with a warranty some of the transmissions they rebuild are built better than factory, Like say for the auto A4LD tranmission if you would take one of them to AAMCO they rebuild it better than what factory had built it. I wouldn't worry to much on getting a rebuilt transmission because when they have it torn down they would tell you if there is anymore worn parts or gears that you didn't know about. If you were to get a used one from a yard you never know what you could be getting yourself into you could take it home put it in and it turn out junk then you've done all that work for nothing, And I know a brand new one aint no cheap product either lol. Well Good luck with it