96 4.0 OHC converted from Automatic to 5-sp Manual, but starter grinds on flywheel

[Steve Thompson]

I converted my 96 XL 4.0L OHC Explorer from automatic to 5-speed manual. I used an aftermarket flywheel that was supposed to fit, but my starter does not engage the flywheel correctly. I tried switching starters to one for manual transmissions, but that did not help. Does anyone know the trick to completing this swap?

 

[410Fortune]

Wild! Flywheel should be for a 96 5 speed and the manual starter should bolt in and work.

What flywheel did you use? Was it installed properly? I have to ask

 

[97Sandbox]

I converted my 96 XL 4.0L OHC Explorer from automatic to 5-speed manual.

Did you mean OHV? The 4.0 SOHC didn't come out until '97.

The M5R1 trans for the OHV and M5R1-HD trans for the SOHC both bolt in the same, but use different flywheels -- are you sure which transmission you have?