Manual Tranny replacement Questions

[c7j6y1]

my new to me explorer sport had transmission problems.

its been stuck in 3rd fro about a month now, havent been driving it just been sitting ... thank goodness for public transit lol

well i decide that i was gonna fix it this weekend so i went to the local salvage yard after they told me they had a transmission from a 97 ranger with the 4.0 so it sould bolt right up right?

well they couldnt find it but they had a 98 M5OD and they assured me that it would fit. so a few hundred $$ later im on my way home with the transmission...

well as i was pulling the original trans out, i started noticing things... the 2 major things: the 98 M50D dosent have the speedo gear, and the starter is on the passenger side. my original trans has the speedo gear and the starter is on the driver's side....

so my option was either swap out the guts or just take it back to the yard and see if they have a trans that would actually fit...

I have the Trans almost all the way out but its getting hung up on the exhaust crossover pipe and the body seam.

are there any tips or tricks to getting this damn thing out? without removing the exhaust... I dont have access to air tools...


what do ya'll think?

and is there a transmission compatability chart somewhere? or like a year-by-year differences in the M5OD?

thanks

 

[92exp4x4]

I think that the 2.3 liter manual transmissions had the starter on the opposite side from the V6 engines. You probably got one of those. You must get a trans from a 4.0. The bolt patterns differ from the 2.3 3.0 and 4.0, and are pretty much not compatible Some 2.9 ranger/bronco 2 transmissions will work with the 4.0 but its better to get the right part. There are also some reverse light switch location differences on M5OD trannys 95 or so (not exactly sure on years) and up.

Its a b***h to remove the tranny with the exhaust installed. If you can disconnect it from the manifolds then it might be easier, but you still may not be able to get it out. I learned it the hard way then removed the exhaust.

Take the yard tranny back, and before taking yours out completly, pull back the carpet and remove the access cover in the floor. You can then take the top cover off the trans and inspect the shift rails. This may be where the jambing problem is and a much cheaper fix than the whole trans.

Keep us posted.

 

[c7j6y1]

Well here's where I stand so far... the trans is screwed.. there's internal damage, and the bearings and and synchos ar shot anyway... so it needed to come out anyway. I managed to get my hands on a air gun and I've gotten 1 of the manifold to y pipe out... gonna have to soak it with pb to get the rest I think.... I also kinda sorta stripped the top bolt on the y pipe to cat connector.. ($hit). So hopefully I can get the rest of the bolts after the pb has had time to work.

What's funny is that every single ford I've owned has had transmission issues.... a 92 ranger, a 01 vic, a 02 ttaurus and now this 93 explorer...

 

[hoss_hanna]

wow u are bad luck on ford trannys! plz stay away from mine!! lol

 

[92exp4x4]

I'm a Ford man through and through, but I won't lie, chebbies have great transmissions.

It really depends on driving style and service habits. I have a Lincoln that has 173,000 on the original AOD it runs great. I had a Bronco that had 165,000 painful miles on a C6, it was a county service vehicle for almost its whole life. It shifted great when I stripped the truck. My dad's Aerostar; bought new and meticulously maintained, trans fell out at 80,000

Kinda the luck of the draw when it comes to used vehicles. Check your local craigs list. You may find a trans or even a whole parts vehicle for the cost of a new trans. Have you priced just having yours rebuilt?


Good luck, I did lots of drilling to remove 3 broken exhaust flange bolts on my 4 door eddie. The first was simplest and a horrible tease

 

[c7j6y1]

Well here's my plan... I'm gonna put this salvage trans in while I get my original trans rebuilt. How ever long that may take. Then do another swap... (but next time have somebody else do the swap probably lol)

Imm gonna go back to the salvage yard and get the right trans tomorrow.

 

[c7j6y1]

Still no transmission... gonna be monday