SOHC Manual Stick Transmission???

[BonesDT]

I have a '99 SOHC which I'm in the process of swapping in the M5OD manual tranny.

Does anyone know for sure about SOHC's with a manual. I've seen some sources hint it and others not. I've seen talk about a M5OD-R1HD for the SOHC and M5OD-R1 for the OHV. I went to one Ford dealership and the guy really didnt know, everything just says 4.0L.

I'm pretty confident that the actual transmission will be bolt on, since the OHV and SOHC use the same automatic tranny (according to Haynes), but the real problem is my computer.

the dealership said that they only had listings for a computer for the OHV with a manual not the SOHC.

does anybody know anything about a SOHC with a manual or know anything about how the computer works with the auto. maybe i can make a circuit to fool the computer that the auto is there and working fine.

I'm still in doubt if the SOHC was ever produced with the M5OD.

 

[John_Rock]

BonesDT, Sport Tracs and I believe 4.0L Rangers can come with a 5-speed manual tranny.
Don't ask me the model #, cuz I have an auto.
But start looking for info on the Sport Trac or 4.0L Rangers.
Try the www.mysporttrac.com website.

 

[John_Rock]

Ok, I found it in a Sport Trac Technical Specifications PDF file that I have:

MANUAL TRANSMISSION SPECIFICATIONS (1)
Make/Type Mazda R1HD (5-Speed with O/D)
Ratios (to 1):
1st 3.40
2nd 2.05
3rd 1.31
4th 1.00
5th (OD) 0.79
Reverse 3.40
Lubricant Capacity (Pt.) 5.6
Synchronizers — Gears 1,2,3,4,5
Gears: Material Carburized steel
Type — Helical 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th & reverse

 

[John_Rock]

CLUTCH SPECIFICATIONS
4x2/4x4
Engine 4.0L (245) SOHC SEFI V-6
Clutch Diameter (approx. in.): 10 (Hydraulic Actuation)
Disc Type Segmented W/spring vibration damper/w/pre-damper
Lining Material Woven Non-Asbestos
Outside Diameter (approx. in.) 10.00
Inside Diameter (in.) 6.75
Facing Area (sq. in.) 45.0
Facing Thickness (in.) usable 138
Pressure Plate make Luk
Pilot Bearing Needle Bearing
Release Bearing Lubed-For-Life, Self-Centering, Full Angular Contact

 

[Robert]

Also do some searching hear. Somone here has already swapped their automatic equipped SOHC for a manual transmission. They went through some problems, but last I remember seeing everything is working correctly now. Also, the manual has been available on the SOHC Explorers since '01.

 

[BonesDT]

wow. i have done a lot of searching, but i couldnt seem to find anything on the swap with a SOHC, just the OHVs. i will keep trying to find the guy who did it, but if you have the link or the guys name, it would help. thanks.

 

[TarHeel085]

sweet! a 3.40 first gear!! im really interested in this swap.

 

[BonesDT]

yes, i think that is the only difference between the R1 and the newer R1HD, is the first gear ratio.

until robert said that some guy experienced problems, i was only expecting 2 problems. the actual swap should be cake, since everything looks bolt-on.

the first problem was getting my hands on a M5OD-R1 or even better and rarer, a R1HD. according to 2 dealerships already, i can't even buy them new, they only sell them in pieces. pep boys claim they can order them for about $1500, but i hesitate to believe them. but im going door to door to every junk yard i can find, since they will be the most likely to have one and for only $50-100!!! im also making phone calls about some websites claiming to have them too.

the second problem is the computer. a dealership already told me i cant buy a computer for the SOHC and a manual. but now i have actual proof that a SOHC and manual actually exist at least with the '01-up. im also very hesitant about just getting a new computer, i dont want anything else changed! im going to tap into all the auto trans wires, and hook up some LED's to them and try to decifer the inputs and outputs. i guess my goal would be to design a circuit that tells the computer that the auto is there and is in park or neutral, that way i dont get any throttle changes.

 

[BonesDT]

and i still cant find this guy who has done the swap already to his SOHC.

 

[Robert]

OK, I just tried searching every combination I could come up with and still couldn't find the person I was thinking about. For now, probably the best person to talk to about this would be JoshC since he converted his OHV to a manual transmission. I think you've already been talking to him though. If I run across the person, I'll let you know. The tread that I am thinking of was a pretty long thread that he wrote throughout his swap. It was someone that has been around for quite a while. I think he even has something like "manual transmission conversion" in his signature. It is possible that Josh was the one I was thinking about, but I am pretty certain it was someone with a SOHC since it sparked my interest in how the SOHC would perform with a manual transmission.

 

[lonestar]

Can that M5OD-R1HD be used to replace a M5OD-R1 in a 91 OHV 4.0? Are Bellhousings and OAL the same?

If so, where can I find one? (reasonably priced) LOL

 

[Majisto]

Would the SOHC truck be faster because of the manual swap? The 5R sucks up a lot of horsepower, and i'm sure the Mazda 5-speed could give it that horespower back. It would also be a lot more fun to rev that engine up and shift it

 

[slow-demon]

ohv and ohc difference. I know of one difference. The top right bellhousing bolt on the SOHC motor is slightly lower then a where the OHV one is. I know of this since I have removed many tranny's from the SOHC engines. The automatic bellhousing has one bolt lower on the top right location. The bellhousing actually has the normal hole for the bolt but you cannot use it. You could bolt on a manual trans onto the SOHC engine, it's just that you won't be able to put a bolt into the top right location. Sounds confusing. Also make sure that a flywheel will bolt onto the crankshaft. I think, but not sure that the sohc has more bolts or some different bolt pattern than a OHV's crank. Also I saw some rebuilt M5OD's on ebay.
Sounds like a very challenging swap!!

 

[BonesDT]

hmmm....well according to the 91-00 explorer haynes manual, "1997 and later V6 models .... 5R55E", which tells me that both the OHV and SOHC uses the 5R55E which should mean the bolt patterns are the same. but, then again, true experience never lies.

im very determined at this point, especially since i just blew out first gear in my auto. but i do lack in tools and experience, so i hope these dont get in the way.

but research can get me so far now. as soon as it gets a little warmer in the next week, i just need to get under there and remove my auto, and start making measurements and check out that flywheel. hopefully if the flywheel is a different bolt pattern, i can just buy a 2001-up SOHC flywheel used for the R1HD.

as of now, it looks as if im going to try to use the older R1. just because its hard enough to find a R1 and its so cheap anyway i dont mind if the SOHC tears it up while i get money and locate a good R1HD. all the money seems to be in all the other parts and buying them new.

lonestar, if you can find a reasonably cheap R1HD, you are the man! let me know, cuz besides the computer, this is my biggest problem, finding the tranny.