• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

Explorer / mountaineer AWD transfer case?


PetroleumJunkie412

Official TRS EV Taunter
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
7,826
Reaction score
6,565
Points
113
Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
Talked to @lil_Blue_Ford last night about a transfer case available on the 5.0 mountaineers/explorers. Did some reading, and now I'm just confused.

Apparently there were two different awd transfer cases available in Explorer in the 90s and early 2000s. One is full time, and the other is apparently part time. Idk.

Interested in them for the 2011, and if they will bolt to the M5OD (whatever revision is in the 2011 4.0 trucks) without machine or fab work.

I've read that the BW 4404(?) was one available, and there seems to be a second one that I cannot find the model number for.

Anyone know anything about them? Reliability? Drivability?

Keeping in mind that my 2011 is not being built as a off road truck, just a commuter and runner. I'm interested in it because it supposedly splits power 35/65 at all times. To me, seems worth doing to a truck that's going to continue to live its life on mostly wet pavement.
 


scotts90ranger

Well-Known Member
RBV's on Boost
Joined
Feb 28, 2001
Messages
7,929
Reaction score
4,227
Points
113
Location
Dayton Oregon
Vehicle Year
1990, 1997
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Engine Size
2.3 Turbo
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6
Tire Size
35"
The one on the V8 Explorers isn't a candidate unless you are running a 4R70W transmission in something as they are set up for a full size transmission with the standard 6 bolt mounting and I think 31 spline input. It's a cute little guy and weighs like 25lbs, viscous coupling front output and full time rear drive, I have 3 of them on my property, don't remember what model they are...

You want whatever they put in the V6 models, but I don't know what that is :)
 

PetroleumJunkie412

Official TRS EV Taunter
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
7,826
Reaction score
6,565
Points
113
Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
Solid tip! And thank you!
 

PetroleumJunkie412

Official TRS EV Taunter
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
7,826
Reaction score
6,565
Points
113
Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.

Found this with some familiar faces
 

Ranger850

Doesn't get Sarcasm . . .
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Jan 24, 2018
Messages
8,426
Reaction score
4,664
Points
113
Location
Tallahassee Florida
Vehicle Year
2001
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
Born with a 3.0, looking for a donor V8
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
Stock 2"
Tire Size
Stock
My credo
Doing things wrong, until I get it right.
:popcorn:
Been doing some research in these things myself. I have a v8 version but havent figured out which one yet.
 

kunar

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Jun 10, 2003
Messages
4,158
Reaction score
131
Points
63
Age
36
Location
Toledo, Ohio
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.8l
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
The 4404 is the full time viscous unit that was used behind the 5.0's. They're the full size bolt pattern like scott said above. The 4405 is the part time unit that was used behind 4.0's, theyre the one that stand a chance of bolting up to your trans. Not sure how they are controlled though, i believe its some sort of an electric clutch. Probably not out of the question, but would be more work for sure. As far as i know, when the 4405 is locked, it's 50/50 split. Ford has a habit of labeling automatic 4wd systems as awd
 

snoranger

Professional money waster
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
RBV's on Boost
ASE Certified Tech
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Nov 25, 2007
Messages
13,055
Reaction score
13,527
Points
113
Location
Jackson, NJ
Vehicle Year
'79,'94,'02,'23
Make / Model
All Fords
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
I didn't ask for your life story, just answer the question!
The 44-05 is very similar to the 13-50/13-54. Some of the internal are even interchangeable. The automatic 4wd is controlled by an electromagnet when power is sent to the brown wire.
 

Blmpkn

Toilet enthusiast
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2020
Messages
5,497
Reaction score
6,350
Points
113
Location
Southern maine
Vehicle Year
2023
Make / Model
Ford Bronco
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
Engine Size
2.3
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2.5"
Tire Size
285/75/18
My credo
Its probably better to be self deprecating than self defecating.
Personally, I wouldn't bother with a full time awd setup unless it was some sort of wheeling/racing rig.

Having driven Subaru's for years the downsides of full time awd are a real bummer. Decreased economy, increased tire wear, and the inability to replace just two tires sucks.

The donuts you can do in the winter are good though, damn good.
 

alwaysFlOoReD

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Apr 13, 2009
Messages
13,870
Reaction score
5,031
Points
113
Location
Calgary, Canada
Vehicle Year
'91, '80, '06
Make / Model
Ford, GMC,Dodge
Engine Size
4.0,4.0,5.7
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
I think I have a 4405 in my parts pile. Haven't done any research yet, it was bought on a whim for $50 for my race truck. Was thinking pwm for control via raspi using steering angle as input.
 

adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
Ford Technician
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Sep 20, 2009
Messages
34,623
Reaction score
3,613
Points
113
Location
Dillsburg PA
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31X10.50X15
I wouldn't bother with it.

Like @Blmpkn said, it's a pain. The tires have to match to within a few 32nds of an inch in total diameter. The viscous couplers are wear items that will make the vehicle undriveable when they fail, and cost nearly $1000.
 

turbo91xlt

Active Member
RBV's on Boost
Joined
Dec 14, 2014
Messages
534
Reaction score
63
Points
28
Location
Goshen, NY
Vehicle Year
1991

1992
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
Easiest awd t-case swap will be a Dana 28 awd unit from a '90s Aerostar van. You will need a custom front & rear driveshaft due to they use slip yokes, not fixed yokes.
 

Gdbeast

New Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2021
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
Florida
Vehicle Year
2002
Make / Model
Ranger edge
Transmission
Manual
Hi I'm new to the forum and stumbled across this thread. I have an additional question to add. If I have a 4404 tcase, would it be possible to mount it to the M5OD-R2 transmission from an f150? TIA!!
 

scotts90ranger

Well-Known Member
RBV's on Boost
Joined
Feb 28, 2001
Messages
7,929
Reaction score
4,227
Points
113
Location
Dayton Oregon
Vehicle Year
1990, 1997
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Engine Size
2.3 Turbo
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6
Tire Size
35"
Likely but you would have to do some playing with the drivelines. My '00 V8 explorer I put a 44-06 out of a '97-03 F150 with two expedition drivelines (front from a 4.6L, rear from a 5.4L if memory serves) and I had to get a conversion joint for the front diff end of the front driveshaft. The stock Explorer front output uses a CV joint for the slip and the rear uses a flange where the 44-06 uses a slip spline...
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top