M5OD-R2 302 Questions

[dasfinc]

Anyone running this transmission behind their 5.0's? Any issues/problems/tricks to it?

From my reading it looks like a 96-98 M5OD-R2 would be PERFECT behind my 5.0 swap that's being moved into my explorer sport (the 4.2 V-6 ones share bellhousings to my 5.0, and are the same transmissions that are behind the 4.6 V-8 ones it looks like......). Any reason why it wouldn't be? Uses the same throw-out assembly as my explorer's 5 speed (M5OD-R1), sounds like its more built to handle the torque/weight of a truck... Better gearing for my SuperCharger (same trans used behind Super Coupes)...

Any reason why I can't find anyone using this trans in a street application???

 

[adsm08]

Repeated shift fork failures.

 

[CHKNFKR]

Repeated shift fork failures.

I've bent them, broken them, slid them, always kept a spare assembly handy, even thought about cutting a section out of the tunnel so i could change them in the truck.

Most of the time a shift fork failure is the side effect of not knowing how to drive a stick ( i learned on this tranny behind a 300) or more serious problems un attended to, like synchros.

If you're one of those "i only use the clutch to get going" kind of people, you will bend, break, or slide a fork.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have been looking into one to add OD to my truck. The 97-03/04 heritage (and possibly up to 08) 4.2L trucks had the shifter in a better location than the the 87-95 5.0 trucks... but from what I have dug up the top covers are interchangable too.

I have no drag racing or high performance aspirations though.

 

[dasfinc]

Repeated shift fork failures.

I know it's common in an M5OD-R1 (Had it happen TO my donor explorer), but it doesn't seem to be as common in the -R2

I've bent them, broken them, slid them, always kept a spare assembly handy, even thought about cutting a section out of the tunnel so i could change them in the truck.

Most of the time a shift fork failure is the side effect of not knowing how to drive a stick ( i learned on this tranny behind a 300) or more serious problems un attended to, like synchros.

If you're one of those "i only use the clutch to get going" kind of people, you will bend, break, or slide a fork.

So it sounds like if I shift sloppy and forcefully I will wreck forks, but if I punt the shit out of my clutch under WOT shifts and not horribly bang gears all the time it shouldn't suffer that much?

Do you think its any more or less fragile than the T5? (seen a members truck destroy 2 of them already...)

I have been looking into one to add OD to my truck. The 97-03/04 heritage (and possibly up to 08) 4.2L trucks had the shifter in a better location than the the 87-95 5.0 trucks... but from what I have dug up the top covers are interchangable too.

I have no drag racing or high performance aspirations though.

I plan on buying a 97+ 4.2 Model in hopes its design has been even more refined, and in favor of the shifter position. (And cheaply/locally available)

Any other input guys? MUCH appreciated already!

 

[adsm08]

I know it's common in an M5OD-R1 (Had it happen TO my donor explorer), but it doesn't seem to be as common in the -R2

Guess it depends on where you are.

I've seen more fork problems with the R2.

 

[dasfinc]

Curious about what Clutch/Flywheel to use in this application as well...

See a variety of sized flywheels, numbers of teeth, clutch disk size, etc, etc....
Dunno how the Hydro throwout bearing works on these things etc.

 

[adsm08]

I would try to choose clutch components to match the year of your donor.

 

[dasfinc]

Found the answers on the ExplorerForum:

1996 5.0 F-150 Clutch/Flywheel/Starter, Slave Cyl off my M5OD-R1, Engine plate needs to be trimed or replaced with one off an old BOSS mustang, (164 tooth flywheel).

 

[dasfinc]

Any other reasons to not go full speed ahead with this guy?

I am cool with it not being a hard-core performance transmission, and am aware of the shift-forks not being super strong. OTHER than those 2 things, any huge reason to avoid it??? Anyone know if this thing has a VSS or area for one built into it?

Suggestions for getting my Speedo to work once I do this swap? Doesn't look like it has a VSS built into it, and my trucks a 1997, so it doesn't get its speed from the rear axle.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I think up to '98 F-150's still had a senser in the trans.

My brother's '97 has one in the t-case anyway, my '02 is all ran by the rear diff.

 

[dasfinc]

I think up to '98 F-150's still had a senser in the trans.

My brother's '97 has one in the t-case anyway, my '02 is all ran by the rear diff.

Can anyone confirm this?

 

[adsm08]

Well one of the links for the VSS removal instructions leads back to the manual trans section for 98 and 99, so I would assume that up to 99 is was trans/t-case mounted.

Starting in 2000 the VSS disappears from the shop manual's alphabetical index and when you search "speed sensor" it starts bringing up stuff about about the rear axle, so I would guess that 2000 is when it switched to the rear axle.