m50d!

[bigpotato555]

I have swap my fm146 for and m50d from a 4.0l...when i did it i check for the gear ratio and there where the same....now i found out that i went from 3.76 gear to 3.4...WTF!?!?! just wondering what i should do? i was thinking about a m50d from a 4cyl...but it wont fit....ring and pinion is too expensive and shorten driveshaft for a toyo also
help!!!

 

[Ranger44]

I'd say live with the higher first gear.

An option is taking the lower first gear from a 3.0 or 2.3 M5od and swapping it into the 4.0 tranny.

I wouldn't use the FM, it'll die behind a 4.0.

 

[bigpotato555]

SORRY WRONG SECTION SOMEONE MOVE THIS TO TRANSMISION SECTION THX....
yeah...i blow 2 fm146 behind a 2.9l... so that why i went for a m50d...swaping the first gear in the tranny sound more expensive then gear.

 

[kunar]

so youre using an m50d from a 4.0, and putting it in a 2.9 truck? just do it, no issues at all. thats the exact same setup i'm using. you wont even notice.

 

[Hahnsb2]

Find a 2.9 M5OD, it has the same 1st gears as the mitsus.

 

[bigpotato555]

so youre using an m50d from a 4.0, and putting it in a 2.9 truck? just do it, no issues at all. thats the exact same setup i'm using. you wont even notice.

I have not issue with it...i even swap a 4.0l clutch everything went good. the only thing...i notice the start up were hard (less power). I though it was the 4.0l clutch that stick more...but in the tech library said the 1 first gear is 3.4 instead of 3.76 what i had before.

And Hahnsb2 a the only m50d for 2.9l where 2wd......I guess i am pretty much ****!!!!!!

 

[86ford]

just do what i did, and keep your eyes out for axles with better gearing and buy them whole. i got mine for 200 bucks with 456s. d35 and 31 spline 8.8

86

 

[AllanD]

You lose just a little bit on startoff due to the 3.40 gear Vs the
3.90 something of the Mitsu.

But you basically get it back with the tighter jump between 3rd and 4th gear.

The "wide" ratio Mazda has a 3.72 1st gear a 2.20 2nd and a 1.50 3rd
The 4.0 "close ratio" trans has a 3.40 1st, a 2.05 2nd and a 1.31 3rd.

Offroad? that's what low range is for.

AD

 

[bigpotato555]

just do what i did, and keep your eyes out for axles with better gearing and buy them whole. i got mine for 200 bucks with 456s. d35 and 31 spline 8.8

86

**** man you where lucky like hell!!!

And AllanD everything is fine in low range...but I can't always drive it in low range...and the startoff are really painful...I have 4.1 gear and with gear change in the trany it like having 3.70 gear and with 33" and a 4.0l centerforce 2....it sure suck ass!!!

Guess I'll have to wait that money come my wait and go for 5.13...maybe in 10 years!..lol

 

[AllanD]

Actually there is a better way... replace your 2.9 with a 4.0.

then you'll actually have more torque at the wheels than the 2.9
can generate.

As I like pointing out the 4.0 makes more torque by 1300-1400rpm than
the 2.9 CAN make.

4.10's 33's and a 4.0 sounds like a happy combination.

I currently have a 4.0 4.10's and 235/75's and I feel that 4.10's are "too much"
and I don't want to get bigger tires.

so someday soon, VERY SOON I'll be replacing my gears

Basically as soon as I finish scraping the corrosion off the aluminum
housing of my 3.73 D35 pig and a get a coat of paint on it

I currently have a wide ratio trans in my truck behind my 4.0 and I'll probably swap it out for a close ratio trans for that tighter 3-4 jump I keep talking about.


AD

 

[bigpotato555]

(...)and I feel that 4.10's are "too much"(...)
AD

you can never have too much gear!!!...lol...it sure depend on the application.... and 170 against 220 ft-lbs of torque must do a difference....plus my intake, ignition and header are not pretty good for low end torque.....

4.0l sound like an idear...but can't afford that either...what will help my 2.9l for low end torque?

 

[Hahnsb2]

Offroad? that's what low range is for.

AD

It's still not low enough in many cases, the only think I'm not looking forward to with my 4.0 and M5OD swap is the taller 1st gear.

 

[AllanD]

you can never have too much gear!!!...lol...it sure depend on the application.... and 170 against 220 ft-lbs of torque must do a difference....plus my intake, ignition and header are not pretty good for low end torque.....

4.0l sound like an idear...but can't afford that either...what will help my 2.9l for low end torque?

It isn't only the torque of the 4.0 but how low an rpm you start getting it.

the 2.9 is damn near worthless before 2000rpm
the 4.0 is making 170ft/lb by the time you hit 1250rpm

200ft/lb by 1400-ish and it continues making 200ftlb to over 4000rpm

At no point above 1250rpm does it make less than 170ft/lb
(what a 2.9 can do peak) until it hits the rev limiter.

It's still not low enough in many cases, the only think I'm not looking forward to with my 4.0 and M5OD swap is the taller 1st gear.

the 4.0 makes enough torque down low that if you are switching
to one from a 2.9 you'll never miss the difference in transmission
gearing.

In my specific case I'm running what many would consider
"small" tires, if you are running bigger tires

you can run the wide ratio gears if you REALLY want to.

I just don't like the on-highway performance when towing
or heavily loaded.
That wider 3-4 jump when climbing a steep hill is a really pain.

AD

 

[Hahnsb2]

the 4.0 makes enough torque down low that if you are switching
to one from a 2.9 you'll never miss the difference in transmission
gearing.

AD

I could care less about on road, I'm concerned with off-road, there are many times where you really need all the gearing you can get to navigate an obstacle smoothly.

 

[rickcdewitt]

..and the startoff are really painful...I have 4.1 gear and with gear change in the trany it like having 3.70 gear and with 33" and a 4.0l centerforce 2....it sure suck ass!!!

after selling all your 2.9l turd polishing bolt ons it would probably cost you 500$ or less to do the 4.0l swap.i had a similar spec sheet on my 2.9l and sold it all for the 4.0l swap.
i have the same gearing and tire size as you and i know quite well what it feels like with that combo and a 2.9.take off feels like you have a 4 popper under the hood-does anyone else smell clutch?
a 4.0l would be PERFECT for your needs,a stock 4.0l is the ass dyno feeling you've been looking for when you wasted all that money on the 2.9l speed parts.just imagine the 4.0l with 2000$ in speed parts

Actually there is a better way... replace your 2.9 with a 4.0.

then you'll actually have more torque at the wheels than the 2.9
can generate.

As I like pointing out the 4.0 makes more torque by 1300-1400rpm than
the 2.9 CAN make.

4.10's 33's and a 4.0 sounds like a happy combination.



AD

coulden't agree more allen

I could care less about on road, I'm concerned with off-road, there are many times where you really need all the gearing you can get to navigate an obstacle smoothly.

true but you need to drive your truck with the 4.0l to know what its like.i can idle down slower with the taller first and a 4.0l in the rough stuff than the factory combo because it takes a lot more to stall the motor.no more wheeling at 1500rpms or higher in the rough stuff just to keep the motor from dying.you can lug it to 500rpms and gun it and spin them all right up to redline.its a fawking awesome wheeling motor

there are also times when you need wheel speed to get up and out,gearing doesn't help at all then just torque