M5OD-R1 Bell Housing inspection window cover/plug

[pjwhitney84]

Hey Everyone,

I'm looking for the rubber plug for the bell housing inspection window.

I'm a recent ranger owner (just bought a used 94 3.0 2wd 5speed for short change) and I've been looking it over closely.

the engine is in good shape, but the tranny needed some love.. it had a bad bad whine and sounded empty.

I started by checking out the rubber plugs on top. They look good and appear not to be seeping fluid. I am losing fluid, but that's from the rear seal. No big deal (has anyone replaced this seal, any gotchas I should know about?).
When I drained the trans, it had a quart of sludge. I put in fresh synthetic AFT and she's shifting great and the whine is much less pronounced.

So... to my question... while I was under there, I found the inspection window on the bell housing for inspecting the clutch mechanism, and it is missing its rubber plug. I called ford and they said it isn't manufactured anymore. I called a tranny shop and they said they can't get them and they end up shipping the rebuilt trannys out without them (unless, of course, the core came in with one).

Has anyone had success on getting a replacement plug for this inspection window?

TIA,
-P

 

[BlackBII]

You will most likely be able to find one at a Junk Yard, and they'll probably give it to you free! Or maybe cost you 50 cents.

Or someone could send you one if someone has one on here......

 

[Simple_serf]

Ford doesn't make them anymore? I thought they still used the M5OD?

Just do some diggin in the junkyard.

 

[AllanD]

As for your rear seal?

Is the trans leaking between the trans and the transfer case?

If so DO NOT replace the seal.
The journal on the outputshaft that the seal seals against is probably
grooved making a new seal a waste of time and a waste of $22

What is easier (and more effective) is pull the transfer case down
and seal the T-case to the transmission with a generous bead of silicone
sealant.

AD

 

[pjwhitney84]

I've got a 2wd ranger, so no transfer case for me. The seal I was talking about was the seal at the end of, what I believe they call the extension housing, where the output from the tranny comes out and attaches to the drive shaft.

-P

 

[Simple_serf]

Yup... Mine leaks from there. Given the 190K on mine, and all of the other leaks, I don't worry about it. I just check the fluid level every oil change. I usually go 3 oil changes before I have to add anything.