m5od vs m5od-hd

[sloth69mustang]

anyone know the actually difference between these 2? i have a m5od and i am thinking about swapping out my 3.0l for a 4.0l but idk which 4.0l i am going to get. i would like to get the sohc if i can but i am pretty sure those all came with m5od-hd and idk if the m5od can handle a sohc 4.0l if not i will just get the ohv 4.0l

 

[PlumCrazy]

You will have to get a different tranny anyway. A 4.0 (OHV or SOHC) will not bolt up to a 3.0 tranny. They are both M50D but they have different bolt patterns on the (integrated) bell housing.

Unless you plan on doing a lot of wiring dont plan on putting a SOHC in a Gen III. They use different computers/harnesses.

As far as anyone knows the the only difference between the HD and the regular M50D is the extra bolt hole on the HD that allows it to bolt to a SOHC or OHV. A regular 4.0 M50D will only bolt to an OHV and the HD can bolt to either.

 

[adsm08]

Doesn't matter. You need a new trans anyway. 3.0 and 4.0 don't share a bolt pattern and the M5 has an integral bell.

If you want the SOCH I'd go get the HD. If you want an easy swap I'd get the OHV. Less wiring to fuss with.

 

[sloth69mustang]

ugh if i am going to have to get a tranny too i am just going to build a 5.0l ho and get a tranny for that. so i guess i will just wait while. 4.0ls are cheap without trannys but i was looking for a really cheap way to do a 4.0l swap. i dont have much money now so i guess this will be awhile before the 3.0l gets replaced thanks for the info

 

[adsm08]

well keep an eye out on the FS section. the 5.0 guys are always selling 4.0 trannies on there, usually pretty cheap too.

 

[sloth69mustang]

how about this..... does the hd tranny bolt up to the 4.0l ohv? or again are they different? bc if i order up a 4.0l ohv and someone has a m5oc-hd for sale.... blah blah blah obviously the stronger i can get the better

 

[adsm08]

I'd say you could bolt a HD to the OHV. As long as all the bolt holes in the engine are full you are good. You won't really get the extra strength though.

I've got a truck thats missing a bell bolt, driven a couple thousand miles like that without any problems. You'll be fine with that hole empty on the trans side.

 

[PlumCrazy]

I dont think the HD is any stronger, it just has the extra hole in the bell housing. the ratios are the same and no one has ever found anything else different. Unless you already have an HD dont get all excited or cross your fingers looking for one. I would love to get a junk HD so I can compare internals and put this quandary to rest.

 

[sloth69mustang]

cool. well i guess when that time comes around we will see what we can do. bc i def want to have a 4.0l. it would be icing on the cake for my truck.