M5R1- couple of simple questions

[adam762]

Original transmission w/ 211K miles; just did a clutch master and slave set. Getting some whine from 5th and now 3rd gears. Ready to go chase a junkyard tranny. Q- is the tail shaft the only difference in the 2WD and 4WD? Are they interchangeable? I have a 4x4; if I bring home a box from a RWD truck can I swap tail shafts and be good?

Question number 2- if I find an M5R1HD, is the tail shaft swap thing an issue or are they compatible as well?

I've got the BW1354 to hang on the end so I need to get it right.

Also, rebuild kits- All over eBay, but.... I want something with bearings that aren't made of pot metal, and actually comes with everything I will need. Maybe someone who speaks English and can answer questions I will surely have. Any thoughts on reputable vendors for rebuild kits?

Edited to add: all this perched behind an aging 3.0. The HD would be a bonus in case I come across a decent 4.0 later on.
Thanks everyone!

 

[adsm08]

The output shaft is the only difference, and is the same between the various versions for the various engines.

The extension housing is the same story. It will bolt up to any year t-case.

The HD internals are the same in the rotating assembly. The shift plate is a little different, but the guts are the same.


I have had good luck with parts from Cobra Trans. I haven't had to use their customer service though, and I haven't had to buy any manual trans rebuild kits from them. I did get a soft-kit for a C4 a few years back, haven't gotten the car that trans is in running yet though.

Make sure you have access to a press. All gears are pressed onto the output shaft.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I think the kit I rebuilt my M5OD with was from Transstar on ebay, it's worked fine, synchro's aren't quite OEM quality apparently as it isn't quite as smooth but it behaves just fine, can still shift it without the clutch if I match rpm's... and I'm not easy on the thing...

 

[adam762]

I looked at the kits from Cobra and the cost is similar. I think the ability to ask a lot of questions before I order will be important to me.

Now, whether I buy a salvage tranny and swap in a rebuild or steal the kids car for a couple weeks while I rebuild the original is another story.

 

[adsm08]

I need to rebuild the trans in my truck before too long. I think it has close to 200K on it (I got the trans used) and many of the miles I have put on it have been with bad hydraulics, so my syncros are shot.

I am bouncing back and forth between snagging another trans from a 3.0 to rebuild at the yard and then dropping the guts in my case, or putting the trans from my B2 in the truck, then rebuilding it as I get time. The Bronco is gonna get ripped apart soon, and I still have the Expedition to take its place for the duration. The truck can't be subbed out when I need a truck.