Mazda M50D vs Mitsubishi FM 132

[steveoelo]

I need peoples honest opinion. I currently have the Mitsubishi transmission and you guessed it, one of the bearings is toast. I can easily buy another Mitsubishi transmission that's not rebuilt for $50, then rebuild it myself. I know the Mazda is suppose to be a better trans, but is it worth my time to look around and find it? I know I will have to cut the floor because the Mazda sits up a few inches further and I really don't want to cut it unless it's worth it. Opinions?

 

[4x4junkie]

I would certainly say it's worth finding a M5OD, but that's just me.

I had the rear output shaft bearing fail on my 146. Maybe I got lucky, but I actually found one of the rare 2.9L 4x4 M5OD about 30 miles from where I was staying up in So. Oregon through www.car-part.com. Maybe see if you can locate one near you on there.

 

[Will]

4x4junkie is one of my most favorite people in the world. He's been involved with these trucks long before TRS was what it is and we are dam lucky to have him still interested in these trucks. At any point he could have taken his knowledge and skills off to another vehicle and made that vehicle a lot better.

All of the things about these trucks I have discovered, I was once enthusiastic about, but over the years, I have grown tired of responding to the inquiries. 4x4junkie was discovering these things before I was, and is enthusiastic long after I was. That makes him a true "junkie". It's been maybe over 20 years I have known about him. And he was into these trucks before that. And he has knowledge of other trucks--like Toyota Birfield axle joints and other things we have never heard of.

Do what Shawn says and you will be throwing your best dice.

 

[AllanD]

on your 1990 the shifter on the mazda does sit a bit more forward than it does on your current FM146, but NO CUTTING OF THE FLOOR is necessary..

There is a removable plate in the floor about the size of a road atlas that the hole for sthe shifter is cut into that plate is held to the floor by four screws...

The relocation of the shifter can be covered up by cutting out a piece of carpet about the size of a post card and using "spray tack" (basically aerosol rubber cement) to glue it in place...


There is one other thing you should be aware of... the output shaft spline of the Mazda trans is different (larger)
so you will either need to swap out the male (drive-shaft) half of the slip yoke or get the driveshaft from a donor truck


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