so i got the transmission out today

[Ranger4657]

when you would let the car run in neutral had a loud grinding noise, and the car didn't motivate in any gears, got the transmission out and i can turn the input shaft by hand and there is no response from the gears, anyone got any ideas as to what this indicates?

ALSO:

the truck is a 2.3L 4cy 4x4, m5od trans, the avaliblity of the transmissionn is slim around here, im wondering if i can use a m5od trans from a 3.0L or another engine and bolt it up to the 2.3L... if anyone knows of a swap that will open up my options to something more common PLEASE!!!! let me know.

and i guess my next question would be... if this is not possible, what adapters can i get that will allow me to use other transmissions, and what those transmissions could be, that would allow me not to spend an arm and a leg on a rebuilt trans, if this is even realistic (without shortning/extending the driveshafts etc)

 

[bottledgt]

input and cluster is destroyed

 

[BeaterMan]

I see that your in colorado. you might try looking into a rebuild kit-saying you would wana tackle that project. I had to rebuild my fm145 and didn't wana use another unit that could have the same problem. my former teacher hooked me up with a shop off 43rd and peoria off i70 called TranStar. I got a complete rebuild for my trans for 110$ out the door- cant complain there. Just an idea, there an amazing shop/warehouse that only sells trans parts. give a shout and see what a rebuild would cost 303-307-1999

I personally would try to stick with the m5od and not down grade to a fm145 or 146- there kinda junk anyways- saying that you could find one with the 2.3. you could always take the bellhousing of a 2.3 fm trans and bolt it to a 4x4 fm145/146 but the mazda trans will be the most reliable.

A 3.0 trans will not bolt up to you vehicle as they have there own bolt pattern and only work on the 3Ls

 

[Ranger4657]

I see that your in colorado. you might try looking into a rebuild kit-saying you would wana tackle that project. I had to rebuild my fm145 and didn't wana use another unit that could have the same problem. my former teacher hooked me up with a shop off 43rd and peoria off i70 called TranStar. I got a complete rebuild for my trans for 110$ out the door- cant complain there. Just an idea, there an amazing shop/warehouse that only sells trans parts. give a shout and see what a rebuild would cost 303-307-1999

I personally would try to stick with the m5od and not down grade to a fm145 or 146- there kinda junk anyways- saying that you could find one with the 2.3. you could always take the bellhousing of a 2.3 fm trans and bolt it to a 4x4 fm145/146 but the mazda trans will be the most reliable.

A 3.0 trans will not bolt up to you vehicle as they have there own bolt pattern and only work on the 3Ls

do you know how to rebuild transmissions? i have no clue how to tackle that project... im not sure if its easy or what? i found a guy who will rebuild for 850... but if its dooable i might attempt by my self... idk how good it would be though..

 

[Jspafford]

The M5OD is the best transmission used in any RBV... Hence why they still use it 20 years later with little to no changes.

Sounds like your tranny was run dry... common with bad shift rail plugs. No way a 4 cylinder could ruin it unless the operater was not working it properly.

Once you get it fixed or replaced, you won't have to worry about it as long as you keep ATF in it.

 

[Ranger4657]

well i pulled the shift cover off the trans today, and yeah you all were dead on, the guy ran it dry.... melted the input shaft gear and the gear that rides on the input shaft gear. and theres a gears that are chipped all the way around the circumference around the gears. lol pwnd. glad this isnt my truck haha.

 

[Ranger4657]

heres the dammage.... btw in the pictures, i did not drain the oil when i pulled the trans, this is how much oil was in it when running.

 

[BeaterMan]

do you know how to rebuild transmissions? i have no clue how to tackle that project... im not sure if its easy or what? i found a guy who will rebuild for 850... but if its dooable i might attempt by my self... idk how good it would be though..

i was able to get ahold of a factory service manual for a complete teardown of my old pos mitsu fm145 but without it, i probably would have gotten lost. seeing that your input is trashed a rebuild would be quite a bit more. still worth calling and getting a quote on the parts.

 

[Ranger4657]

honistly i feel like if i put my 3.0 in the truck and bought a 4.0 setup and put it in myne it would be cheeper then getting the trans rebuilt.

i think someone on here sent me a ford m5od rebuild manual though... ill have to loook.

 

[Jspafford]

well i pulled the shift cover off the trans today, and yeah you all were dead on, the guy ran it dry.... melted the input shaft gear and the gear that rides on the input shaft gear. and theres a gears that are chipped all the way around the circumference around the gears. lol pwnd. glad this isnt my truck haha.

I kind of figured, as I mentioned in the earlier post.

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/shift_rail_plug_maintenance.htm

Do this on whatever you put back in there to keep it from happening again.

 

[Ranger4657]

yeah i plan to lol. i need to do this on my truck as well in the summer when its warm.

does it work best to actually use freeze plugs.... or plug it with home made parts... or use RTV or some sort of sealant on new rubber plugs?

 

[Ranger4657]

so i just want to throw this idea out there, can i transplant the guts from a 2.9 or 3.0 M5OD into the 2.3 trans? i see in the tech lib. they have same gearing ratios....

 

[Ranger4657]

so i just want to throw this idea out there, can i transplant the guts from a 2.9 or 3.0 M5OD into the 2.3 trans? i see in the tech lib. they have same gearing ratios....

bump

 

[Jspafford]

yeah i plan to lol. i need to do this on my truck as well in the summer when its warm.

does it work best to actually use freeze plugs.... or plug it with home made parts... or use RTV or some sort of sealant on new rubber plugs?

I bought the freeze plugs, but could not get them in with the tranny in the truck, so I RTV'd the hell out of mine and stuck em' back in.

They are doing fine...Black RTV by the way.

so i just want to throw this idea out there, can i transplant the guts from a 2.9 or 3.0 M5OD into the 2.3 trans? i see in the tech lib. they have same gearing ratios....

You can swap internals, even from the 4.0L, although with the 4 banger you would notice the difference in ratios.

 

[Ranger4657]

well the trans will be out of the truck when i do the plugs or whatever option i chooose.... i need to figure out if the guts are the same on the m5od in the 2.3 and 2.9 or 3.0, this would make my life alllot easer.