Been looking at a 1990 f-150 s.c 4x4 with 5.0 engine. Shows to have a 5 speed transmission , is that and over drive and what is the transmission called ? Is it a good reliable transmission ? I have little knowledge about standard transmissions always had automatic . Any information will be very helpful, thanks . JIM

 

My guess is that it is the Mazda M5OD-R2 transmission. Yes, 5th gear is overdrive and as to reliability that depends on how it has been treated. I believe it is thought of as a medium duty trans at best.

 

I think that would be the M5OD, made by Mazda. Yes, it's an overdrive 5th gear, with 1:1 in 4th. It's not a bad transmission, but it's not exactly overkill in a half ton either. Should be find behind a stock 302, might not hold up if you go crazy with engine mods (or an engine swap).


edit: My4Fordtrucks scooped me on this...

 

Well thanks for the information,i'v been looking at a couple of f-150s that have that trany. I'm not a young hot rodder any more , just an old guy that runs into the coffee shop ever so often so i believe it would hold up under my use. I'v been on the dent side and older trucks for several years. But now that i am done building trucks up i will probably switch over to here for information in these years. JIM

 

Just make sure it doesn't leak fluid and it should do you well for years. I've put 100+ thousand miles on mine on top of the 155k it had on it when I bought it.

 

Great , somebody told me I needed to use automatic transmission fluid in it . Is that true and if so what kind ? Will it fill from the top though a tube like an automatic one does ? Sorry for all they newbie questions , i have only been working on cars and trucks since 1959 , but all this later stuff is really new to me . JIM

 

Use plain old Dexron/Mercon. No tube with a dipstick, just a fill plug and a drain plug.

Make sure you can take the fill plug out first, before draining it.

 

Yes just good old dex/merc 3. I used a synthetic for a bit and the synchros always seemed to clash so I went back to regular type and its as smooth as a 250k trans can shift