My 5-speed Mazda tranny in my 1989 F150 is toast. I've found a good one, but it is from a 2-wheel-drive truck. Will this bolt into my truck, which is a 4x4?

Thanks for any help. I've got to get this thing moving again - it's my work truck. I'm currently pulling my landscaping trailer with my Suzuki Sidekick, which is KILLING it.

 

No, the tailshaft and output shaft are different.

 

i would consider converting it to a iron box four spd and throw thw mazda away

 

Or swap in the ZF 5 speed so still have OD.

 

Will any of the 4-speeds or the ZF bolt right in? My mechanical abilities are limited.

I don't care about fifth gear - most of my driving is stop-and-go between contracts, with very little highway use.

 

for the 4 spd swap you just need the right bell housing

 

ZF swap is bolt in pretty much, there is a thread going in the transmission forum about it.

 

hey buddy. i just recently swapped my crappy 4 speed for the m5od. its like driving a new truck. the only difference between the 2wd and 4x4 m5od's is the tailshaft adapter. if you can take the tailshaft from the 4x4 tranny, and out it onto the good tranny, you should be fine. i have two 2wd m5od's sitting in my garage for just this reason. if my tranny goes, alls i have to do is switch the tailieces and it should work fine. if you need any more info, just let me know. thanks.

 

I've been told that not only is the extension housing different, but so is the output shaft, which lives at the bottom end of the tranny. I have a 4x4 extension housing, and wish it were that simple to convert over to 4wd.

 

I decided that this would be better in the tranny forum than the 87-96.

 

hey lex, i was looking on my ford service cd rom just to double check, and it shows that the only difference is the tailshaft adapters. what happened with you?

 

I was just regurgitating what I had been told, from this board as well as from someone who rebuilds 'em at a tranny shop. I just assume that the information is correct, but honestly don't know from first hand experience. If you can just slap the extension housing on, then I'll be in heaven!!!

 

DEATHROWE, man you are going to need those extra transmissions if you use your truck for anything other than transportation. I put the ZF in mine about a month ago and haven't looked back! If you want some more spares you can have my old one for $75 and it is out of a 4x4. It's just my opinion but the M5OD should NEVER have been placed in anything but the Rangers. Good luck with yours!

 

My Mazda tranny crapped out on my at 200,000. I can't bitch about that, cause I drove it hard, towed a bit, hauled heavy loads, etc. the entire time and as it turned out, the apparent reason for it's failure was the rubber plugs in the shifter housing let all the fluid out. Front bearing failed. I've got it partially torn down now and the gears and stuff look fine. If I could figure out how to get the *&$%# thing the rest of the way apart I''d replace the bearing and pop it back in the truck. I don't think they're quite as lame as their reputation, although if I could cough up the money I'd do the ZF swap in a heartbeat. As far as the four speed swap, I put in a SROD when the ZF keeled over, and it wasn't that bad. I got the bellhousing with it, but it had manual clutch linkage. Bought external slave cyl. at autozone, clutch fork and hyd. line from Ford dealer. Couldn't find a bellhousing ANYWHERE for external slave except dealer ($211), so i built a bracket, my machinist brother made a sort of clamp assembly for the slave. Put it all together, (had to turn crossmember backwards and drill new holes, and cut new shifter hole in tunnel). Bled hyd system, used original driveshaft, and popped a 7/8" freeze plug in speedo gear hole. Started driving. First is a little too high with my 2.73 rear, but OD is nearly the same, and can't bitch about the price. (tranny was free. less than $150 for everything else).
BTW, anybody know how that M5OD comes apart?

 

im not haulin much, just to get back and forth to work and school. maybe thats why it hasnt crapped the bed on me (yet). but when it does, i will be ready, i will be ready...