Hi Folks,I have a chance to buy a transmission and transfer case from a '93 Ford F-150. It's an automatic 4 speed OD tranny. I have several questions but first let me tell you what I am thinking of using it for. I am building a truck which is essentially a '53 F-100 cab set on a '99 Explorer 4WD rolling chassis. See my build thread at First '53 Build Thread to get a better idea of the project. My plans were to use a supercharged 3.8 V6 T-bird Super Coupe engine with an M5R2 five speed manual OD tranny and transfer case from a 1circa 1990 F-150. I had the original transmission from the T-Bird but there was no way to mate the tranny to a transfer case so I sold it and bought the version with transfer case See http://www.pvpmedia.com/m5r2-SC.JPG and http://www.pvpmedia.com/m5r2_4wd_mazda_transmission.jpg to see these transmissionsIf you look at the pictures you will see that I am having a real problem with the location of the top laoded shifter on the tranny being way too far forward. This has been a real problem for me and as of yet I have no practical solution. It occurred to me I might be better off with an automatic transmission. One of the main goals of this project has been to have a 4WD truck that does not look like a 4WD. So far I am headed in that direction as the body and bed will sit down enough to mak the truck look like is just another 2WD '53.
I'm thinking the tranny and transfer case combo I mentioned above from the '93 F-150 my be the answer to my problems. However, I do not know what transmission it is and if it is electronic. If it is I think thatb will create problems for me as the ECM for the T-Bird engine is set up for a manual tranny. My second question is will the flex plate and TC from the '93 with the 302 fit and work with the 3.8L SC engine. I know it will bolt up because 302 and the 3.8L are the same so far as the bell housing bolt pattern is concerned.If any of you folks out there have answers please let me know. I need to make a decision real soon or this deal will be gone.Later Folks...