Where the flywheel was rubbing the engine plate
So I decided to pull the transmission again to fix the rubbing issue. I had to because my bumbass put the throw out bearing in backwards. The first time I pushed down the clutch, it spit out the clutch lever. So new throw out bearing and clutch fork later, everything is working good. Still need to install the driveshafts, and tidy up the wiring and remove the old Trans cooler lines

 

Cool, keep us updated once she's on the road. Can't wait to hear how you like the manual vs the auto

 

So now that I've verified correct spinning of the output shaft, and the clutch works, I put everything back together again. I cut my old column shifter cable, zip tied any wires under the dash by the pedals. Also zip tied the neutral safety switch and solenoid plug. Robbed a rear driveshaft off my buddies old 87 that ain't going anywhere soon. Took out the old transcooler lines, and taped off the small starter wire and tied it up. Hooked the battery back up, and started her up. Moved it around the driveway, then hit the road! Gotta say, IT FEELS WAY TORQUEY now! Love it. Specially on a 300. I took it easy, and drove it to the highway. According to my too slow speedometer,(which I still need to recal) @ 65 mph, I was around 3000 rpm. I pushed her to 70, and it was around 3100 rpm. Not too high, but I know my 300 will run that ALL DAY. I'll still have to get used to my truck, but it's much more fun to drive. Reverse feels real tall, and 1st feels really tall, with noticeable gear whine in 1st and Reverse. Don't think I'll hear it as bad when I put my carpet down. Taking my driveshaft to get lengthened at a shop tomorrow, then putting in the shorter front drives haft in w/new u-joints. Getting close to finished! Had some setbacks but other than my body aching, all is well so far!

 

Cool beans!

 

So I've been driving with this transmission for maybe 3500 miles now. It's actually held up great. Took it on a road trip and I think the front trans seal is leaking . Not toooo worried about it, as I plan on doing a rebuild on it. Works great otherwise. I still have yet to get the backup lights hooked up and I have a big zip ties a big bundle of wires on my t-case skid plate. I want to get rid of all that junk and run a cleaner setup. Do I need to swap computers? Its a 95 SD 4.9

 

I would say try to find a harness for a 95 300 truck that had the m5od and put that into your truck. Hell if it has the computer grab it too.

 

Man hopefully I don't need to pull the dash for this job. Might hit the yards tomorrow and see if I can find one. You know if it's year specific? 94-95 is specific computers or any 92-96 ecm 4.9 work?

 

I'd guess that 94-95 would be the same, and it should be from the firewall out not much under the dash. Other than the clutch switch.

 

I bought a 93-95 federal emissions 4.9 M/T ecu. Had to buy it on ebay since all the nearby yards were stripped already. I also got the M/T wiring harness that plugs into the transfer case and trans, and I got a clutch postion switch connector. Im thinking about pulling a harness from another truck, but I think I can keep what I have already and just move some wires around. Not completly sure how to do this on my 95, so if anyone has done this before let me know. Theres differences in the 92 and 93-95, so Im trying to figure it out.

 

So to finalize this thread, I swapped a manual transmission harness in my automatic truck. I didnt want to pull a harness from a manual truck. It was gonna be a major PITA. At the trans connector, on the ecm side, I traced all the wires I need and unpinned any that wasn't needed for the manual. Then I re-pinned the trans side of the connector to match. I drilled a hole through the firewall and ran the wires from the clutch pedal switch to a plug, then to the trans connector. Swapped the computer in. It no longer wants to die when I push in the clutch and hit the brakes while turning (very important to have brakes and power steering going down switchbacks). Very happy, feels a better, more responsive, and I don't have to heel toe brake anymore. Might fix the slop in the shifter and pin with a bigger one and replace the front seal on the t18. I still should get a new steering column. If I find a clean one I'll pick it up. But for now this swap is done

 

Excellent! Glad to hear it's all working and you like how it turned out.
That is the most important part, that you as an owner are satisfied with the end result.

 

Hello jason90f150,
I’m in a beginning process of swapping to a T18 4speed manual Transmission from my worned out M5R2 Manual Transmission, and I notice the T18 bellhousing has a External Slave Cylinder, but it seems there’s no bracket to hold the slave cylinder on, can you send me a picture of how your clutch slave cylinder is set up? and what kind of bellhousing are you using?

 

my transmission came with the bracket. You have to source the line coming from your master to the slave from a donor truck. Master cylinder is the same. A new master may come with the line to the slave, not sure. I used the bellhousing that came with the T18. Just a SBF housing, all the same. You WILL have to get a new clutch and pressure plate, but you can cross reference from rockauto, pretty sure they are different. I recommend a LUK 11" Clutch, bolts right up. Not sure about M5OD flywheel, good luck keep us posted! Ill get a pic of my T18 slave tonight posted