Hi everyone. I'm new to the forum and am looking for general info and imput. I have a 1991 Explorer with a 3" body lift and 32" baja a/t tires. I lost quite a bit of power doing this. It also has an automatic tranny and it is the four door version. Was going to redo gearing in the differentials, but not enough room to fit bigger ring gear. (just my opinion) Instead made home air intake system out of 3" pvc, big improvement, still low on power. Also took engine driven clutch fan off and replaced it with a thermostatically controlled electric fan. Huge increase, better gas mileage. My idea now is to swap in a standard M-50d into it because I know how much automatics can rob power. Got two standards, one that was out of a 90 Ranger, two wheel drive and the other out of 91 explorer. The one that is two wheel drive won't work because the main shaft is different to a four wheel drive. The other tranny had a blown reverse gear. The two gears in the back of the tranny were just eaten right alive! does anyone know why this happens? Any ways I took the 5th and reverse out of the two wheel drive and swapped it into the four wheel drive. And yes they were both the same ratios just in case you were wondering. I've got all the goods to make the entire swap including new clutch kit, slave cylinder, rear main oil seal(while i'm in there). I have read through the last years posts on m-50d tranny's and its got me a little worried. Is it going to break when I put it in? Will it be able to pull the bigger 4-door version without me thinking is it gonna make it? Is everyone on the internet just talking about m-50d behind v-8's? I know i would not trust it behind a v-8. I,ve got about $700 into it and don't really want to ditch the idea but the auto I have in it now is still going strong at 73,000 miles. My ranger is a 96 spalsh, 4 cylinder with an m50d with 68,000 miles and no problems so far in the two years I've owned it. Is it the way people drive them that kills them, afterall don't you think ford would have ditched the idea if it didn't work. Need imput because i am somewhat confused. Thank you!

 

Everyone seems to put down or try to degrade an m50d tranny. I'm just trying to figure out if it really is a bad tranny or is it just mis-driven? I used to own mustangs I now own an Explorer and a Ranger neither a race vehicle. I don't try to shift them fast. Would like some imput on m50d tranny reliability. thank you very much.

 

where did you get the thermostatically controlled fan?