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How to identify tranny

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Old Mar 14, 2006 | 11:43 AM
  #1  
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How to identify tranny

I'm going to look at a parted-out '97 explorer tomorrow with a view to buying the drivetrain in case of any problems with mine later.
Is there any way of identifying the tranny?
AFAIK the whole thing is still together in the car so I will probably not be able to see any identifying marks or features until it's pulled out....which might not be for a week or two yet.

Because explorers are as rare as hen's teeth here in the UK I want to grab onto this one while I can if it's good.

Mine has the SOHC motor and 5R55E trans. Obviously I can tell straight away if it's an SOHC (should be if it's a '97 build, right?) and I can tell the year and engine type from the VIN number but so far I don't know how to tell the 5R55E from a hole in the ground!
 
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Old Mar 14, 2006 | 11:52 AM
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Most of the time there is a label on the driver's door near the latch that has the code for the transmission on it. That's how I found out what kind of trans is in my 93.
 
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Old Mar 14, 2006 | 03:38 PM
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Parts Guy Wyatt
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give me the vin and i'll check and see if I can come up with what in the truck your looking at vs your truck.
give me both vin's.
ed
 
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Old Mar 14, 2006 | 04:23 PM
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Ok, mine is
1FMDU34E2VZB60542

I'm sure mine's the 5R55E based on decoding the VIN using the instructions from this site which told me that mine's a definite '97 build, therefore has to be the 5r. It's certainly a 5-speed.
I don't have the VIN on the other one yet because it's some distance away and I didn't get the time away from work to see it yet. According to their website it's a '98 but over here that just refers to the date it was first registered; it could be as old as a '96!
I'll call them on the phone tomorrow and get it from them.

Thanks for the kind offer.
 
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Old Mar 14, 2006 | 04:36 PM
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Parts Guy Wyatt
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yours is a 5r55, let me know when you get the other vin and i'll see if I can confirm that it will work. Can't pull up the tag number from vin, Ford didn't get it together until late 2000 on providing the info when we input vin number.
It would be best to see if you can get tag ID form both trans.
Ed
 
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Old Mar 14, 2006 | 04:55 PM
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I just notice this but the vin number you gave me keeps comming up as a AEROSTAR.
??????
 
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Old Mar 14, 2006 | 05:15 PM
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I gave it to you from memory so the engine number on the end MIGHT have some digits transposed... however I've quoted it so many times in the past year.... along with my credit card #, I now know that from memory too LOL
How about 1FMDU34E2VZB50642 ?
That could be it.
But I'm a truck driver and not home tonight so I can't confirm until tomorrow.
It DEFINITELY isn't an Aerostar!!!!

Thanks for yout time, I appreciate it.
 
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Old Mar 15, 2006 | 07:43 AM
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OK, the definitive on the vin numbers etc:
I've checked all the doors, tailgate & hood but the only place I saw any kind of labelling was under the hood (plus the visible vin # on the dash). This isn't unusual in the UK AFAIK, the only vehicles that I regularly notice VIN details in the door frame are the heavy trucks I drive, most european cars don't have that so I'd expect a USA made import made for this market to be like to too.
MY CAR has the following info on the VIN plate...
Vertically, down the left side of the VIN decal it has; RHD (right hand drive), XS, D, 373L, [blank box], FLTR
In the Centre of the VIN decal, in a vertical column it has; Ford, E11*93/81*0029*02, 1FMDU34E2VZB50672, then the axle, gross and towing weights, followed underneath by U2, WE21, R4CKDAM

The only info I could get from the owner of the other explorer is the VIN number which is:
1FMDU34E9VZB75214

Again, thanks for the help.
 
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Old Mar 15, 2006 | 09:05 AM
  #9  
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Parts Guy Wyatt
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updating my computers right now so when I get back on line i'll check and see if I can get a good answer for you.
Ed
 
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Old Mar 15, 2006 | 10:07 AM
  #10  
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Talking

BUY IT, they both have the same transmission, yours has a tag 97GT-ACA
the other truck has tag# 97GT-AEA and both tags use the same transmission.
Ed
 
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Old Mar 15, 2006 | 05:00 PM
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THANKS!
So much for your valuable input.
I'm on vacation next week (coming over the the US can you believe but a tranny is too heavy to ship economically back to the UK LOL) so I'll be trying to see this one before the weekend if at all possible.
 
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Old Mar 15, 2006 | 05:19 PM
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Your welcome!
 
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