5.0 Moutineer question

[Dr Fildo]

I have a 99 Mounatineer with the 5.0 V8. I have seen several threads talking about using engine parts to upgrade mustangs. If the motor/engine parts are interchangeable because the blocks are the same/similar, would it be true, then, that I could install a 5 speed transmission into my Mountaineer? Like a T45? Would that be any more difficult than converting a mustang with AOD to 5 speed?

Just wondering.

 

[RonBurgandy]

depends on how hard the 5 speed pedals are to put in and what kinda trans your going to run as far as cable or hydrolic. pedal swaps can be a big pain in the ass. oh and you will also have to fab up your own trans support because the auto is made in a different spot than the manual and the manual wont work in the auto spot so you have to fab up a trans cross memeber using the stock auto memeber is usually easier.


and as far as interchangeable parts most people use the heads and intake. they flow alot better than the stock mustang intake and e7 heads. its a nice budget swap. im doing that swap right now. im sending the heads and intake to be worked over at a machine shop and putting them on top of my 331 bottom end. well thats the plan anyway. plans are always subject to change. lol

 

[Dr Fildo]

Thanks Ron. Stay classy.

Did they ever make an Explorer with a manual trans?

 

[US Soldier(stang 98)]

yes they did but i want to say that they were v6 only but im not to sure

 

[joekd]

Do a search, tons of ranger guys have done the 5.0 5 speed swap and they are 99.9% same as Explorers

The explorer I have always wanted to find is a 2wd V8 model, have only found a couple and they were so beat they weren't even worth considering

 

[RonBurgandy]

Yeah i believe only the v6 had the 5speeds. Dont hold me to it but the v6 5speed pedals should bolt right up in ur truck just make sure they are out of the same year. Idk how much they vary from years. Do some digging around on ither sites it sgould be pretty simple just time consuming and alittle fab work. Ive done some 5 speed swaps in foxes but never in a truck.

You stay classy San Diego

 

[gopher_6_9]

Very doable. Ranger or explorer pedals will work... but you will have to convert to a hydrolic clutch setup, or modify the pedals to take a cable.

 

[Dr Fildo]

Awesome. The current auto trans is giving me some trouble, and I figure if I have to replace it, I may as well have a little fun. The fact that it's an AWD shouldn't make any difference, should it?

 

[meyerdudecj]

I do believe that they did a 5 speed with the V8 also if I recall an ex of mine her dad had one but it was in the two door i think it was a 94.

 

[gopher_6_9]

I do believe that they did a 5 speed with the V8 also if I recall an ex of mine her dad had one but it was in the two door i think it was a 94.

I have never seen one, as far as I know they did not. I remember saleen explorers, and other oddities, but never a factory 5 speed 5.0...

 

[framda]

Awesome. The current auto trans is giving me some trouble, and I figure if I have to replace it, I may as well have a little fun. The fact that it's an AWD shouldn't make any difference, should it?

Now the plot thickens . You got to mate up whatever it is using for a transfer case to the back of a m/t.

 

[94RedGt]

Or get rid of the AWD system and just use the back wheels only, ofc thats just shortcut, oh and since no one has said it yet, a T45 will not work with a 5.0 atleast that i know off unless you get a custom bellhousing, a T5 is what you need and they arent that much different.

 

[evilcw311]

5spds were only available with the v6's, 2 door never came with a v8 factory.

just letting ya know!!

 

[MSRTom]

Yeah, V8 didn't show up until 1996. Running a manual in that mountaineer could be an electronics nightmare unless you used a Mustang ECU. The SUVs' ECU is designed to run EDIS ignition (i.e. cam sensor, crank sensor & coil packs) as well as work with the auto trans.

 

[duh09]

Yeah, V8 didn't show up until 1996. Running a manual in that mountaineer could be an electronics nightmare unless you used a Mustang ECU. The SUVs' ECU is designed to run EDIS ignition (i.e. cam sensor, crank sensor & coil packs) as well as work with the auto trans.

I believe Mikey was converting his car to run on coilpacks and was using wiring from a V8 Exploder. He might have some information about that, but then again, maybe not. I'm not sure how he wired it up.

 

[MSRTom]

I believe Mikey was converting his car to run on coilpacks and was using wiring from a V8 Exploder. He might have some information about that, but then again, maybe not. I'm not sure how he wired it up.

Awesome. I read (long ago) that you can use a modular ford V8 computer (manual>manual, auto>auto) and the coilpacks/cam/crank sensors from the 5.0 explorer since the signals are the same, but I can't confirm it. I'd love to try it one day. I'd be afraid that the mountaineer/explorer ECU would rely on trans input for some crazy reason. I don't think that Dr Fildo wants his SUV to be a guinea pig for that experiment, though.

 

[Dr Fildo]

I was kinda hoping to keep the AWD. And I since I haven't had a single problem with the coil packs in the 170+k miles I have on it, I would want to keep those too. I have lost count of how many distributors I've replaced on my 95GT.

Is there no way to tune or re-program the original 99 mountainteer computer to work with the manual trans?

I was thinking that a V8 AWD mountianeer would be a beast with a manual trans.

 

[MSRTom]

In that case, good luck connecting the transfer case to the manual trans.

 

[Dr Fildo]

I have found some threads on a couple of Explorer forums where guys swapped the AOD for a manual trans WITH the AWD intact. With pictures and instuctions! They even go to every detail down to explaining how to get the reverse lights hooked up properly. Definitely looking into this.

 

[MSRTom]

Well, thanks for sharing the links?