Quick question for you guys running M5R2 trans

[motzingg]

Did you have to modify your cross member? Did you find a different cross member that sits lower? It looks like the data sheets on the main fordification page don't show any other crossmember options.

My problem is the trans is too long, and the driveshaft yoke hits the bottom of the cab with the stock crossmember. The frame dips down where the old crossmember was and moving it farther back the frame goes up more.

Ideally i think it needs to be cut down about 1" to fit correctly.


Also the output shaft of my trans is way over to the passenger side, the engine and trans are sitting angled (front to back) relative to the framerails.

I never noticed this with the old engine, but the mounting hole in the crossmember is a ways off of where it is on the new one. Not sure what to do about this, i know i shouldn't have the input angle off from the output angle of the driveshaft or i'll get u-joint vibrations, but this is definitely where the motor mounts want it to sit.

[SVT522]

When I was running an M5R2 in my truck, the stock cross-member worked fine with a C-6 transmission mount. I had to drill new holes in the frame about two inches back of the ones that were already in the frame. The engine/trans are offset to the passenger side of the frame from the factory. However, it should sit parallel between the frame rails.

[eggman918]

One thing to remember when doing the set up is that the frame is not the same width in the engine compartment as it is farther back so measure from rail to rail and divide by 2 in more than one place to get the true center line,I found that it is a good idea to make a sketch labeled front/rear and left/right...it's easy to get between laying on your back looking up and facing front to rear.........don't ask how I know this let's just say I learned the hard way but caught it before making any permanent mods

[motzingg]

thanks guys you were the two that i hoped would respond.


yeah, i'm thinking its a problem with the (made in korea in 2014) motor mounts or some sort of change in the block casting, the stock crossmember hole is almost exactly 1.25" off the center (measured from hole to hole) but the M5R2 is almost 3" off center.

the frame parts lists don't show any different cross members, and there are 2 holes in the frame, one behind the other by about 2" (i assume for the c6? )

my crossmember is sitting way way back of that. Like 7 inches behind where the 3 speed was or 5 inches behind the rearward hole.

Seems to me like ford would try to keep the flywheel/flexplate in the same place between the different engines, but who knows, maybe the 6 was longer so they shifted it back? but then where would the c6 crossmember bolt in and where would the 302 with the short 3.03 bolt in?

hmm.... i guess i'm just going to hack it in there with as little damage as possible and make it work... don't know what else to do at this point.



Did you guys use the 1 bolt pivoting style mount that came off the old transmission or did you use the 2 bolt through style mount that came on the M5R2??

[SVT522]

I used the old style transmission mount that has one bolt that goes through the cross-member.

[eggman918]

I also used the old style but it was off the T-19 from the bread truck the 4bt came from as it was nearly new,they must have used them for many years.

[motzingg]

YUP

i'm a dummy... you know sometimes you get your head so far up your own posterior in a project that you miss the obvious.

I didn't see this post before the weekend, forgot to check, but after puzzling over it for a few minutes, then finally saying 'screw it' and trying it... the old motor mount was a perfect fit onto the M5R2 and allowed me to bolt it right into the stock crossmember. Doh.

I used a ratchet strap to pull the tailshaft over the remaining 2-3 inches to get the hole to line up. I think the motor mounts might just be off to the extreme side of the slop in the bolt holes where they are bolted on the engine.

The holes i drilled in the framerails were exactly 5.5" back of the previous holes. It went together perfectly and the new driveshaft is dead on.

I tried to fix the old hydraulic line by heating it and pressing it on the nipple, but its not working. I can't get it hot enough without it starting to burn... bummer. I ordered a new hydraulic line and i'll just deal with it being way too long until i can figure out how to adapt some kind of inverted flare or something.