Wanted 1st/2nd Gen M5OD Cylinder Block Rear Plate Separator

[robotzombies]

Hey everyone,

I have literally all the parts for my FM146 to M5OD swap except for this separator plate (looks like the part number may be 1L5Z-7007-AA). I can find it online, but only on sketchy websites that I'm not sure I can trust. There are Explorers and Rangers in the junkyards around here, but it's harder to find a manual than it used to be, unfortunately.

Anyone have one of these plates laying around that I might be able to buy? I'm in Seattle, so I can pick up locally/regionally, or I can just pay you for shipping if you're further away.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks everyone.

 

[2011Supercab]

Should be the same separator plate.

 

[robotzombies]

Is there a way to confirm without actually having the two pieces side by side? It's pretty difficult to find this part on websites, and the ones I do find say they don't fit the Bronco II. I was just going off of this write up, which is the same swap as mine: https://www.therangerstation.com/tech/fm146-to-m5od-and-complete-clutch-upgrade/

This says I need the plate, but looking at the pictures, the two plates do look pretty similar. I found another write up on the Explorer forum that says you should get the plate, but they were doing an automatic to manual swap, so I don't think that will help me at all.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Should be the same separator plate.

I did this swap a while back. 99% sure the starter hole is different.

This is a @adsm08 question. Dunno if he's around anymore tho.

 

[RobbieD]

Reuse your old separator plate; it is the same whether FM146 or M5OD.

A 4.0 plate would bolt in but the starter hole is slightly larger. The plate properly "indexes" (or locates) the starter, so it'd be best to use the 2.9 (or 2.8) separator plate.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I think if you do the 4.0L flywheel/clutch upgrade on a 2.9L you need the 4.0L separator. If you stay 2.9L flywheel/ clutch you use the 2.9L separator.

 

[robotzombies]

Yes, Uncle Grump, I was planning on using the 4.0 flywheel/clutch. Sorry, I forgot to mention that.

 

[RobbieD]

Yes, Uncle Grump, I was planning on using the 4.0 flywheel/clutch. Sorry, I forgot to mention that.

In this case then yes, you will want to use the 4.0 separator plate.

 

[robotzombies]

In this case then yes, you will want to use the 4.0 separator plate.

Thanks for the confirmation. Now all I have to do is find one. Anyone have a lead on one? As mentioned, I can find Explorers and Rangers in junkyards around here, but it's hard to find a manual Explorer, and Rangers are hit and miss as far as engine and transmission types.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I held off on this conversation until I had some pics. It took awhile to find the plates which I think, but not sure, came from 4.0 engines.
One is stamped "man" ( assume manual) and is steel with a code of "f07e-6a373-00".
The other aluminum, (assume auto) doesn't have a stamp but has the code "e37e-6a373-ea".
I'll try to post pics.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Pics

 

[robotzombies]

I held off on this conversation until I had some pics. It took awhile to find the plates which I think, but not sure, came from 4.0 engines.
One is stamped "man" ( assume manual) and is steel with a code of "f07e-6a373-00".
The other aluminum, (assume auto) doesn't have a stamp but has the code "e37e-6a373-ea".
I'll try to post pics.

Wow, I appreciate the effort that you went through. Thanks a lot. I did some digging on the numbers stamped on the plates. I found very little, and nothing definitive, but it looks like the E37E-6A373-EA might be from a 2.9 Ranger/Bronco II, which is what I already have, and the F07E-6A373-CC might actually be from an F150/Bronco. As far as I know, the F150/Bronco used an M5OD-R2, not an M5OD-R1 like Rangers and Explorers used. I'm pretty sure the bolt patterns aren't the same between the M5R1 and M5R2.

If someone knows, please feel free to correct me because this all could be incorrect. Tracking down this piece is pretty difficult. Unfortunately again, I bought the transmission by itself, so I don't think I even had the opportunity to get the plate.

I'm going to try the Explorer forums, and probably try to get the gumption to check out some of the junkyards around here. I appreciate the discussion thus far, and if anyone happens to find one of these plates, please let me know.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

The plates I posted have the same bellhousing bolt patterns. Very well could be 2.9, but the 2.8 and the 4.0 also use the same bolt pattern.
It's been over ten years since I got those plates, and I was junking lots of vehicles at the time so they could have come from any one of the 3 engines.
The f0 is 1990. Could be 2.9 or 4.0
The e3 is 1983. Could be 2.8 or 2.9
Other than that I don't know.

 

[RobbieD]

I found very little, and nothing definitive, but it looks like the E37E-6A373-EA might be from a 2.9 Ranger/Bronco II, which is what I already have,

I can confirm that E37E-6A373-EA is the plate I used in my 1990 Bronco II 2.9. I had to replace the plate at least once because of the A4LD flexplate breaking several times. I used the same E37E-6A373-EA plate for the manual FM132 conversion.

And this is the plate from my 1994 Explorer 4.0 / M5OD, which has a part number F07E-6A373-CC:

Fullsize view, the 4.0 plate:

Hope it helps; Good Luck!

 

[robotzombies]

Dang, thanks RobbieD. That's super helpful, too.

The issue with the 2.8/2.9 plate is that since I'm converting to 4.0 clutch, flywheel, and starter, I don't think the 4.0 starter will fit. At least according to the two write ups I've seen here and on the Explorer forum and a couple people in this chat.

However, since RobbieD kind of confirmed the F07E-6A373-CC plate as first gen Explorer manual plate, and it looks pretty identical to the one Always Floored has pictures of, I think we might have solved this one. Always Floored, PM sent.