M5od swap - rubbing underside of floor

[chrisser]

Finally got the heads and lower intake on the 2.9 and got the M5od and 1350 bolted back up.

While trying to sort out the trans wiring, I noticed that it looks like the trans case is touching the underside of the floor in front of the shifter.

I have the floor plate off, and there's plenty of room for the gearshift lever, but it's looking like I'm going to have to cut out part of the floor to get clearance.

Is this normal? I don't recall seeing this issue on previous swap threads. I'm using the (presumably) oem crossmember and mounts. Everything has bolted right up.

This truck originally had a 4 speed stick (FM146?) and the PO swapped in an automatic. I'm going back to a stick, but with the m5od.

 

[adsm08]

The M5OD is very tight to the floor pan of the 87. When I first put mine in I had a rag sitting on top of it to keep dirt out of the shifter hole during install. It got caught against the floor pan and ripped when I tried to remove it.

I would say that once a swap like this has been done and you got away from the OEM design there is no longer anything that can be considered "normal", but it is not something I would worry about.

 

[chrisser]

I wouldn't care, but I'm building the truck for my wife. Don't want a bunch of vibration in the cab.

I think the converter shield might be rubbing on the trans too, although a good part of that is already rusted away so I'm not sure that I couldn't just remove it.

Not sure what would be best to do - cut out the floor and fab up a cover plate, or maybe try to drop the crossmember down 1/4 to 1/2 inch to lower the trans.

 

[adsm08]

If you are so worried about the NVH quality of the vehicle maybe an 87 Ranger isn't the right platform to be starting with.

 

[chrisser]

Well, a little road or wind noise is a bit different than the trans wacking the bottom of the floor every time the engine torques.

I just want to do it right while I have the time. Once I hand her the keys it'll be harder to go back and re-fix something I should have taken care of.

 

[ronclark]

I have a 87 Ex-cab, the M5OD is a tight fit but not rubbing tight. i did replace my body bushings before i did the swap. i got about 1/2 to 3/4 inch lift out of that.
It might be your body bushing are pretty worn out, 26 years is along time for rubbers

 

[Captain Ledd]

How bad is it hitting? Can you just give it a good whack with a BFH?

 

[adsm08]

How bad is it hitting? Can you just give it a good whack with a BFH?

A hammer to the floor pan will just cause other issues. I would rather have the trans rub the floor than not be able to get the shift boot down, especially in the winter. I drove for 3 weeks in december with the floor open. Brrr.

Like I said, my fit is tight enough that I can't pull a shop rag between the trans and the floor, but it doesn't rub or cause other noise issues.

 

[CountryBoy704]

The swap in my 87 bent the floor plate a bit, been considering trimming a bit out but it's no big deal really.

 

[adsm08]

Trimming does help. I did have to cut a half-moon out of the front of the shifter hole for the lower shifter to clear the floor.

If that is the spot you are worried about get out the Dremel.

 

[kodogtwh]

Another old FM145-M5OD thread to bump, lol. Looks like I'm replacing the cab mounts and carpet, and grabbing some sheet metal.

 

[bcschief]

Why not just fix the FM145 its not a bad transmission to overhaul and parts are available.

 

[kodogtwh]

Why not just fix the FM145 its not a bad transmission to overhaul and parts are available.

Because I'm pushing double factory torque and broke 5th gear.

 

[Shran]

Because I'm pushing double factory torque and broke 5th gear.

There was a time that I would have agreed with you but after disassembling a bunch of FM145s, 146s, and M5ODs I'm just not convinced that the M5OD is a significant upgrade. Main problem with the Mitsu transmissions is the 5th gear bearing...easily solved with the updated part. Some people complain about the ball bearing on the input shaft but a lot of much larger transmissions also have a ball bearing there instead of a tapered roller so I don't see it as a big deal.

Everything else inside the trans is about the same size as M5OD parts. I have rebuilt a couple Mitsu transmissions now and would not hesitate to do another one, I really like how smooth they shift.

 

[kodogtwh]

There was a time that I would have agreed with you but after disassembling a bunch of FM145s, 146s, and M5ODs I'm just not convinced that the M5OD is a significant upgrade. Main problem with the Mitsu transmissions is the 5th gear bearing...easily solved with the updated part. Some people complain about the ball bearing on the input shaft but a lot of much larger transmissions also have a ball bearing there instead of a tapered roller so I don't see it as a big deal.

Everything else inside the trans is about the same size as M5OD parts. I have rebuilt a couple Mitsu transmissions now and would not hesitate to do another one, I really like how smooth they shift.

I have to agree on how smooth they shift. I have another 146 I can rebuild and try out. Although I need to find a shifter for it.