58 replies to this topic

[Avenger]

Just went through a thorough search and now realize I would need a 3 piece shaft in order to make that upgrade a bit easier... Is it worth the trouble going for a 3.56 FDR on a unit that is originally equipped with a splined pinion shaft or am I better looking for another transmission to start with ?

[Terry Haines]

The latest trans for a V6 is your best bet for this, say a 2001-2002 V6 Cougar 'should' have the 3 part / late output shaft, which is a good start for a 3.5 FDR conversion.

[jeff]

So the stock FDR on a 2000 SVT is 4.06? Did I read that correctly?

[Terry Haines]

All USA V6 MTX's are 4.06 FDR unless 1)The ratio has been change during a rebuild/upgrade 2)The trans is one of the BAT Euro V6 units(sold a few years ago) which came with the std Euro FDR of 3.8...

[jeff]

Ok thats whay I thought. Terry you have mail..

[rfcsvt]

I have a question regarding the parts necessary for the later output shaft final drive change.

I was checking for the Focus 3.5 fd output shaft and ring gear, and also the 3.8 fd output shaft and ring gear. So it appears according to Fordparts.com that there are separate output shafts for each final drive, but only one ring gear for both of them. How does this work? Do both output shafts work with the same ring gear? I'm not a trans expert so maybe this a dumb question, but I guess I assumed there would be a corresponding ring gear for each output shaft.

By the way, this thread was a great help to me. Thanks for all the info.

[Terry Haines]

Your/Ford info must nbe incorrect.The 3.5 and 3.8 ring gears/output shafts are not the same pt #.I'd try another dealers parts list..but the later shaft and ring gear is a small part of what is required.The input shaft from early level will not match a late level output and neither will a lot of the gears from the early output shaft etc. The Ford parts lists will not help you on this, I'd advise against it as a DIY job as you will get into a lot of issues you will not know how to resolve,best have a shop who has done a ratio change going from an early to late output shaft do it. It's a lot more complex than just a couple of other parts I can assure you..

[rfcsvt]

This won't be a DIY, that's for sure. I just want to make sure when I attempt this that I have all the info.

I'll clarify what I found a little more to make sure I'm on the right page.

I need to check which output shaft I have, I have a feeling it will be the later style since my trans is brand new as of 2005. I'm basing my question on the later model output shaft. I'm not concerned with the earlier model output shaft at this time.

2008 and up Focus appear to have two final drive ratios in their mtx, the 3.56 and the 3.82. For the output shaft/pinion gear there are two different parts, one for each FD ratio.

When searching for the corresponding ring gear I'm only finding one Ring/Differential Gear for both ratios.

I ran a VIN on fordparts.com for a focus with the 3.56 and a focus with the 3.82, each had a different output shaft but they had the same part for the ring/diff gear.

This confused me. Thanks again, the info helps me greatly.

[Terry Haines]

If you have a V6 trans with and early level output shaft ,to go to the later output for a 3.5 FDR ypu will also need to change the input shaft,some other gears and parts, bearings,rev idler and along with that, m/c the gear cases..'Off the shelf' parts will not be a direct fit into an early gear case..can be almost as secret as Col Sanders recipe etc...BUT any 'good' trans shop should know how to do this ..but the parts are costly.A hybrid MTX75 is somthing that few owners or even shops can attempt..It takes a lot of research and know how..which few have.Sorry but thats just the way it is on this type of special work..I have spent many days and hours working this out.I know it works as we have converted quite a few to 3.5 already..

[CrewChiefPro]

I like mine with the 3.5 ratio. Close to 500 rpm lower at highway speeds and better suited for the turbo. If I could stay out of the throttle I am sure my gas mileage would be far better.

[Terry Haines]

...If I could stay out of the throttle I am sure my gas mileage would be far better..

...well yes but I don't think we 'build' cars with uprated engines etc to get better MPG!!..the 160MPH Contour run was not too worried about MPG!! LOL

[rfcsvt]

CrewChiefPro, on 12 May 2010 - 09:22 AM, said:

I like mine with the 3.5 ratio. Close to 500 rpm lower at highway speeds and better suited for the turbo. If I could stay out of the throttle I am sure my gas mileage would be far better.

Yes that is a lot of the reason I want to do this. It would be great to have the rpms lower on the freeway.

I hope this weekend I'll be able to pull the shift tower and take a look at the output shaft. The trans was brand new in 2005 so I'm pretty optimistic.

[Terry Haines]

..hope you get lucky and as you can see from the fastest Contour in the USA,we can build to any spec or need you want,should you need our services..

[rfcsvt]

Terry Haines, on 12 May 2010 - 10:33 AM, said:

..hope you get lucky and as you can see from the fastest Contour in the USA,we can build to any spec or need you want,should you need our services..

Me too! I'm looking into options so I definitely have that in mind. And once again thanks for all the helpful info.

[Terry Haines]

FWIW we also have a new source of parts to go to 3.8 FDR with the EARLY level shaft if budget is a concern. This again is why we take trips 'over the pond' to seek out old contacts and parts supply from Europe & UK...

[rfcsvt]

Well I finally have the trans and engine out. I checked my output shaft and it is indeed the later style shaft. I had a feeling this would be the case since it was replaced in 05.

So now I need to find the focus 3.5 output shaft and corresponding ring gear correct? I'm not doing the trans work myself, but I would like to know exactly what is going on when I have it done.

The fordparts.com site shows the output shaft I need but I'm having trouble figuring out which ring gear I need for the 3.5 FD.

[rfcsvt]

This appears to be the later shaft correct? I just want to be totally sure before I move forward. Thanks.

 OP Shaft.JPG   102.23K   18 downloads

[Terry Haines]

Yes,that is the later 3 part output shaft. I'd advise against an output shaft swap as a DIY job. The later shaft is not the same set up to strip etc as the early unit.

[rfcsvt]

I'm definitely not doing this myself, I'm way too chicken for that. If Haines Motorsports was closer you would have my transmission. It's most likely going to a shop here. However I'm providing all the parts necessary so I'm just making sure I'm not leaving any details out.