Ford MTX transmission

The Ford MTX transmission is a 4 or 5-speed manual transaxle used in some of Ford's front-wheel-drive North American passenger cars.

Contents

MTX-II

The MTX-II was a 4 speed manual transaxle introduced in the Ford Escort and Mercury Lynx as a base model "fuel saver" design. The Tempo and Topaz also used this as a base model. It was succeeded by the MTX-III.

MTX-III

The MTX-III was introduced in 1983 in the Ford Escort and Mercury Lynx. It was available in the Tempo and Topaz throughout their ten-year run, and was used in the Taurus MT-5. This transmission was discontinued in 1994. A 3.73 final drive ratio version was standard in the Tempo GLS/Topaz XR5/LTS sport sedans/coupes.

Gear ratios:

1 2 3 4 5 R Final drive
3.60 2.12 1.39 1.02 0.77 3.62 3.33

MTX-IV

The MTX-IV is a beefed-up version built by Mazda and introduced in 1989 for the Taurus SHO. It was also used in Tempo/Topaz models equipped with the Vulcan V6. Installing this transaxle into a V6 Tempo requires the use of a Tempo-specific flywheel, clutch, pressure plate and CV axles. This transaxle has also been used in the aftermarket to convert a 3.0L Vulcan-powered Taurus to a manual, something which was not offered from the factory.

Gear ratios (Vulcan Tempo/Topaz[1]):

1 2 3 4 5 R Final drive
3.60 2.12 1.39 1.02 0.76 3.62 3.52

Gear ratios (Taurus SHO[2][3]):

1 2 3 4 5 R Final drive
3.21 2.09 1.38 1.02 0.74 3.42 3.74

† - The actual 5th gear ratio is 1.02:1 (same as 4th gear), but it runs through a different final drive gear from gears 1-4 and reverse, with a ratio of 2.73:1, thus giving it an effective gear ratio of 0.74:1, if one assumes that it has the same final drive ratio as the rest of the gears.

See also

Ford MTX-75 transmission

References