The Ford MTX transmission is a 4 or 5-speed

manual Manual may refer to: Instructions * User guide * Owner's manual * Instruction manual (gaming) * Online help Other uses * Manual (music), a keyboard, as for an organ * Manual (band) * Manual transmission * Manual, a bicycle technique similar to ...

transaxle A transaxle is a single mechanical device which combines the functions of an automobile's transmission, axle, and differential into one integrated assembly. It can be produced in both manual and automatic versions. Engine and drive at the ...

used in some of Ford's front-wheel-drive North American passenger cars (Escort, EXP, Tempo, Taurus and their Mercury counterparts) from 1981 to 1994. These "MTX's" (1 through 5) are unique to themselves and are not to be confused with Ford's other "MTX" transmissions like the "MTX-75" later found in 1995-2001 Contours, Mystiques, and Cougars.

MTX-I

The MTX-I was a 4 speed manual transaxle introduced in the Ford Escort and

Mercury Lynx The North American version of the Ford Escort is a range of cars that was sold by Ford from the 1981 to 2003 model years. The direct successor of the Ford Pinto, the Escort also largely overtook the role of the European-imported Ford Fiesta as ...

as a base model "fuel saver" design. It would be the base option transmission for Ford EXPs and Mercury LN7s in 1982. Gear ratios:

MTX-II

The MTX-II was also 4 speed manual transaxle but would replace the MTX-I in 1984 and be available until 1990 with the end of the 1st gen Escort & Lynx. It was supposed to be a stronger unit than the previous 4-speed MTX now designed to work with stronger axles and stronger transmission mounts of the new Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz from 1984 forward. Gear ratios:

MTX-III

The MTX-III was introduced in 1983 in the Ford Escort,

Ford EXP The Ford EXP is a sports compact coupe produced and sold by the Ford Motor Company in North America for the 1982 to 1988 model years. The EXP debuted at the 1981 Chicago Auto Show. It shared many mechanical components with the contemporary Ford ...

Mercury LN7 Mercury commonly refers to: * Mercury (planet), the nearest planet to the Sun * Mercury (element), a metallic chemical element with the symbol Hg * Mercury (mythology), a Roman god Mercury or The Mercury may also refer to: Companies * Merc ...

, and

. It was also available in the

Tempo In musical terminology, tempo (Italian, 'time'; plural ''tempos'', or ''tempi'' from the Italian plural) is the speed or pace of a given piece. In classical music, tempo is typically indicated with an instruction at the start of a piece (often ...

and

Topaz Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine with the chemical formula Al Si O( F, OH). It is used as a gemstone in jewelry and other adornments. Common topaz in its natural state is colorless, though trace element impurities can mak ...

throughout their ten-year run, and was used in the Taurus MT-5. It would see some changes in 1984 (including a different shift pattern) to work with the new Tempo and Topaz and their stronger mechanical hardware. This updated version would be optional among all Escorts, Lynxes, Tempos, and Topazes from 1984 to 1994. It would also be the standard transmission for all Ford EXPs from 1984 until 1988 when production ended and from 1986 to 1989 in the non-SHO Taurus. 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:

MTX-IV

The MTX-IV is a beefed-up version built by

Mazda , commonly referred to as simply Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Fuchū, Hiroshima, Japan. In 2015, Mazda produced 1.5 million vehicles for global sales, the majority of which (nearly one m ...

and introduced in 1989 for the Taurus SHO. It was also used in Tempo/Topaz models equipped with the

Vulcan Vulcan may refer to: Mythology * Vulcan (mythology), the god of fire, volcanoes, metalworking, and the forge in Roman mythology Arts, entertainment and media Film and television * Vulcan (''Star Trek''), name of a fictional race and their home p ...

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): Gear ratios (Taurus SHO): † - 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.

References

{{Reflist MTX

MTX-I

MTX-II

MTX-III

MTX-IV

See also

References