Tcase interchange for M5R1

[Natedog]

I'm having an M5R1 rebuilt for my 87 Ranger Supercab with 2.9. I have a manual shifft BW1350 tcase that is bolted to an EDIT: FM145 NOT an FM146 tranny (spares laying around), all in unknown condition (turns ok by hand, but haven't opened it up). I think that the BW1350 tcase is the same for all Ranger trannies? Will the same tcase (BW1350 or BW1354) bolt up to both of these trannies? Same tcase bolt pattern between all Ranger manual trannies and automatics? Trying to save a few bucks by using this tcase (don't have time to find a good BW1354 even though I want one.) Is 1354 that much better tcase than 1350? Will the manual shifter and linkage from my 1350 bolt on and work with a 1354? :icon_confused:

[rickcdewitt]

I'm having an M5R1 rebuilt for my 87 Ranger Supercab with 2.9. I have a manual shifft BW1350 tcase that is bolted to an FM146 tranny (spares laying around), all in unknown condition (turns ok by hand, but haven't opened it up). I think that the BW1350 tcase is the same for all Ranger trannies? Will the same tcase (BW1350 or BW1354) bolt up to both of these trannies? Same tcase bolt pattern between all Ranger manual trannies and automatics? Trying to save a few bucks by using this tcase (don't have time to find a good BW1354 even though I want one.) Is 1354 that much better tcase than 1350? Will the manual shifter and linkage from my 1350 bolt on and work with a 1354? :icon_confused:the 1350 from my 88 and the 1354 from my 91 interchanged,except for driveshafts and so does the 1354 from my 91 exploder.you might need to use the shift linkage off the transfercase you choose but it should fit the boot on your truck.so yes -same bolt pattern and splines from m5od-r1 to fm-146 but driveshafts might need to be made

[Natedog]

Thank you for the fast reply! Anybody know about the tcase linkage for sure?

[MAKG]

I believe the transfer case linkage and boot are unique for M5OD transmissions.

[Natedog]

Hmmm, something else that I need to find then...

[Todd]

Is 1354 that much better tcase than 1350?

The main thing the 1354 has on the 1350 is a fixed front yoke. The 1350 is slip front yoke and the 1354 is fixed. Also later model 1354's I believe after 93 have a 6 gear planetary gear set as compared to the 4 gear planetary set found in pre 93 1354’s.

[MAKG]

While that's all true, 1350s don't fail due to torque. They fail due to leaks and very occasionally direct rock hits and bottoming driveshafts.

If you overtorque your driveline in 4WD, you'll either break one of the automatic front hubs or a front U-joint. Those are the weak points (in that order).

[AllanD]

There is one specific shifter needed to run a 13-50 behind an M5OD, but it was also fitted to SOME FM146 transmissions as well.

if OTOH you get a 13-54 there is only ONE 14-54 shifter and it fits EVERYTHING, auto, FM146...

One of these days I'll take pictures of the shifters to show the specific difference with the shifter used on the Mazda.

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[Natedog]

..One of these days I'll take pictures of the shifters to show the specific difference with the shifter used on the Mazda.

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That would be nice! Do you know if my EDIT: FM145/BW1350 setup manual tcase shifter will work with my M5R1 (don't have tranny here yet to check)?

[MAKG]

Just out of curiosity, does the 1354 shifter interchange with any of the 1350 shifters?

[Natedog]

Haven't found a manual 1354 yet...they've all been electric shift that I've seen at the junkyards. Good question, anybody?

[AllanD]

No.

The arm that reaches back to move the short lever on the t-case up
and down is STRAIGHT, the little lever on the T-case has a "dogleg" shape
and the "pin" that the little "wheel" rides on points AWAY from the front driveshaft.

All of the various 13-50 shifters have a straight lever on the T-case and the shifter "Arm" on them ALL have dogleg profiles.

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[Natedog]

AllanD,

As I read your reply, 1350 and 1354 case shifters do not interchange, correct?

You just described my 1350 case shifter to a 'T'.

[HappyJack]

A few pic's are at: http://www.mappyjack.com/Shifter.htm

Hope this helps.

You can interchange the shift levers on the 1350/1354 t-cases. As you can see in the pictures some simply is bolt on the external shaft (long 1350 and 1354). Others you will need to go inside the the case (short 1350).

[Natedog]

A few pic's are at: http://www.mappyjack.com/Shifter.htm

Hope this helps.

You can interchange the shift levers on the 1350/1354 t-cases. As you can see in the pictures some simply is bolt on the external shaft (long 1350 and 1354). Others you will need to go inside the the case (short 1350).

Excellent thank you! This would make a great sticky! :beer::beer::beer: BTW, I love CAT Yellow. :D

I have a short travel lower, long throw top tcase shifter. As I recall my tcase lever is the short 1.75" long.

[HappyJack]

Now I haven't seen every thing that was made and only have the peices I have pic's of on my web site. Seems to me they had a whole bunch of shifters though. And at least three different levers to shift the t-cases. Now the shifter bolts to the adapter between the tranny and t-case. The shift patern cut in the top of the shifter is a result of the lower arm lenth or travel and the shift lever lenth on the t-case.

Alan D has posted some good info to go back and read over. Seems to me, that as he said, there were M5's put in front of 1350 t-cases, but as I understand it they were very few in number. I have never seen one. Some of these might have had electic shift t-cases so that would make that manuel shifter even more rare. And I have no idea what lever was use on the t-case for this. Much much more common is the M5 to 1354.

Now Alan D has alot more information than I do and if he says that some FM146 t-case shifters were the same as the ones on M5's then you could try that first. Thing is again I have no idea what shift lever was used on the t-case with this application. Maybe Alan D or some one else will be able to help on that. Might be this will work out right or with just a change of the t-case lever.

One other thing you might consider is to get a M5 to 1354 shifter. Should be plenty of them in junk yards. The shift levers in the 1350 and 1354 interchange. Have your short lever in your 1350 removed and replaced with the bent or dog leged 1354 shift lever.

[AllanD]

There WERE manual T-cases fitted to Mazda transmissions from 1988 through early 1990.

the 13-54 was only introduced in november of 1989 after the first third
of the 1990 model year And since the MAzda transmission was the ONLY
transmission used in 4cyl 4x4's...

For Whatever It's Worth, the very first Mazda trans I ever saw
with a manual t-case was in a Bronco2.

the shift boot for the Mazda is fairly unique, but since the FM146 was
only used for the 2.9 that boot is actually less common, as the 2.3, 3.0 and the 4.0
all used ONLY the MAzda trans after 1988.

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