92 ranger 4.o to 89 ranger 2.9

i have wore this sight out doing research and have a few things that i have mixed opinions on
1) do i use 2.9 mounts or 4.o
2)alot of articles say it is plug and play ( i have both complete vehicles,the 92 was totaled due to collision so i am putting it in my midtravel prerunner)
3) should i swap out full harnesses or should i use all of harness from computer to complete engine bay
4)my 2.9 truck has 7.5 rear end with l/slip,the 4.0 truck has a ridicoulisly tall gear ratio and no limited slip(8.8)will the 7.5 hold up with 4.0 MOTOR
5)both trucks have mazda manual 5 speeds,i will use all 4.0 cluthches and stuff but want to retain manual trans behind 2.9 because it is fresh,as well as driveshaft and u-joints and carrier
thanks for ur help,getting close to putting together my dream prerunner,any help is certainly apreciated,ALLAN d and all the other gurus here,U GUYS RULE ,THANKS FOR ALL UR INPUT

dezert ranger said:

i have wore this sight out doing research and have a few things that i have mixed opinions on
1) do i use 2.9 mounts or 4.o

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I used the 2.9 mounts on mine.

dezert ranger said:

2)alot of articles say it is plug and play ( i have both complete vehicles,the 92 was totaled due to collision so i am putting it in my midtravel prerunner)

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If you pull the harnesses out of the '92 and drop them in the '89, yes it will be plug and play EXCEPT for the fuel lines. You'll need at the very least the fuel lines from the fuel filter forward.

dezert ranger said:

3) should i swap out full harnesses or should i use all of harness from computer to complete engine bay

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All harnesses under the hood. You might want the dash harness as well to make it truly plug and play.

dezert ranger said:

4)my 2.9 truck has 7.5 rear end with l/slip,the 4.0 truck has a ridicoulisly tall gear ratio and no limited slip(8.8)will the 7.5 hold up with 4.0 MOTOR

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The 7.5 will be fine

dezert ranger said:

5)both trucks have mazda manual 5 speeds,i will use all 4.0 cluthches and stuff but want to retain manual trans behind 2.9 because it is fresh,as well as driveshaft and u-joints and carrier

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The 2.9 Mazda trans is the same strength wise as the 4.0. It does have different gearing and has a superior 1st gear ratio.

dezert ranger said:

thanks for ur help,getting close to putting together my dream prerunner,any help is certainly apreciated,ALLAN d and all the other gurus here,U GUYS RULE ,THANKS FOR ALL UR INPUT

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Hope this helps

The 7.5 will hold up to 4.0 powa?

Mechanickid said:

The 7.5 will hold up to 4.0 powa?

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Mine has held fine with 3.73 gears and 33x12.50 tires, though I do have an Explorer 8.8 that is going to be installed "someday".

The 7.5 and Ranger 8.8 have the exact same axles. The strength difference is in the carrier and ring/pinion. The Explorer 8.8 is stronger overall, with larger axles too.

The 7.5 will last unless you start getting abusive.

are you sure they are both mazda tranny's i could beleive the 88 being a fm146 and the 92 an m50d if they are different then use the tranny from the 92 in your 88

CJREX said:

I used the 2.9 mounts on mine.they are the same mounts

All harnesses under the hood. You might want the dash harness as well to make it truly plug and play.nah just repin the main plug to match his dash



The 2.9 Mazda trans is the same strength wise as the 4.0. It does have different gearing and has a superior 1st gear ratio.some would say the 2.9l spec gears are too far apart for such a low rev motor

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not trying to argue cj it was just easy to use your post for my tidbits of info