86 ranger diesel help

6006spd · Jun 4, 2010

hi all new here to the site,i have a 1986 ford ranger 2wd 5spd that i have owned since 1993,i have transplanted it into 2 bodies,and now ready to go into a third,yes still going to put into the 86 style body,anyway,i am restoring this for my son and i really want to turn it into a 4x4 for him,he loves this old truck,question is if i buy a 4x4 5 speed rangersay 1985 up to 1988 will the diesel bolt to the gas 5spd? 4cyl or 2.8 or 2.9 gas? hope you all can help,i really want to get this done for my son :icon_thumby:

gwaii · Jun 4, 2010

that should be the mitsubishi 2.3 turbo-great little engine.if you still have the bell housine for the engine it will bolt up to the 5 speed from a gas engine as long as it's the one with the removable bell.if you don't have the bell,you might have more trouble.i have one,but it's for my own 2.3...sorry.

6006spd · Jun 12, 2010

yep the bell housing does unbolt,so will it only bolt to the 4cl 5spd? or will it bolt to the 2.8 and 2.9 v6 trannys as well?

gwaii · Jun 12, 2010

i know it will bolt to the 2.9 tranny,only assuming the 2.8 unit will work too.

bagdranger · Jun 15, 2010

2.8 and 2.9s have the same trans mounts. I put a 85 2.8 trans in an 89 2.9 ranger.

gwaii · Jun 17, 2010

bagdranger said:
2.8 and 2.9s have the same trans mounts. I put a 85 2.8 trans in an 89 2.9 ranger.

theres your answer. :icon_thumby:

bagdranger · Jun 17, 2010

Im up to 2 rangers and a bronco 2. Is this a possible obsession? NAH All 3 are older than 89.

6006spd · Jun 25, 2010

lol, when you drive one of these ranger diesels people really look when you pull up to the diesel pump and start to fill,dont know how many times the guys run out yelling hey your putting diesel in your truck!!!!!!!!!,lol yea i know i tell them,they are amazed,nobody ever sees these things,they are rare,does the 3.0 and 4.0 share the same 5spd ? or just the 4cyl and 2.8 and 9?

gwaii · Jun 25, 2010

the later rangers don't have a removable bellhousing,so you are out of luck on those.and i know what you mean about the diesel,i got the same looks of surprise.it's a pretty peppy little motor,too...just had a tendency to shatter clutches-not wear them out,actually rip the lining off.i was running it pretty hard,though.mostly off road abuse.

bagdranger · Jun 27, 2010

i dont think the 4 cyl are interchangeable to the 2.8 and 2.9s. could be wrong. I know a 2.9 can be upgraded with a 4.0 clutch assembly. already on my wish list

6006spd · Jun 27, 2010

so i need a 4cyl transmission then?crap! need to know for sure,dont wanna buy a trans that wont bolt up

gwaii · Jun 27, 2010

no,you need the 2.8/2.9 trans.edit-can't remember for sure,but i think the 2.3 gas motor trans was the same as the 2.9edit-did some more checking,there were several transmissions that can be used,and some that can not.there is a four speed made by ford ued behind the 2.2 diesel which does not have a removable bell.there are four 5 speeds that use the removable bell-mitsubishi fm 132,fm145,and fm146.there is also a mazda(toyo kogyo)5 speed that can be used.there is also the masda built m5od,which does not have a removeable bell.the 132 and toyo kogyo were most commonly found behind the earlier(2.8,carbed 2.3)engines,the 145 and 146 behind the 2.9 and 2.3 efi engines,as well as the 2.3 diesel,although there could be some mixing in the transitional years.the m5od will be found behind the latest 2.9s and the 4.0.

6006spd · Jul 12, 2010

ok,this gives me hope no ill start searching the junk yards,lol

4D55 Performance Inc · Jul 15, 2010

I have recently been dealing with this same question. Your 2.3 diesel will bolt up to all 1985-87 FM145 transmissions, you just have to swap the bellhousing. The FM145 was used behind the 2.3 gas, 2.3 diesel, 2.8 and 2.9 and they all use the same input. The flywheel, clutch, slave and Tcase are also all the same. The 2.3 diesel will also bolt up to the Toyo Kogyo transmissions. It has a different bolt pattern but the bellhousings are the same. Also I would avoid using the FM146 because it has a different slave setup and it is not as user friendly as the FM145 and the TK5.

6006spd · Aug 29, 2010

thanks for the info,gives me more to go on

86 ranger diesel help

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