96 3.0 Auto 2WD Transmission Compatibility

[auctioned94]

Hey all,

I'm currently replacing the transmission in my 96 ranger splash 3.0l 2wd. I have found it hard to find the 95-96 transmissions in my area. I also have read that it is okay to use a newer transmission, say out of a 98' , and that I would just have to swap the tail shaft housing. Most of these forums I have seen this on though were either for 4wd or 4.0l engines and I was just wondering if anybody knows that this would work. Thank you!

 

[superj]

welcome!!

no idea on your question though

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

3.0l used its own specific bellhousing, so you have to use a 3.0l transmission. Beyond that, I’m not much help in what fits.

 

[2011Supercab]

and that I would just have to swap the tail shaft housing.

And the output shaft of the transmission, which requires total disassembly of the transmission to get to.

 

[Brain75]

I glanced through the most likely page in the tech articles and only found numbers on the 3.0 manual, not the auto.... might start digging in the tech library trans section.

Transmission, Transfer Case & Driveshaft - The Ranger Station

DISCLAIMER: Activities and vehicle modifications appearing or described at The Ranger Station and it’s pages may be potentially dangerous. We do not endorse any such activity for others or recommend it to any particular person – we simply describe … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

My guess is that all 3rd gen (93-97) 3.0L (?vulcan right?, not the ecoboost) would work for you, and any 4th gen (98+ would work with the "rebuild it the way it needs to be" as you have discovered and mentioned above. On allanD's notes page he indicated that the 3.0 2wd manual option is the m5od, so you could swap to a manual if you find one of those in the 'yards around you.

 

[Brain75]

Above edit: 3.0 didn't come out till 95 right - so your direct swap list would be 95-97* 3.0L
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You have the 4R44E, right?
Code T from the door sticker:

https://www.therangerstation.com/tech/ford-ranger-automatic-transmissions/#gsc.tab=0

Those (along with the 4R55E and A4LD) are all kinda badly designed with issues finally resolved by the time the 5R55E came out.. unfortunately I don't think you could find a 5R55E with a 3.0 style bellhousing. Might go through the stickies in the trans thread on issues with the 4R44E, 4R55E and read up on TSB's for that trans and and. If you have to tear into it at all and rebuild it learn what to fix to make it last better... google up frankentranny.
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*Edit: 95-96, see below for why the "direct" is so small a range.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I glanced through the most likely page in the tech articles and only found numbers on the 3.0 manual, not the auto.... might start digging in the tech library trans section.

Transmission, Transfer Case & Driveshaft - The Ranger Station

DISCLAIMER: Activities and vehicle modifications appearing or described at The Ranger Station and it’s pages may be potentially dangerous. We do not endorse any such activity for others or recommend it to any particular person – we simply describe … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

My guess is that all 3rd gen (93-97) 3.0L (lima block, not the ecoboost) would work for you, and any 4th gen (98+ would work with the "rebuild it the way it needs to be" as you have discovered and mentioned above. On allanD's notes page he indicated that the 3.0 2wd manual option is the m5od, so you could swap to a manual if you find one of those in the 'yards around you.

Well, yes and no. There were four different automatic transmissions in those year ranges… the A4LD, the 4R44, the 4R55, and the 5R55. I’m not sure how interchangeable they are. I know the 4R and 5R are both computer controlled.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Above edit: 3.0 didn't come out till 95 right - so your direct swap list would be 95-97 3.0L
------------------
You have the 4R44E, right?
Code T from the door sticker:

https://www.therangerstation.com/tech/ford-ranger-automatic-transmissions/#gsc.tab=0

Those (along with the 4R55E and A4LD) are all kinda badly designed with issues finally resolved by the time the 5R55E came out.. unfortunately I don't think you could find a 5R55E with a 3.0 style bellhousing. Might go through the stickies in the trans thread on issues with the 4R44E, 4R55E and read up on TSB's for that trans and and. If you have to tear into it at all and rebuild it learn what to fix to make it last better... google up frankentranny.

Oh, there it is, lol

 

[Brain75]

If he had the more common cologne block it would be quite interchangeable (all share the same bellhousing), but with the 3.0 vulcan I think the 4R44E is gonna be it, unless he can get a junkyard to tell him the interchange and look at cars that would might have the 4R55E behind a 3.0... not sure if any of those are north america though even...

 

[Brain75]

I had an "aha moment" in the trans articles pages it says the 4r44e is a bunch of years, but then further down it says the 5r44e replaced it in 97... this is why the junkyard tells him it is 95-96 only. To get identical (perfectly identical 4r44e) it is 95-96. To get compatible (not identical but works and *might* fit the same), a 5r44e from 97 should work (unless ford made the tailshaft longer in 97 a year before the generation change).

Best advice, measure everything up yourself, find a u-pull it yard where you go in and measure it yourself, and look to see if you could take a 5r44e from a 97+ (maybe a driveshaft too), finding that pair might cost you an extra $100 for the driveshaft but would save you from having to open up a trans and spend a winter rebuilding it.... unless you are a sadist and want to rebuild an automatic transmission for the "fun" of it.