Will a manual trans from a 2009 4.0 work with my 88 2.9L with the FM146?

[Aidan_1988_xlt]

So I recently acquired a 1988 xlt 2.9 that was originally auto that the guy before me swapped to the fm146 and I believe it’s going bad. He put a clutch and slave in it, (doesn’t seem like he did flywheel though) and I have a grinding noise in all gears except 4th and it also does it idling in neutral but goes away when I push the clutch down. From the research I’ve done so far on this website it seems like the ball bearings inside are likely worn and I know that the reason it doesn’t do it in 4th is because it’s the 1:1 ratio. I’ve also learned I can swap in a M5OD-R1from a 90s-2000s ranger and it’ll bolt up to my 2.9 as they use the same block as the 4.0 OHV. I have a buddy with a manual trans from his ‘09 4x4 4.0 SOHC and I know those ones seemed to use the M5OD-R1HD, so I’m wondering would that trans work with my 2.9 if I want to swap it? Or do I need to use the M5OD-R1
from the 4.0 OHV? I am a third year diesel truck mechanic and know my way around transmissions and have done several clutches and input shafts on freightliners and Mack’s and I’ve done a clutch in my 07 2.3L 2wd Ranger so I’m not completely opposed to getting a kit to rebuild the current FM146 that’s in my 88 now, but I’ve never done a trans rebuild and it does seem a bit daunting and whereas the M5OD-R1 is more reliable I’d feel it would be better to swap it. I’m sure there’s some info on this question already on here but I couldn’t exactly find the answer but I’m sure I could if I looked harder I could find one but wanted to make this post to see what more info/discussion I could drum up. Any advice is appreciated, thank you.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I've read that you can, but have to use the pp, clutch and starter too. But i don't know for sure...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Clutch part of the swap looks straightforward

Ford 2.9 Converted To 4.0 Clutch - The Ranger Station

A Ford 2.9 Converted To 4.0 Clutch increases your clutch from an 8-7/8" clutch to a larger and stronger 10" clutch to handle larger tires.

www.therangerstation.com

Stay 2.9/4.0 for a donor and you should be good. I don't know about transmission length, you may run into driveshaft issues.

 

[Aidan_1988_xlt]

Yeah I would definitely upgrade the clutch as well and what not, I also have the manual transfer case so along with the length I’d also have to figure out how to mount the shifter linkage, I’ve also read that the flywheel for the 4.0 would be 8 bolt rather that 6 bolt but I could use an earlier model 4.0 that apparently is 6 bolt but I’d have to check

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Yeah, earlier 4.0 had a 6 bolt crank. It changed to 8 bolt for the OHV somewhere around 97/98 I believe. 2.9 had a matching 6 bolt pattern to the early 4.0

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I don't know anything about the FM since you a diesel tech the M5OD is kind of a fun transmission to rebuild if you want to throw bearings/syncros in it.

 

[SenorNoob]

SOHC manuals have on bellhousing bolt in a different place. Not a big deal. Especially behind a 2.9.

Transmission shifter will be in the same spot or at least close enough.

Transfer case shifter might require some creativity. There are a couple pictures of an adapter in the Tech Library. If you can handle diesels, you should be able to figure it out. Only 2 bolts. and they're in the same plane.

M5ODR1-HD Transfer Case Shift Lever Bracket - The Ranger Station

Are you wanting to replace the automatic transfer case on your 2001-2011 Ford Ranger 4×4 with a manual transfer case? The problem is that the M5ODR1-HD manual transmission doesn’t have the tapped bosses for the manual transfer case shifter. Forum … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

You CAN keep the 2.9 flywheel and clutch if you want. Not sure why you'd want too if it's gonna need changing anyway. 4.0 flywheel does require the 4.0 manual starter. Get it with the transmission if you can. 4.0 starter is smaller and may require wiring adaptation. If you ask for everything for a 92 Explorer it should be right.

 

[franklin2]

You can fix that transmission easily. I had the exact same problem with that exact same transmission. The large input bearing is bad.
Like you, I didn't want to get into a full teardown. I was able to pull the tranny out, take some pieces off the front, and was able to weld some nuts to the bearing and pull it out with a puller. It took several tries with the welder, but it finally came off.
I was able to heat the id of the new bearing a little bit, and drive it on with a hammer and a piece of pipe. I had the large cover off the bottom, and put two large screwdrivers behind the input gear to support it while I drove the bearing in place. Drives like a new one now. I got the bearing and gasket from a place online in Florida.

 

[Aidan_1988_xlt]

SOHC manuals have on bellhousing bolt in a different place. Not a big deal. Especially behind a 2.9.

Transmission shifter will be in the same spot or at least close enough.

Transfer case shifter might require some creativity. There are a couple pictures of an adapter in the Tech Library. If you can handle diesels, you should be able to figure it out. Only 2 bolts. and they're in the same plane.

M5ODR1-HD Transfer Case Shift Lever Bracket - The Ranger Station

Are you wanting to replace the automatic transfer case on your 2001-2011 Ford Ranger 4×4 with a manual transfer case? The problem is that the M5ODR1-HD manual transmission doesn’t have the tapped bosses for the manual transfer case shifter. Forum … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

You CAN keep the 2.9 flywheel and clutch if you want. Not sure why you'd want too if it's gonna need changing anyway. 4.0 flywheel does require the 4.0 manual starter. Get it with the transmission if you can. 4.0 starter is smaller and may require wiring adaptation. If you ask for everything for a 92 Explorer it should be right.

Yeah that all doesn’t sound too bad and I’d be able to fabricate a similar bracket to the one that fella made, doesn’t look too difficult. So I got the transmission and shifter and the guy I got the truck from had just recently put a in a new clutch & slave for the 2.9 so I may just keep it in there for now since it’s basically new, less then 100kms on it but I feel like id want the proper size flywheel and clutch set up for the M5OD-R1 HD from 09 that I’ll be putting behind the 2.9

 

[SenorNoob]

I drove my 4.0 swap roughly 100,000 miles with a burned (flywheel was flaking) 2.9 flywheel and clutch. It actually looked better (but thinner) when it came out than when I put it in. The weight of the flywheel seemed noticeable to me. Didn't rev as fast with the 4.0 flywheel. Could have been my imagination... I wonder how much difference in weight there is?

 

[Aidan_1988_xlt]

I drove my 4.0 swap roughly 100,000 miles with a burned (flywheel was flaking) 2.9 flywheel and clutch. It actually looked better (but thinner) when it came out than when I put it in. The weight of the flywheel seemed noticeable to me. Didn't rev as fast with the 4.0 flywheel. Could have been my imagination... I wonder how much difference in weight there is?

Interesting, being that clutch is new in my 2.9 (pretty sure the flywheel is not) I may as well keep it in there for now, eventually upgrade to the 10” 4.0 one. What year ranger was the 4.0 trans you swapped in? So far what I’m gathering is that the 2009 4.0 manual trans I’ve obtained should work just fine behind my 88 2.9

 

[SenorNoob]

I actually used a FM146 and the 2.9 clutch/flywheel with a 4.0 auto starter when I swapped the 4.0 initially. Then swapped to the 4.0 parts when I swapped the Fm146 for an M5OD several years (Like 10) later.

Make sure you use the right block plate and starter for whichever flywheel/clutch combo you use.

 

[Aidan_1988_xlt]

Yes definitely will do that, so you mean you swapped in a 4.0 engine with the fm146 behind it, with the 2.9 clutch set up first then put in a M5OD?

 

[SenorNoob]

Yep.

 

[Aidan_1988_xlt]

Ahhh okay, so you think I’d be alright essentially doing the opposite? Swapping in a m5odr1-hd with the 2.9 flywheel and clutch setup still in there for now until i eventually upgrade to the 4.0 clutch? Being like I said earlier that the clutch in my 2.9 is basically new, I could leave my starter & block plate alone in that case for now - would just have to make a t-case shifter adapter for the linkage & make a plate for the floor