88 ranger a4ld to 87 fm145

[rangerbronco288]

i am doing a swap in my 88 ranger 4x4 from the a4ld to the fm145 what is your guys opinion on what i should do with the crossmember for the trans being as the fm145 is about 2 inches shorter




thanks
jeff

 

[Zachalanche]

the fm 146 and the Mazda M50D are the same length as your a4ld. If you can get a hold of one of those you will save yourself a lot of headaches.

 

[mjonesjr]

You are going from a decent automatic to a cheap and worthless manual.

 

[adsm08]

You are going from a decent automatic to a cheap and worthless manual.

more like an expensive and worthless automatic to a cheap and worthless manual.

Get the mazda.

 

[piotrsko]

you drill out the rivets holding in the crossmember mounts with a 1/4 drill bit, whack the heads off with a sharp new chisel, and reassemble in the other three holes that are 2" forward of where it used to be using appropriate grade 9 bolts and nuts with a bit of locktite. the front top hole becomes the new rear hole.

annoy the neighbors with the banging and swearing, bash your knuckles a bit, have a beer, you're done.


BTW do the above with either the tanny/crossmember out, or supported on a stand.

OH yeah: go to the tech forum, read the swap instructions.

 

[BoyRacer549]

the fm 146 and the Mazda M50D are the same length as your a4ld. If you can get a hold of one of those you will save yourself a lot of headaches.

I have a FM-146 in my 89' and have had it out two times in the 6 years I have owned the truck.

What size engine?

Mine has a 4.0 conversion....Dont know if that might have caused some of the problems I have had with it...

Anyone have any insight?

I checked out the local Ranger junk yard and they had a hard time finding any of the FM-146 parts or new rebuilt tranny's.....