87 Ranger, SC, 4x4, 2.9... converting to 4 cyl.

[Ric]

I was wanting to sell or trade my 87 Supercab 2.9/mt so I can buy a 4x4 4cyl. I want to build a turbo charged 4 banger 4x4. So far no luck...

Looks like I need to convert this truck to a 4 cyl first.

My truck:
87 Ranger, supercab
2.9
manual 5 speed
manual transfer
7.5, D28
blah
blah
blah



Where to source the drive shafts? What years? f150? BII front? whatever? I'm sure I'm capable of moving the crossmember to where it needs to be after putting in a 4cyl/MT/Transfer case

 

[4x4junkie]

4cylinder engines were common in Reg Cab trucks up until '98. It may be possible to use the donor truck's front driveshaft if you're swapping the trans & t-case at the same time.

The rear driveshaft can come from a '98-'00 Supercab (one-piece steel shaft). This should bolt right in if you use an 8.8" rear axle together with the M5OD trans.

 

[AllanD]

On thing you'll need are the motor mount brackets.

on a 2.3 in a ranger the motor mounts go onto brackets that sorta hang off the back of the engine crossmember.

And here is the problem, the bengine crossmember is different on a 4x4 and that makes the 2.3 frame side engine mount bracket DIFFERENT 2wd to 4x4.

So you MUST find 2.3 4x4 engine mount brackets ('83-97)

as for the transmission? ANY '88-2000 4cyl 4x4 trans will work
(there is only ONE), but it will require a shorter rear driveshaft
and a slightly longer front one....

OR simply plan on swapping a D35 in up front at the same time.

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[Todd]

Sorry to high jack but I have been thinking about this for some time as something to do to my rig.

As for the one 4cyl 4x4 tranny, what would this be? Five speed, auto?

Allen would you happen to know if some sort of adapter plate fabrication to put the M50D-R1 behind the 2.3 could be feasible? I know that advanced adapters makes all sorts of them and after looking at a few I have confidence with some time I could make one. But the key thing is will a combination of 2.3 and 2.9 flywheels, pressure plats, and such make this doable.

I would like to keep my current drive line the way it is as it works and all my shafts are custom length, and I have a full set of spares. Don’t want to have to change the length of 4 shafts.

 

[Ric]

On thing you'll need are the motor mount brackets.

...OR simply plan on swapping a D35 in up front at the same time.

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Which would cure the front end part, but as junkie said, would the 8.8 and shaft clear the rear end issues?

I'm wondering if it's just easier to sell this truck and hope to find a 4cyl 4x4 ranger.

 

[CopyKat]

Allen would you happen to know if some sort of adapter plate fabrication to put the M50D-R1 behind the 2.3 could be feasible? I know that advanced adapters makes all sorts of them and after looking at a few I have confidence with some time I could make one. But the key thing is will a combination of 2.3 and 2.9 flywheels, pressure plats, and such make this doable.

No need to find an adapter as the M5OD was standard issue for manuals behind the 2.3L since about 89, when it came out.

Taking a 2wd M5OD from a 2.3L and converting it to 4x4 is a cake walk. Just need the output and the tail housing. Everything should swap over.

 

[Todd]

Wait…… so you are saying my current M5OD behind my 2.9 would bolt to the 2.3?

 

[4x4junkie]

No, the 2.3 has a different bellhousing.

It's a whole sea of 2.3L 2WD M5ODs out there though. Doing like CopyKat said above on one of these shouldn't be an issue (any M5OD-R1 tailshaft and ext. housing will swap), then you can bolt your t-case on.

Ric, if you use a M5OD and an 8.8", the '98-'00 Supercab shaft will be a bolt-in affair on your '87. Just try to find a steel one, as the later aluminum one is physically larger, which makes the already tight clearance next to the gas tank even tighter.

 

[Ric]

No, the 2.3 has a different bellhousing.

It's a whole sea of 2.3L 2WD M5ODs out there though. Doing like CopyKat said above on one of these shouldn't be an issue (any M5OD-R1 tailshaft and ext. housing will swap), then you can bolt your t-case on.

Ric, if you use a M5OD and an 8.8", the '98-'00 Supercab shaft will be a bolt-in affair on your '87. Just try to find a steel one, as the later aluminum one is physically larger, which makes the already tight clearance next to the gas tank even tighter.

you the man Junkie.

 

[powerwagon]

are 2.3 with mazda 5speed 4x4s rare??? or wut?

 

[AllanD]

after 1988 The ONLY manual trans in 4cyl rangers is the M5OD-R1.

Rare? Hardly.

As for swapping one in? UNLESS you have already retrofitted in a later Ranger transmission you currently have either a TK5 or an FM145.

as for a 4cyl 4x4? No such thing in a supercab.

IF you have a supercab now keep it, switching back to a standard SUCKS.

If I had to give up my supercab for a standard cab I'd buy a f'ing Volvo.


Custom Driveshafts? One piece in the rear or two (center support bearing?)

As for swapping in a Mazda and a D35 you might as well plan
a 13-54 T-case in which case the front shaft would have
bigger u-joints and a double cardan joint at the T-case
end of the front shaft.

The 2.3 engine makes as much torque as a stock 5.0 and thus it can BREAK things that you'll likely never break with a 4.0

But a 2.3turbo truck isn't going to be a happy offroad truck because of
where the engine makes it's power... but I wouldn't willingly own a turbo2.3
in a ranger without 4x4 because of the "sudden onset torque" syndrom turbo motors subject you to.

and that makes it hard to regulate your power to the wheels in slippery conditions



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[4x4junkie]

you the man Junkie.

Just trying to help where I can.

are 2.3 with mazda 5speed 4x4s rare??? or wut?

I wouldn't say rare, but certainly less common than the 2WD version, or either of the V6 4x4 versions.

 

[AllanD]

If nothing else I always have a surplus of 2.3 M5OD-R1
main cases available

2.3 2wd transmissions are used as organ donors to fix 2.9 and 3.0 tranmissions
and I wind up using the cases in imaginative ways... work stands, press fixtures

for some odd reason I NEVER have surplus 3.0 or 2.9 mazda cases....

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