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Best Manual Transmission


giamo27

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I'm interested in buying a used Ford Ranger. From searching online I see that the Ford Rangers have transmission issues. I hate automatics so I want to get a manual transmission in a Ford Ranger. What is the best year for a 4 cylinder manual transmission Ford Ranger? Which years for manuals are the worst? Btw I am looking at older years 1996-2005 since that's all I have money for :)
 


Dirtman

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I'm interested in buying a used Ford Ranger. From searching online I see that the Ford Rangers have transmission issues. I hate automatics so I want to get a manual transmission in a Ford Ranger. What is the best year for a 4 cylinder manual transmission Ford Ranger? Which years for manuals are the worst? Btw I am looking at older years 1996-2005 since that's all I have money for :)

Except for the very early trucks (pre 1993) the ranger has only used one manual transmission and it was used with all engine options all the way to the end in 2011. The m5od and it is extremely reliable. It is the same transmission that was used in the F150s (there were just some beefier parts used in the F150 models)

The only ranger transmissions that had problems were the FM series in the pre 1993 trucks and even then not all of them used these. Some still had the m5od, the m5od just became the only transmission option after 1993.

So if you get a 1993-2011 ranger the manual transmission is good.
 
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19Walt93

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I second that, the early Mitsubishi transmissions used in rangers and Bronco II's were garbage, the later ones were pretty trouble free.
 

fastpakr

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TK transmissions were also mediocre. But same timeframe as the Mitsubishi units. Anything 93+ is a good bet.
 

giamo27

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Except for the very early trucks (pre 1993) the ranger has only used one manual transmission and it was used with all engine options all the way to the end in 2011. The m5od and it is extremely reliable. It is the same transmission that was used in the F150s (there were just some beefier parts used in the F150 models)

The only ranger transmissions that had problems were the FM series in the pre 1993 trucks and even then not all of them used these. Some still had the m5od, the m5od just became the only transmission option after 1993.

So if you get a 1993-2011 ranger the manual transmission is good.
Thank you so much!
 

85_Ranger4x4

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Except for the very early trucks (pre 1993) the ranger has only used one manual transmission and it was used with all engine options all the way to the end in 2011. The m5od and it is extremely reliable. It is the same transmission that was used in the F150s (there were just some beefier parts used in the F150 models)
F-150 version has little in common with the Ranger version. Basically the same trans in theory but everything is scaled up.
 

Dirtman

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It's up there.
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It's down there.
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My credo
I poop in the furnace.
F-150 version has little in common with the Ranger version. Basically the same trans in theory but everything is scaled up.
F150 is the m5od R-2 correct? I know it's a "heavier duty" version but thought they were the same basic trans. Kinda like the 5r44e and 5r55e. :dunno:

Anywhoozle, the m5od in the ranger is still a solid transmission which was my main point lol.
 

fastpakr

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2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
285/75-16
Same basic trans, but bigger across the board. So it depends on what you mean by 'same'.
 

Roert42

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F150 is the m5od R-2 correct? I know it's a "heavier duty" version but thought they were the same basic trans. Kinda like the 5r44e and 5r55e. :dunno:

Anywhoozle, the m5od in the ranger is still a solid transmission which was my main point lol.
Someone clicked on the corner of the of the M5OD-R1 drawing, and scaled it up by about two inches.
 

Dirtman

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Location
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Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.

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