M5OD-R1 vs M5OD-R2

[RedBowTies88]

Well, I re checked and it it appears that I’m quite mistaken.

Ugh. Still hate this gearing.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Swap in a toy trans and marlin crawlers...


Damn tractors will be jealous of it...

I really wanted to do the 203 based doubler... the gearbox doesn't grow on trees any better than the money for the adaptor though.

It might happen someday, of course now I have to screw with the driveshaft yet again.

My main tractor flat out in low goes about as fast as my Ranger idles first high... 2.5mph per my GPS.

 

[hasenwerk]

Long thread, with varying opinions and photos missing... sigh...

Bellhousing/clutch/engine aside, as I will be installing a TDI into my Ranger, is there an R2 transmission that fits the 1998 to 2011 series Rangers with minimal effort? Again ignoring the motor, how "plug and play" is it? Will drive shafts remain the same, and is the transfer case in the same location?

 

[ben_2_go]

Long thread, with varying opinions and photos missing... sigh...

Bellhousing/clutch/engine aside, as I will be installing a TDI into my Ranger, is there an R2 transmission that fits the 1998 to 2011 series Rangers with minimal effort? Again ignoring the motor, how "plug and play" is it? Will drive shafts remain the same, and is the transfer case in the same location?

If you have a manual, just keep it as is and adapt the engine to the transmission. If you're swaping from an auto to a manual, you're going to need to find the write up on here for the auto to manual transmission swap. If you're not going for all out performance, the standard Ranger M5OD will be fine.

More info can be found on the Tech section on the home page.

Transmission, Transfer Case & Driveshaft - The Ranger Station

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[don4331]

Long thread, with varying opinions and photos missing... sigh...

Bellhousing/clutch/engine aside, as I will be installing a TDI into my Ranger, is there an R2 transmission that fits the 1998 to 2011 series Rangers with minimal effort? Again ignoring the motor, how "plug and play" is it? Will drive shafts remain the same, and is the transfer case in the same location?

Any R2 transmission fits with minimal effort, ignoring the engine:

The early ones behind 302s, have 1/2" holes and the shifter is very close to dash in 1st/3rd/5th (hole in tunnel needs to be moved forward a trace)​

The later ones behind 4.2 V6s have 12mm holes and the shifter is more/less in same position as R1. (Holes need to be enlarged to 1/2" to bolt to 302, probably not concern for you)​

There is also T-Bird version of the R2; lower ratio 1st (closer to R1), shifter is way back (like against seats) - closer to what a T5 swap would yield.​

For all R2s, you can swap the 4.2 top cover on and have shifter in OEM location, but easiest to get right one to start with...​

​

R2 transmission has 31 spline output shaft so doesn't bolt to BW1354 transfer case/use R1 slip yoke.

2WD version is more/less same length as R1, so swapping an R2 slip yoke onto R1 driveshaft gets you rolling without any addition mods.​

The "ideal" 4WD transfer case is BW4406 - within 1" of same width as 1354, so fits with room to spare between frame rails; longer than OEM transfer case and uses slip yoke (at least one I played with did). So, you need rear drive shaft with 31 spline slip yoke. BW4406 is found in 96-03 F-150s and Expeditions, same pin out for electric shift (if that is important to you).​

The more common 1356 transfer case is ~3" wider than 1354, so is very tight fit - it will be in "C" of the frame rail (some "massaging" might be required to fit). Again same length/slip yoke as 4406; same electric shift pin out as 1354.​

I can't remember front drive shaft - I went with NP242 so wasn't relevant. FWIW, NP242 is same width as BW4406.​

​

Typo corrected; thx @alwaysFlOoReD​

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Any R2 transmission fits with minimal effort, ignoring the engine:

The early ones behind 302s, have 1/2" holes and the shifter is very close to dash in 1st/3rd/5th (hole in tunnel needs to be moved forward a trace)​

The later ones behind 4.2 V6s have 12mm holes and the shifter is more/less in same position as R1. (Holes need to be enlarged to 1/2" to bolt to 302, probably not concern for you)​

There is also T-Bird version of the R2; lower ratio 1st (closer to R1), shifter is way back (like against seats) - closer to what a T5 swap would yield.​

For all R2s, you can swap the 4.2 top cover on and have shifter in OEM location, but easiest to get right one to start with...​

​

R2 transmission has 31 spline output shaft so doesn't bolt to BW1354 transfer case/use R1 slip yoke.

2WD version is more/less same length as R1, so swapping an R2 slip yoke onto R1 driveshaft gets you rolling without any addition mods.​

The "ideal" 4WD transfer case is BW4406 - within 1" of same width as 1354, so fits with room to spare between frame rails; longer than OEM transfer case and uses slip yoke (at least one I played with did). So, you need rear drive shaft with 31 spline slip yoke. BW4404 is found in 96-03 F-150s and Expeditions, same pin out for electric shift (if that is important to you).​

The more common 1356 transfer case is ~3" wider than 1354, so is very tight fit - it will be in "C" of the frame rail (some "massaging" might be required to fit). Again same length/slip yoke as 4406; same electric shift pin out as 1354.​

I can't remember front drive shaft - I went with NP242 so wasn't relevant. FWIW, NP242 is same width as BW4406.​

You mention the bw4404 being in 96-03 f-150 etc.... is that a typo? Should it be 4406?

 

[hasenwerk]

Any R2 transmission fits with minimal effort, ignoring the engine:

The early ones behind 302s, have 1/2" holes and the shifter is very close to dash in 1st/3rd/5th (hole in tunnel needs to be moved forward a trace)​

The later ones behind 4.2 V6s have 12mm holes and the shifter is more/less in same position as R1. (Holes need to be enlarged to 1/2" to bolt to 302, probably not concern for you)​

There is also T-Bird version of the R2; lower ratio 1st (closer to R1), shifter is way back (like against seats) - closer to what a T5 swap would yield.​

For all R2s, you can swap the 4.2 top cover on and have shifter in OEM location, but easiest to get right one to start with...​

​

R2 transmission has 31 spline output shaft so doesn't bolt to BW1354 transfer case/use R1 slip yoke.

2WD version is more/less same length as R1, so swapping an R2 slip yoke onto R1 driveshaft gets you rolling without any addition mods.​

The "ideal" 4WD transfer case is BW4406 - within 1" of same width as 1354, so fits with room to spare between frame rails; longer than OEM transfer case and uses slip yoke (at least one I played with did). So, you need rear drive shaft with 31 spline slip yoke. BW4406 is found in 96-03 F-150s and Expeditions, same pin out for electric shift (if that is important to you).​

The more common 1356 transfer case is ~3" wider than 1354, so is very tight fit - it will be in "C" of the frame rail (some "massaging" might be required to fit). Again same length/slip yoke as 4406; same electric shift pin out as 1354.​

I can't remember front drive shaft - I went with NP242 so wasn't relevant. FWIW, NP242 is same width as BW4406.​

​

Typo corrected; thx @alwaysFlOoReD​

Very in-depth write up - thank you!