• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

New member, “New” ranger, manual swap?


MRC406

New Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2024
Messages
2
Reaction score
1
Location
Montana
Vehicle Year
1990
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Transmission
Automatic
Hi I’m new to the forum thanks for having me. I just bought a new to me 90 ranger 4.0 auto 2wd. The transmission is acting up and I’m looking at a 89 parts truck that had a 2.9 that should have everything I need to swap the manual over. I’m wondering where to post the question about what I should expect or watch out for moving forward with this swap
Thank you
 


pentode

Well Known Cheapskate
Supporting Member
Ham Radio Operator
Joined
Apr 30, 2024
Messages
703
Reaction score
870
Location
Moncton NB
Vehicle Year
2005
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Welcome. There's a transmission forum down in the help forums section. Lots of guys on here are going to be able to tell you exactly how to go about the swap. Good luck!
 

RobbieD

2.9l Mafia
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
4,416
Reaction score
4,251
Location
Georgia
Vehicle Year
1984,1990,1994
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
Toonces drives a Ranger . . . . just not very well.
Welcome to TRS.

You've already made two good moves; getting a '90 Ranger, and looking at converting it to manual.

Check out the "Articles / Resources" link in the upper part of the page. Lots of good info in there. And, there is a ton of info you can find by using the "Search" function on this site.

The '89 parts truck is a good find; it's useful for all of the "annoying little bits" that you'll need. The clutch pedal assembly, steering column whole or parts, the wiring harness for the manual trans, and the floor plate and shifter boot. Unfortunately, chances are it will have the Mitsubishi FM-132 5 speed manual. For a 4.0 application, the Mazda M5OD is the preferred transmission. Even if it's still good, the FM-132 will "work" (i.e.- bolt up), but it probably won't last long with the 4.0.

You'll need a flywheel, clutch, and the hydraulic clutch parts. I'd suggest buying these new as good name brand, like LUK, and do yourself a favor and get the master / slave cylinders as a pre-bled set.

You current ECM will work, but it will have fault codes for an auto trans that it won't "see" anymore. The best option will be an ECM for a 4.0 with manual (you'll need to determine EGR or non-EGR).

What you are wanting to do, is easily done. There's a few quirks, especially for a Ranger noob, but you'll get good info by posting questions here. A lot of it is going to be determined by how you want to do the conversion- whether you want the minimum to just get it done and make it work, or if you want a proper manual conversion done so that all of it looks to be factory-installed.

Good luck!
 

MaicoDoug

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Ham Radio Operator
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Sep 13, 2020
Messages
549
Reaction score
429
Location
Texas
Vehicle Year
2007
Make / Model
Ranger FX4 LVL2
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2 inches in the back, not enough in the front
Tire Size
32x11.5x15
When & IF you have the flywheel machined - resurfaced, consider a new flywheel instead mainly because for me clutch chatter is nothing to mess with & mine had it bad after my flywheel was resurfaced. I am real nice with my clutch, got 86kmi out of my '83 2.8L. Just an fyi.
 

SenorNoob

Well-Known Member
TRS Event Participant
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
Oct 24, 2012
Messages
3,102
Reaction score
1,112
Location
Middle Tennessee
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
1.5" Front + 4" Rear
Tire Size
245-70-R16
When I bought the clutch for mine, it was cheaper to buy new from RockAuto than have O'Reilly's turn it.

Is the FM132 the 2wd version of the FM146? Honestly not sure how that works. I know my (supposedly rebuilt) FM146 did fine for years.
 

RobbieD

2.9l Mafia
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
4,416
Reaction score
4,251
Location
Georgia
Vehicle Year
1984,1990,1994
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
Toonces drives a Ranger . . . . just not very well.
When I bought the clutch for mine, it was cheaper to buy new from RockAuto than have O'Reilly's turn it.
I found the same thing, but the last clutch jobs I did on my fleet were before the pandemic made prices go crazy. Not sure how they compare now.

Is the FM132 the 2wd version of the FM146? Honestly not sure how that works. I know my (supposedly rebuilt) FM146 did fine for years.
Yes. They are OK transmissions, but the M5OD is stronger. The M5OD is what the 4.0 used, and it had slightly different gear ratios when mated with a 4.0, compared to the M5OD used with the 2.9 and 2.3.
 

superj

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Oct 1, 2021
Messages
4,094
Reaction score
3,512
Location
corpus christi, texas
Vehicle Year
2004
Make / Model
ranger edge
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
182 ci of tire shredding power
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
-2
Total Drop
2, so far
Tire Size
235s
My credo
drives a stick shift ranger

MRC406

New Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2024
Messages
2
Reaction score
1
Location
Montana
Vehicle Year
1990
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Transmission
Automatic
Thank you all for the replies. The adventure starts at O dark 30 tomorrow morning to go get the parts truck. I think it’s a Mazda M5OD because of the non removable bellhousing? Box and frame became a trailer (not included) but the cab, forward frame, transmission are all there and going to make sure to get the trans cross member and driveline.
 

Attachments

Rangervin

New Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2024
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Location
Mission bc Canada
Vehicle Year
2009 Ford
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Transmission
Manual
Can a small block 302 or coyote v8 be put into a ford ranger I have seen a chevy s10 with a small block v8 has anybody done this yet Ranger vin I have a 2009 ford ranger sport rear wheel drive 5 spd standard with a 4,0litre sohc I love my truck it is charcoal grey I have driven this thing to the moon and back I am very curious about the Twin turbo v6 reliability if its available in the new Rangers
 
Last edited:

Brain75

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2024
Messages
321
Reaction score
145
Location
Colorado
Vehicle Year
1990
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Best to start your own thread instead of clogging up someone else's with stuff not related to their build... And yes there is a ton of folks here that did a V8 of one flavor or another in fact they have their own banners.
1728178946616.png
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Today's birthdays

TRS Events

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Latest posts

Truck of The Month


Rick W
October Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

25th Anniversary Merch

Follow TRS On Instagram

25th Anniversary Sponsors

TRS-3 Ford Ranger Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top