tryin' to make 97 explorer into stick shift

[TayCo 7s]

we blew the automatic tranny on a 97 explorer with 4.0 sohc and we're going to make it a stick shift. We got a brand new tranny of a 2.3 ranger wich according to the tech library is a mazda r1 tranny and its exactly like the pic, i read that the mazda r1hd is the one that came with the 4.0 sohc. i was told that the only difrence between the r1 and the r1hd is that on is a little bit stronger built for the extra power of the 4.0 sohc .we tought it would fit and i doesnt?? whats up ...

 

[baddis]

bell housing bolt pattern is different

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

yep, you need a tranny from behind another 4.0 (either pushrod or SOHC will work). the 2.9 also shares the same bellhousing pattern....but limited numbers came backed by a mazda tranny.