Wanting to do a 4.0 swap

[Buzzard]

Will the FM146 manual transmission that goes to my 2.9l v6 bolt up to a 4.0 v6 if I swap motors or will I have to buy an adapter plate. Trying to get an idea of what all I’m gonna have to do to complete this motor swap properly.

 

[Shran]

It will bolt up just fine. If your FM trans is working good and not making any noises now I'd use it but be nice to it, they are a very light duty trans.

Wiring will be your biggest challenge. Lots of threads on here about what you want to do, search around and you'll find all the info you need.

 

[Buzzard]

It will bolt up just fine. If your FM trans is working good and not making any noises now I'd use it but be nice to it, they are a very light duty trans.

Wiring will be your biggest challenge. Lots of threads on here about what you want to do, search around and you'll find all the info you need.

Awesome do you have any pointers for tackling this, or any info that might help along the way?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So yes, the transmission will bolt up. It may or may not hold up to it. Usually they don’t, but the one in my choptop has done fine. Of course, it’s probably a little lighter than stock and your Ranger so that may play into it. Run the larger 4.0 clutch.

Wiring will be your nightmare, everything on the drivers side will need spliced. You will need a wiring harness and computer ideally from a 90-92 Ranger with a manual transmission. You may be able to use a newer harness than that, but once they moved the computer to the cowl, then you get into more work. On the drivers side, the plugs are all different in the engine bay from 1988 and older to 1989 and newer and the 4.0 didn’t appear until 1990, so there’s no finding a matching harness. Think you also get into changing the starting/charging stuff. I started messing with it years ago with my 88 Bronco II, decided it was more than I really wanted to get into and didn’t need to do, so I used all that I collected to swap my 89 which was a much easier process and the 89 really needed it. That said, there’s more information on the swap now days.

There is a bunch of information in the tech archives (there’s a link at the top of the forums), and there’s also a bunch of stuff in the engine swaps forum.

 

[SenorNoob]

I'm gonna buck the trend here and recommend keeping a 2.9 flywheel and clutch. Reduces rotating mass. Same effect as a lightweight "racing" flywheel.

It can make clutch control much more difficult though.