1983 Ranger- Swap transmission or ?

[simpleman]

Hello,
I am in the process of restoring a 1983 singlecab longbed 2wd 2.3 manual Ranger. Only 31,000 original miles! I am going to make this truck my daily driver. I had the rear end completly rebuilt with the original 3.45 gears and added a trac-loc. It will be riding on 195/70/14 michelins (so 25" tall tire.)
Engine is carbed 2.3l. Transmission is the Toyo 4 speed (No overdrive)
My desire is to obtain the best gas mileage possible with this truck. Question to the experts is : am I going to be happy with the 4 speed or is it necessary to swap the trans. with the m5od-r1 (5 speed overdrive) ?
Thanks for your time
Mike

 

[Ruffinit]

My 2003 is a single cab short bed. Although it has the much upgraded 2.3 DuraTec and the 5 speed, it's running a 4.10 rear end. I think you could run the 4 speed with the 3.45 ratio but the mileage won't be same as what I get. Why not run the 4 speed until it gives you problems and then switch it to the Mitsu 5 speed that was available for that generation? One thing I would do though is pick up the 15" wheels for it. You can vary your ratio by the size tires you run. I'm currently running the stock diameter with 255/70-15s. Before that was 265/60-15s. They look good and fill out the wheelwell a bit better.

 

[Rose2300]

My truck is a 2.3 2wd like yours, only it's a 95. I ran the stock 195/70r-14's with the 3.45 gears and pulled 27-30 mpg no matter how I drove it. I would definately get a 5 speed though. Hell now I'm running 30 inch tires with the 3.45's and still get 25+!

 

[fix_or_repair_daily]

I know this is comparing apples to oranges, but I had an 87 2.5 iron duke 4 speed 2wd s10 with 3.73 gears. I got 26-27 mpg consistently. I would try it out with the 4 speed. It might do better than you think.

Josh

 

[adsm08]

I know this comes a little late, but having it redone with 3.45 gears was a less than optimum choice.

3.73 or 4.10 would have been much better for the 4-cyl. I have a 2.9 with 3.45s and they suck. That engine is built up halfway decent and is worlds of difference from the stock one it replaced. That truck feels about on par with my 3.73 geared B2 until you get up into higher speeds.

 

[matt167]

3.45's are 'correct' for a 4spd. 3.73 is where you want for a 5spd 4cyl.. Your final drive will be simmilar now to a 5spd with 3.73's, the gear most manual 4cyl 5spd Rangers got

Before overdrives were popular, they put higher gears in vehicles. 2.73-3.08's were very popular.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I would try it and see what you think, IMO I think you will want the OD (you will likely need to change the driveshaft length too)

My truck has a 3 speed C5 automatic (third is the same ratio as your fourth 1:1) and I run just shy of 3krpm at 55mph with 3.73's and 31's. Yes I do have deeper gears but I also have much taller tires... not sure how that works out.