1988 trans swaps options?

[dbibler]

We,ve got a 1988 ranger with a bad mazda M50D-R1 tranny and having trouble locating a replacement in Michigan. Is there another manual tranny that we can swap in? How hard is a tranny to rebuild?

 

[AllanD]

the "practicality" of a rebuild on a Mazda-built M5OD-R1 is a matter of what exactly "Broke"

There simply is no "Better" transmission to run behind a 2.9 or 4.0
.

Do be aware that the transmission from a 4.0 will work and though there are
some slight differences through the years almost any year 4.0 manual
trans will bolt right up to your 2.9 engine.