2.3 4x4 5 speed transmission ?'s

[rab]

I'm looking at a 1985 2.3 4x4 5 speed ranger, the seller says the transmission is bad. With that being said what are my options on transmissions?
I looked it up on car-parts.com and it sounded/looked like they offer a few manual 4x4 transmissions for the 1985 model year and it didn't break it down by engine size, so i don't know what is swappable.

So to my questions....

What other year rangers,broncos,mazda trucks had these transmissions?
I heard you can stuff v6 etc. parts into the 2.3 case, is this true?
Are there other newer model transmissions I can use?
Maybe there is another option I'm not thinking of or know about?

If I have to modify or hybrid the trans, thats fine, but obviously I'd rather just bolt one up. I guess I'm just looking for every available option with keeping it 4x4 and a 2.3 motor, the plan would be to turbo it also.

Thanks

 

[RonD]

2.0l/2.3l/2.5l Lima engines have a unique Bell housing bolt pattern.
Your '85 will have the Mitsubishi FM145 5-speed
Mitsubishi FM145 has a detachable bell housing so you can use any Mitsubishi FM145, or FM146, you can get from any vehicle and remove its bell housing and put yours on it.

I believe the Mazda M50D-R1 is the same length as the FM145 so could be used as well.
But the Mazda M50D-R1 as an integrated Bell housing so you would need to find one from a 4x4 Ranger with 2.3l/2.5l engine.
M5DO-R1 was used in 4cyl Rangers from 1988 & Up

 

[Captain Ledd]

M5OD-R1's for 2.3L 4x4's are rare, they're out there, but not very common.

I'm not terribly familiar with the 80's stuff.

But the M5OD is the best option, unfortunately the main (realistic) way to get a 4x4 trans is to get a 2.3L 2wd transmission (pre 2001 / however '99-'01 2.5L will also work) and a 4wd transmission as long as it's another M5OD-R1, swap the output shafts and the tailhousing for the 4x4 extension housing and you're set.

 

[01 b2300 4wd 5mt?]

Is this forum dead? I’m looking for a 5mt 4wd option for a 2001 b2300. Will this work?

 

[Shran]

Is this forum dead? I’m looking for a 5mt 4wd option for a 2001 b2300. Will this work?

Forum is very much alive. Are you asking about a USA domestic B2300? 4wd was not an option for that truck in the US.

 

[01 b2300 4wd 5mt?]

Forum is very much alive. Are you asking about a USA domestic B2300? 4wd was not an option for that truck in the US.

Yes.

I may not be in the right place but I’m brand new to these and I have lots of questions.
1. For a 2001 b2300, is there a 4wd 5mt that will bolt up?
2. If so, what transfer case?
3. What components would go into a 4wd swap? Or would it be easier to weld on leaf spring mounts and put a xj axle in it?
4. If there is a trans I can use, will a np231 bolt to it?
Context is I’m getting a rolled truck for free and if I can build a cheap crawler rig I’d like to. If not I’m welding the diff. But I may do that either way.
TIA

 

[01 b2300 4wd 5mt?]

Yes.

I may not be in the right place but I’m brand new to these and I have lots of questions.
1. For a 2001 b2300, is there a 4wd 5mt that will bolt up?
2. If so, what transfer case?
3. What components would go into a 4wd swap? Or would it be easier to weld on leaf spring mounts and put a xj axle in it?
4. If there is a trans I can use, will a np231 bolt to it?
Context is I’m getting a rolled truck for free and if I can build a cheap crawler rig I’d like to. If not I’m welding the diff. But I may do that either way.
TIA

Ultimately I want to go to the junkyard or fb market place and buy a 4wd trans that will bolt up and retain the manual.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Yes.

I may not be in the right place but I’m brand new to these and I have lots of questions.
1. For a 2001 b2300, is there a 4wd 5mt that will bolt up?
2. If so, what transfer case?
3. What components would go into a 4wd swap? Or would it be easier to weld on leaf spring mounts and put a xj axle in it?
4. If there is a trans I can use, will a np231 bolt to it?
Context is I’m getting a rolled truck for free and if I can build a cheap crawler rig I’d like to. If not I’m welding the diff. But I may do that either way.
TIA

1) yes, but they are very rare nowadays. I have one in my 1996 2.3 4wd. I have never seen another in person.
2) BW 1350 or 1354. There are other options if divorces case is an option.
3) tech section has lots of articles on SAS. However you would need to splice a 4wd front frame section in to use stock D35/D28 ttb.
4) not that I know of. There are more knowledgeable people here.

 

[01 b2300 4wd 5mt?]

1) yes, but they are very rare nowadays. I have one in my 1996 2.3 4wd. I have never seen another in person.
2) BW 1350 or 1354. There are other options if divorces case is an option.
3) tech section has lots of articles on SAS. However you would need to splice a 4wd front frame section in to use stock D35/D28 ttb.
4) not that I know of. There are more knowledgeable people here.

Thank you so much. You have got my ball rolling. Are there specific year make and models that I could look for that will have them?

 

[01 b2300 4wd 5mt?]

Thank you so much. You have got my ball rolling. Are there specific year make and models that I could look for that will have them?

1) what’s the name of the trans

 

[RonD]

As said 2.3l Duratec engine found in 2001-2011 Rangers and B2300s never had a 4WD version

But easy enough to remedy that
Rangers used M5OD-R1(M5R1) manuals from 1990-2011, B-series 1994-2010, in 2WD and 4x4
As said BW1354 transfer case, 1990 and up on 4x4s

M5R1s are engine specific, bell housing is part of the main case
You need an M5R1 that fits a 2.3l Duratec, so from a 2001-2011 Ranger/B2300, they are all 2WD

Then you will need an M5R1 from a 2001-2011 Ranger/B-series 4x4 with transfer case, so from a V6 engine vehicle, 3.0l or 4.0l doesn't matter(Needs to be 2001 and up M5R1 so it has the speed sensor, "OSS")
You will then unbolt the tail shaft housing from the 4x4 trans and its output shaft
And install both on the 2.3l M5R1 2WD trans, making it a 4x4 trans

Then install the 2WD tail shaft housing and output shaft on the previous 4x4 trans and sell it as a 2WD trans


4WD was never an "option" on any vehicle, same for Ranger and B-series
A 4WD starts with the frame, has a boxed frame in the front to support the heavier drive axle and prevent too much flexing
So at the factory they build 2WD vehicles with 2WD frames and add options like power windows and lock, but not 4WD
Then they switch to 4WD frames and build those

So "adding" 4WD is a bit of a project to get the frame setup

You might be better off finding a 2001-2011 4WD with a bad engine/trans and using your 2.3l engine in that, or at least have the 4WD to strip all the parts from and also to measure where the axle goes
2WD frame will not have any matching "bolt on" places for a 4WD front axle, totally different mounting

You CAN BUILD a 4x4, but can't "convert" a 2WD to a 4x4, know that going in

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

As said 2.3l Duratec engine found in 2001-2011 Rangers and B2300s never had a 4WD version

But easy enough to remedy that
Rangers used M5OD-R1(M5R1) manuals from 1990-2011, B-series 1994-2010, in 2WD and 4x4
As said BW1354 transfer case, 1990 and up on 4x4s

M5R1s are engine specific, bell housing is part of the main case
You need an M5R1 that fits a 2.3l Duratec, so from a 2001-2011 Ranger/B2300
Then you will need an M5R1 from a 2001-2011 Ranger/B-series 4x4 with transfer case, so from a V6 engine vehicle, 3.0l or 4.0l doesn't matter(Needs to be 2001 and up M5R1 so it has the speed sensor, "OSS")
You will then unbolt the tail shaft housing from the 4x4 trans and its output shaft
And install both on the 2.3l M5R1 2WD trans, making it a 4x4 trans

Then install the 2WD tail shaft housing and output shaft on the previous 4x4 trans and sell it as a 2WD trans


4WD was never an "option" on any vehicle, same for Ranger and B-series
A 4WD starts with the frame, has a boxed frame in the front to support the heavier drive axle and prevent too much flexing
So at the factory they build 2WD vehicles with 2WD frames and add options like power windows and lock, but not 4WD
Then they switch to 4WD frames and build those

So "adding" 4WD is a bit of a project to get the frame setup

You might be better off finding a 2001-2011 4WD with a bad engine/trans and using your 2.3l engine in that, or at least have the 4WD to strip all the parts from and also to measure where the axle goes
2WD frame will not have any matching "bolt on" places for a 4WD front axle, totally different mounting

You CAN BUILD a 4x4, but can't "convert" a 2WD to a 4x4, know that going in

O wait. 2001 is duratec.

Yeah. What Ron said.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Thank you so much. You have got my ball rolling. Are there specific year make and models that I could look for that will have them?

Disregard. Duratec completely changes this.

Listen to Ron.

I misread the post and mistook you for OP.

Didn't realize this was a necropost.

I need sleep.