2.3 4x4?

[jarfly]

Looking at doing a 2.3 in my 97, biggest problem is a 4x4 trans is about like unicon farts around here, had a few people tell me a 2.9 trans will bolt up? I would think I will have to change the bellhouseing, but what about clutch and thro out bearing?
thnks in advance.

 

[turbo91xlt]

2wd 2.3 m5od & guts from a 4wd 3.0 m5od. Swap parts between the cases to make a 2.3 4wd tans.

 

[RonD]

2.3l SOHC Lima engine?
2.3l DOHC Duratec?

Neither has a matching trans bolt pattern to each other or any V6 engine.

Lima 4x4 transmissions are out there, I think until 1995/6.
M5OD-R1 would be what you want for manual trans but hard to find, and bell housing doesn't come off
toyo kogyo 5 speed did have detachable bell housing but still have to find 2.3l Lima bell housing, although it could come from a 2WD, 1983 to 1987.
toyo kogyo would not be best choice, M5OD-R1s started in 1988 and used until 2012

 

[cammeddrz]

The housing of a 2.3 2wd m5od manual will bolt to a transfer case, but the output shaft is wrong, you need a 4wd output shaft. And then it's all a cake walk.

RonD, and all of his usual abundant, yet confusing, yet unhelpful info. Yours is a 97,so it is an M5od. Get an output shaft, swap it. And buy any stock t-case,and t-case/trans connector from any RBV. And you're done. In fact as i read this thread, a person in your shoes would be better off pretending like Ron didn't even post.
"strike his statement from the record" as it were lol

Done it with both Duratec, and lima

Last time i did this a year or two ago-Plumcrazy on here literally collects the shafts,and sells them to people for this very purpose

 

[RonD]

There are a couple of rebuilt M5OD-R1(M5R1) 4WD for 2.3l Limas listed on Ebay, $750+
Mazda B2300 4WD used same trans as Ranger 2.3l 4WD 1997 and earlier

 

[bobbywalter]

it certainly is confusing.

but there are shit tons of 3.0 4x4,s out there and like mentioned it is an output shaft and extension housing issue.

which makes it


a non issue.


need a 2.3 4x4 m5od....make it your self.

 

[RonD]

From original post I was reading that he doesn't have a 2.3l trans now, 2WD or 4WD

I.E. "Looking at doing a 2.3 in my 97"

Which is why I asked about which 2.3l, SOHC or DOHC

And why I mentioned finding correct 4wd trans with correct bell housing, yes you can change manual 2WD trans to 4WD by swapping parts but you still need the right 2.3l trans to start with