2.3L Five Speed Trans Questions...

[farna]

I'm putting a 2.3L turbo motor from a Merkur XR4Ti in my Jeep J-10 pickup. The Merkur motor has a T-5 behind it now. 175 hp/195 ft-lb turbo four vs. the original 258 six 110 hp/200 ft-lb... Power is higher in the rpm range, naturally, but the 4.10 gears with 30-31" tires will fx that.

I've found some conflicting info... It seems that the last four cylinder Rangers and Bronco IIs with five speeds were 1996 models. I've seen where it is hinted that the 3.0L V-6 might have the same bell housing bolt pattern as the 2.3L. I'm sure the 2.5L four has the same pattern as the 2.3L, but apparently none were 4WD.

So what advice does anyone have? This will be a light duty street truck, just a little light hauling. Has 4.10 gears. If a Ranger trans won't handle the load is there another trans that will bolt to the T-5 bell housing? I could possibly find a Jeep CJ T-5, but don't know about shaft length on the Merkur trans -- haven't taken it out yet. The Jeep has a 6.5" deep bell housing, Input shaft is about 7.5" long. I just need a left side transfer case, and prefer a five speed to an auto. Would also prefer a low/high range x-fer case. I'm not real concerned if it's electric or manual, but hte manual case would be preferred.

 

[Explorin94]

A T5 is a T5. Whether it be between a Jeep or a Mustang. Now the jeep is a world class and the 4cyl mustang transmission is not. You can go with the V8 mustang but you will need to get a pilot bearing that works with the V8 transmission ans the input shaft where the pilot bearing rides is bigger, same for the jeep trans. I see that you will want to make it a 4x4 also. It can be done with the T5 but you will need to find the parts to make the T5 a 4wd transmission. Them parts are getting harder to find and are sometimes scarce. Jeep is the only ones you used them in a 4x4 application from 82-86. You can look into an M5OD-R1 for the 2.3 from a ranger which are very good transmissions and easier to find. The transmission for the 2.3/2.5 M5OD-R1 will be the only transmission that you can use. The bellhousings on these transmissions do not come off as they are part of the body of the transmission. So the 2.9/4.0 or 3.0 will not work, but the internals will change ove from the transmissions.